Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30

killed they deserved their fate for placing
themselves where they had no business to
be: and finally he alleges that Mr.. Conger
made another similar blunder when he
sought refuge at the British legation, when,
as Mr.. Henderson assures him. he would
have been safer outside. The fact that the
lives of the Americans in Pekin were pre-
served by the very marines and the British
legation defences. which Mr.. Henderson dis
approves. until the arrival Of the allied
army Of the beasts Of Imperialism would
vindicate Mr.. Conger's judgment Of what
was safest for him against any but pro-
phetic md oracular assault.
Obviously. from Mr.. Henderson's point Of
view. the lives of laundering American
minister, arrogant American marines and
casual American women and children were
not worth saving at the expense Of an i'm
periaiistic violation of the Constitution and
an outlay (estimated) Of eighteen hundred
million dollars.
Mr.. Henderson finds justification of his
belief that we are in Pekin to dismember
China and not to relieve our legauoners In
the fact that, Mr.. Conger being saved, we
do not Immediately withdraw. The rescue
Of the legationers was secured through the
cooperation Of the allies. and could not
have been attained in any other way. Every
word and act Of our government show its
anxiety for the earliest possible departure
from Pekin, not only Of our own troops but
those of all the allied powers which have
heretofore co-operated. This withdrawal
will not. however, be so conducted as to
concede that there is nothing for US to do
in China except to relieve Pekin, get pos
session of the unkilled Americans and run
for home. Our participation with the allies
To-. TO 1T
lives and places US in a position where we
may hope to prevent the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
China. and thus protect American trade in
terests
The withdrawal policy of radical anti-im-
perialism, called, carried to its logical
and pusillanimous end concludes: 1--WE must
not permit ourselves to come into contami-
mating contact with the greedy powers that
covet Chinese territory, either to save Amer
lean lives in Pekn or to join them in the
dfsmemberment of China or to prevent them
from dismembering it, If we shall be thereby
involved in any controversy. China has
murdered many of our missionaries and
has besieged and killed or wounded part of
our legatoners and nearly starved the sur
viyors. Let us thank Heaven that not all
are dead: let those whom China has failed
TO slaughter scamper home as quickly as
possible; let us withdraw our missionaries,
our merchants. our minister and legation
our consuls, our soldiers and our sailors;
let us abandon China to be divided among
the ravenous beasts Of Europe and Asia,
and surrender to our competitors the vast
Asiatic trader
Clearly the republic will never permit this
course to be pursued. Our government has
Gf Its word is accepted as truthfuD moved
steadily forward on a wise and well-defned
policy. 1t has so far been wonderfully sue
cessful in this policy, and today, with Its
legation relieved and in view Of its rela-
lions to China and the powers. it is the bes.
situated OF all the nations to lead in form
uiating and making operative a wise
humane and reciprocally beneficial solution
OF the Chinese problem.
The slanderous and contradictory denun-
Citations aimed at the government at every
stage OF our dealings with China spring
from antI-imperialsm that has gone mad,
and from reckless partisan rancor. The
man who has so strained his imagination
as TO see wildly imperialism. despotism and
m.litar:sm N the Presidents Iabors to re-
store order and suppress insurrection in the
Philippine territory coded TO us by Spain in
;he treaty which Mr.. Bryan ratified, is IN
tive TO the suggestion Of imperialism, and
at every step OF The ad1niristra ton In Asia,
whether forward or backward or marking
tiule. ne fails into trance or spasm IN
which lie beho.cs fountains of blood and
he threatening, oyershadowiag figure CT
the Ms:i on Horseback. The denunciatiors
based en- partisan raEcor are 10 be dis
counted because inevitable no matter what
the course pursued. Abuse follows the urI-
constitutional aggression which saved ;he
lives OF our people at Pek!n, but It IS
summer zephyr compared with the hwrri-
over the administration Il for aEF reason
whatsoever II had failed 20 make the
rescue.
Oar government m dealing with the din
cui: Chinese pruol-rn Is rot framing its
po.:ry partisan lines. IT represents ;he
United States and the whole o. the United
States IT. enforcing a policy for me prese--
Ta;.on q American lives aid the protection
of vital American interests. Enoagh obsta-
clss 20 success ere interposed by foreign
powers To render doubly Injurious the SIAN
derous ard inGiscr!r!Eate denGncia;ions
from unpatriotic AmeTicana. Mr.. Hender-
son has confused the animals In his menag-
erie metaphor. II Is not Uncle Sam who Is
among the beasts The eagle Is not among
the vultures. Uncle SAM the international
animal tanner, as he moves forward to his
difficult and delicate task OF restraining the
ravenous beasts which would fatten upon
the Chinese carcass, is annoyed and hui
inflated by the fact that home-bred pack
Of snarling pessmists is swapping at his
heels.