New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-27
NO SCUTTLING FROM CHINA.

And now the cry is raised that We should In
continently scuttle out of China. Our work
there is done. men say, and we have no bust
ness 10 keep our troops there another day. We
should get out and leave the other Powers to
solve the Chinese problem as they please All
remaining points at issue between this country
and China can best be settled by diplomatic
means. The duty OF the hour is TO scuttle Such
are the propositions, arguments and demands
with which a certain section of the anti-Admin-
istratiOn press now teens From them we
most positively and unhesitatingly dissent We
do not, Of course. look for any permanent occu-
patton Of any part of China by our troops nor
even for their long tarrying in that country
Their stay may be measured by weeks or only
by days, But some further stay and some
further achievements by them are only less
necessary than was their original entry To
scuttle now would be only less dishonorable
and less wicked than to have refused to 90
IN at all to the relief Of our beleaguered Lega-
ton. The United States troops were sent into
China for definite purpose. They cannot be
Withdrawn until that purpose is achieved
The Chinese Government has not yet COM
piled with the conditions of peace set forth
by the President on July % That is the first
consideration. The President demanded-and
the Nation and the civilized world approved the
denand-that the Chinese Government should
enter into cooperative relations with our re-
heving force. 1t has not yet done So To
withdraw before ii does So before il recoq-
nizes the legitimacy of our Intervention for the
relief Of the legations. would be to submit TO
the imputation that our Intervention was I'M
warranted and was an act Of lawless aggres-
sion. We do not think this country means to
have Lscum and Chaffee and their comrades
set down as ilibusters and brigands This Ma
lions conscience is clear in the matter. and il
has the approval Of Christendom, but it has
the right to require, also that China herself
shall recognize the justice of its course Nor
is that by any means all. There are MANY
Americans in China, who may wish TO remain
there and who have a perfectly clear treaty
right 10 do To scuttle now would be to
abandon them TO the brutalities Of the unsuh
dued Boxers. There are also some thousands
Of native Christians at Peking who have been
most loyal and serviceable friends To us in our
trouble and 10 whose devotion and valor the
safety of the legations is largely due They
under treaty stipulations, are entitled tn lool,
10 us for protection. To scuttle would he ~
betray them 10 death in a fashion too base for
thought And. again we have driven. or scared
the Chinese Government out of Picking leaving
that immense city in practical anarchy. One
might say that is no concern Of ours. and that
the Chinese have only themselves TO blame for
whatever happens But that would be a moral
~ low and unworthy view to take of the case
Having. for whatever purpose deprived the
place of government we are morally bound
10 give II a new government or to provide one
until the old one can be restored or new one
organized. II we were an errand Of CON