The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-19
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1900.
aRE we AT WAR WITH CHINA !?

We have been discussing for some time
standpoint of the safety of the missionaries
and ambassadors. The question that, how
ever. must suggest itself TO everyone is.
how long can the present state of things
continue without producing q open war
between China and America? Now the
death of our minister and missionaries can
no more be laid to the hands # the
Chinese government. unless it can be
shown that the government desired and
connived at the action of the Boxers, than
could the Italian government have had
= just cause for going TO war With US on ac-
count of the Malta troubles in Louisiana
The statements that Prince Tuan is really
acting for the Chinese government, and is
properly to be regarded as the real En-
peror of China. win have TO be settled by
some higher authority than newspaper tele
grams before the foreign powers will at
tempt 10 hold the Chinese government re-
sponsible for Prince Tuans atrocities. The
Prince himself should, and doubtless will.
be demanded from the government, when
finally the Boxer insurrection is crushed
out But until that occurs. or until the
Chinese government definitely gives its
support TO this movement, the murders
and destruction wrought by the Boxers no
more afford a cause FOR international war
than would a glerified street fight. How
ever, though not at war, the European
nations have and will exert the right of
protection for their own citizens, and that
is Why we see the extraordinary harmony
existing between the naturally hostile
forces OF Russia and Japan, Germany and
France. One thing is certain, that whether
this instruction and disturbance extends
to the southern provinces or not, the allies
will sooner or later reach Pekin. and then
they will know who IS the head of the
Chinese government, il there Is any The
fate of kwang Su, the weak-yninded and
weak-bodied boy Emperor; the fate of the
Dowager Empress, who rose from slave
girl to be ruler of a quarter of the worlds
population, Will both be known, and the
generals who have this serious problem on
their hands viii know how TO meet the
condition that confrontS them If the
whole fabric Of Chinese government is
shattered by this Boxer movement and if
when the allies reach Pekin they find that
the government IS too weak TO control the
outlying provinces. then It will remain TO
be seen what the individual viceroys will
do. The best known viceroy, OF course is
ID Hung Chang. as willy and cold-blooded
an old Gip1omatist as ever lived. To US. he
qrf la a a l-l.p DIV, ind
aEhtened statesman. who sees the needs
and desires OF his people, and wishes to
ccnciliate. as FAR as possible, the opposing
tendencies between the Occidental and
Oriental civilization. But then We must
remember Ii Hung Chang's saying, which
smacks of The breezy Western view as 10
the virtues of Indians. tiat one foreigner
was much Ike another. and they were all
best when dead If this be Ticeror Ii
Hung chans's present state of mind. what
ailureinents has life for the missionary or
gnerchan; in his province?
The change in the position of the allies
From the reported invasion of Russian ter
rftory by the Chinese army is fuil OF start
ling possibilities. Il it develops that the
invasion is il reality one which the Chinese
government has made, then state Of open
msaY viii exist between China and Russia.
But this need not prevent us from CO.
operating. as we are doing os,ensby at
present. TO help The government put down
. rebellion that menaces our ambassadors
and our citizens and their property.
.Ann0tca does not desire, of course. 10 be
forned into a declaration of war ana there
BY sbrogate our treaties, and merely con-
anuaas IN our present attitude affords no
oAsals bslli. II. however. the Chinese gov
epnnent is II tho hands OF the reynution-
Ay party. they may attempt to change
our present poaoe service into state OF
open var. In that event It remains to be
seen what wili be done. ous Thing Is GER