New-York tribune., 1900-08-15

addition TO COrea, ana the united otates-Ar'
Boulger seems to have his heart much set on
ths-is to take the Province of Che-kiang. In
such an arrangement as this. he believes, the
Powers will amcably agree. In dealing with
the Chinese problem they will forget or lay
aside their own feuds; and there will arise
among them spirit of cooperation, mutual
forbearance and chivalry such as has not been
seen since the days of the Crusades. Thus opti-
misticalIy does he conclude the argument which
was so pessimistically begun.
Despite Mr. Roulgers undoubted authority
upon Chinese matters we cannot agree with
him either in his pessimism or in his optimism.
Matters at Peking have not yet gone half as
badly as he assumes and there seems now to
be excellent ground for hoping that they will
not do so. 1t Is reasonable to expect that the
expedition to Peking will prove to the end
to be one of relief and not of vengeance.
(Of course we do not know what Germany and
Russia may do on their own accounts; but that
is not our present concern) We may even
hope that Il readiuStment Of affairs may be
effected which will satisfy all demands of justice
without removing Kwang Su or annihilating
Peking or partitioning the empire Every day
now makes such consummatlon seem more
probable. and there can be no question that 1t is
earnestly desired and intended by the three
Powers whose interests in China are largest.
There may be, and probably will be. some
readjustment of boundaries. Russia is
tainly bound to seize a province or two, and if
Germany does not take the bulk Of Shan-Tung
we shall be much surprised. For France to
annex bit of Southern China and for Great
Britain to plant her flag upon Chusan will be
only natural AS for Japan, there would be
solid satisfaction in seeing her recoup herself
for the unjust deprivation enforced upon her five
years ago by Russia. But we see no reason as
yet for expecting a more considerable partition
of the empire. AS for Mr.. Boulger's engaging
vision Of harmony. forbearance and chivalry
among the Powers, it is sadly negatived by a
single glance at the disagreements and Ill con-
cealed jealousies and animosities which have
down to the present moment marked their
nominal cooperation for the relief of their
imperilled legations
There remains the question Of American par
tiCipation in whatever spoliation Of China may
be effected 1t is foolish to say, in sweeping
generalties, that under no circumstances would
any nation do this or that. Until we can fore
see every future contingency, prediction must
be tempered by hypothesis. At least, however,
it may be said with fullest confidence that the
United States did not intervene in China with
any desire or expectation of territorial aggran-
dizement, and that nothing could be further
from it's present wishes and intentions than the
seizure of a Chinese province. 1t is, on the
contrary, its earnest desire and purpose that
the substantial integrity of the Chinese Empire
shall be maintained. 1t is not engaged in a
war of revenge of conquest, and so far as
present conditions aud indications afford a
basis for prognosticatiou its cooperation with
the other Powers would cease the moment they
engaged in such a campaign. 1t is for the
release and protection of it's Minister and other
citizens, not for the overthrow of the Manchu
dynasty: for the maintenance Of it's own rights,
not for the subversion of any of the rights of
China. that the United States is moving.