The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-22
Circulation Statement
Venreanee in china.

business at the Council Of ENJOYS at Pc
Kin is practically suspended while indi-
viduaI ministers wait for instructions in
regard TO the latest German proposal. which
Is that China shall be required to decapi-
tase Prince Tuan and ten Of his accom-
plices as q condition precedent 10 further
steps toward peace
This step on the part Of the Kaiser's
Government is strongly opposed If not act
ualIy resented by the Administration in
Washington. probably because Mr. McKin-
ley and his advisers think that such de-
maud would so certainly he rejected and
be followed by general outbreak against
foreigners, that It can hardly be made sin
cerely
There is another view Of the matter. Peo-
pie on tie ground and capable of judging
appear 10 agree with the opinion of this
journal, namely, that the Chinese Govern
meEt has never been honest in its efforts
10 reach an understanding with the Pow
els mas never intended to punish any Of
the viHainous tools it used in mazsacrfng
women and children, and in its attempt
to destroy the legations and butcher their
occupants. and has never meant 20 pay an
indemnity. True It may have occurred 10
the Empress Dcwager and her associate
murderers, that circumstances might posi-
bly, force fhC---tc do one or other of these
things; but they have been almost COM
pleteiy confident that given time enough,
the civilized Powers would get 10 quarrel
ing among themselves and so make & con-
c7rted movement against China impractical
ne. That conception was richly fed when
II was announced that the United States
had determined TO cut and scuttie. At
once the Court began to send out warnings
TO Yiceroys and Governors to make ready
for an early Iesuu,T tinn OF hostiIitFes and
there is every indication that they viii BE-
resumed without delay.
Mr. Mckinley may be right in thinking
that the princes and mobiles. marked for
capita! punishment. would much rather
fight than have their heads cut of; but we
are impressed with the idea that they have
7aeant and 10 mean 10 fight ii any case.
4 that be true 4 demand for their decapi-
tat5on would do neither good nor harm
On its face the German proposal is just
and reasonable enough. If there IS ever
TO be . lasting peace in China it can only
Re brought about by convincing the Chi
Iese Government and people that the
Powers are terribly in earnest, and viii
never stop disciplining China wnIle one
Of the atrccious wretches denounced for
punishment is alive. II retreating precIp-
itateIy FROM the Empire. the United States
not only lest its prestige among the al
lies but wrecked much Of theirs in the
eyes of the Chinese Government It was
characteristic Monaghan deduction that.
when one nation of foreign devils had cut
and scuttled, others might be expected to
follow. Drastic measures of some sort
are necessary to impress the Chinese with
the power and stern purpose of the civil
lied States to whip them into good he
hayior. and to take ample security for its
continuance
The Administration is worried because
the trend of affairs is toward partition
China, after a hopeless struggle, will have
TO part with territory, as security for
money indemnity which can never be paid
II a fresh war can be avoided, the United
States viii be in a position to get ITS
share-say Annoy and hinterland. But
the idea OF taking Chinese territory is so
Tepugnant to American sentiment, that
such a thing is TO be avoided if possible,
and we are satisfied that Mr. Mckinley is
anxious to avoid it. We are told that the
present effort of the State Department is
TO secure an agreement that existing
treaty rights as to ali ports and phases on
the Chinese Coast line shall be respected
and maintained, notwithstanding any
changes Of ownership OF sovereignty. We
are afraid that such plan would not
work satisfactorily, or without involving
us in constant friction with European
GovernEpeuts. In the end, nations like
Germany, France, and Russia would be
very apt TO favor their own trade and
merchants, and shut out ours. 1t is very
doubtful If the leading commercial Pow
ers would enter into the agreement pro-
posed, even as a matter of form. They
are much more liable to say TO Us. Here
is your piece of China Take it OF leave it
as you like; but remember that this is all
there is for you. You viii get nothing
else That is the dilemma with two
horns and eight prongs which the Presi-
deL.J most probably VIII be called upon to
face, before he eats his Christmas dinner.
Agricultural and InduSfrJnl Growth