Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-01
History Repsa It's Itself in Foreign
Occupation Of Pekin.
'fWO-PENNY FBBE!a' INCREASES RENT
The Willy Landlord Takes What the
New Road Saved.
ENORMOUS BUS TRAFFIC
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


LONDON, August Fl, 1900
1.-THE capture of the gates of Pekin.
though, unhappily, Intellectual in saving the
lives of the prisoners, at once led to the
conclusion Of the peace which had formed
the whole object of the expedition. BY the
flight Of the emperor, by the violation of the
immunity of the capital and by the expo
sure OF the vulnerable points of the mon
archy the Chinese have purchased the third
Skyline book in time to avert total de-
structon. If the conditions of peace are
observed with even tolerable good faith all
reasonable Englishmen will rejoice to dis
pense for the future with series OF COSTLY
unsatisfactory and inglorious wars mus
spoke the Times at the conclusion OF the
war with China forty years ago. and doubt
less the belief entertained by 1.-The Thun-
derer" that the lesson of 1860 would not be
soon forgotten by the celestials was shared
by Europeans generally. Certainly no one
anticipated that before the end of the CEN
fury history would repeat itself. The entry
of the allied forces into Pekin last week
took place under conditions which dinered
materially from those prevailing in the late
Lord Elgns time.
When the allied troops reached the Chi
nese capital in October, 1860, the siege guns
were promptly placed in position, and then
the Chinese government was formally mott
fled that the cannonade would be opened
on the following day at noon unless the
city were previously surrendered and one
OF Its gates placed in the foreigners hands.
The result was that all the demands of the
allies were Internationally acceded TO, the
gate was thrown open and for the nrst
time in history the flags Of England and
France fioated VIGOROUSLY on the walls OF
Pekin.
This time the task Of the allied troops has
been one of far greater difficulty. for they
not only had to fight their way practically
"a W. frnY an Tel "a.
kin, but at the end Of their arduous journey
they found 1t necessary to force an entry
into the city at the point OF the bayonet.
Fortunately, however, the object Of the
people huddled together in the beleaguered
legations-has been successful. whereas that
Of 1850 partially failed, inasmuch as the
prisoners then sought to be released were
put to death before tho capitulation.
No HALFWAY Measures.
The fact that the ministers and those
with them are alive and we'll will pre-
sUmably obviate the necessity for such
drastic measures Of reprisal as Lord Elgin
adopted. What remains of the Palace of
n-Ming-Yuen." wrote his lordship to
Prince Kung on ascertaining the fate of
the prisoners, which appears to be the
place at which several Of the British cap
tives were subjected to the grossest indig-
mites, will be Immediately leveled to the
ground; this condition requires no assent
on the part of his highness. because 1t
will at once be carried into effect by the
commander-in-chief. A sum of 600 taels
must be paid down at once to the officers
appointed to receive It, which sum will be
appropriated, at the discretion Of her mai
estys government, to those who have suf-
fered. and to the families of the murdered
men," The Summer Palace, consisting Of
great variety Of buildings scattered over
a park Of immense size, and which had
contained-before It was plundered-all the
luxurfes Chinese art could furnish or
wealth supply, was accordingly set on fire
by a detachment of our troops and totally
destroyed
The suggestion offered from various quar-
tiers that Pekfn itself should be destroyed
as reprisal for the losses Of foreigners
will. OF course, not be carried out, though
II the ministers had been massacred 1t Is
possible that such an act might have been
Chinese hearts.
What will follow now that the ministers
have been relieved, and Pekin Is in the
hands Of the allies. is more a matter for
speculation than certainty. There will, Of
course be an inquiry into the cause of the
rebellion, ringleaders will be arrested, pun
1shment duly melted out, and claims for
compensation will be made. This. after all.
though imperative and necessary, is of
comparatively minor Importance. The
great question which the powers have now
to decide is that Of the future government
of the country.
If tho tsar inclines to the school of the
French and German politicians. complica-
lions Of grave and alarming character
will undoubtedly ensue.
The Russian Way.
30 much depends on Russia in this mat
ter that 1t is well worth while to trace her
career in north China during the past few
years and recall how she has not only kept
Japan out Of her well-earned reward after
the Chino-Japanese war, but has calmly
gobbled UP the very territory she would
not let Japan have.
There is great deal in the manners and
customs Of the Russians which strike one
as peculiar. but there is nothing about them
quite so quaint as Russia's methods Of pre-
serving the integrity Of China. One thing
upon which the whole of the powers were
supposed to be agreed when the present
military operations began was that Chinese
territory must be left intact. Indeed, 1t
was currently supposed that Russia's OBJ
lection to giving Japan a mandate to act
for the powers in the matter of rescuing
the ministers at Pekin was her fear lest
Japan should seek to indemnify herself for
the cost of the expedition by slice of Chi
territory.
Apparently. however while 1T would be
the height of iniquity for Japan to go land
grabbing. it is the supreme Of moral recti-
tude when Russia does it. The Russian
general in charge of the operations against
the Chinese on the Amur has just tele-
graphed to st. Petersburg the news that
the whole of the right bank Of the Amur is
in Russia's possession.
I'VE have taken possession of the right
bank" General Grodekoff says thus con-
solidating the great enterprise of annexing
the whole of the Amur to Russia's do
minIons and making of that river an in
ternal waterway, and not frontier
stream" z@s--
The capture andOoccupation of Newchang
by the Russians ID alao instructive When
the time comes for the allies to leave Chi
na-if it ever doesmRpssia will probably
territory by virtu6 of long occupation" as
she has a well-known dnvincible dislike to
abandon territory once acquired.
Russia's 'unself1sh aims In China ought
to be subject OF thohghtful study to the
powers. especiallsto the United States, as
our statesmen have SO strongly insisted
upon the mo PARTITION policy.
"Twopenny Tubeis Raise. Rents.
The "Twopennys Tubei has not yet ceased
to be a wonder rs Lohdoners. Many were
rejoicing that tho, new railway would en-
able the modest householder to get out to
Shepherds Bush. In the suburbs, and to a
house of his owns This twopenny fare for
the whole distance ana twopenny return
fare for the workmans who travels before
half-past am. wasf calculated to offer
bo trouolor real gain mt onlv Of coy,,-