The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-08-23
A Government roR CHINA.

A GOVERNMENT FOR CHINA.
1t is perhaps little premature to for
mulate q plan for the government of China
under the auspices of the powers before the
allied troops are in Pekin, but as they will
be there sooner or later, even II the pres
ent relief expedition meets with q check,
since reinforcements are pouring In from
all the nations. 1t Is not too soon to begin
thinking about what shall be done when
the anti-foreign rebellion In the Celestial
empire has been subdued.
One Pritchard Morgan. British member
of parliament, has taken pains to cable his
views to an American paper. These views
are evidently the result of some study, and
are deserving of consideration.
Mr.. Morgan says that Immediately the
safety Of the legationers is assured Ii
Hung Chang will offer terms Of settlement
Of the whole difficulty. giving full repara-
tion to the powers, including indemnity and
exemplary punishments of all Chinese Of
f1cials who have been responsible for out
RACES. Mr.. M. thinks 1t unlikely that the
present government of China can survive
this crisis, and that probably a new form
of government will be proposed by which
China will be governed by 10 native vice.
r0ys appointed for life, the viceroys
to act under a supreme head, who will
be European appointed by the powers.
Disarmament will also be a part of the
new scheme simultaneously with the Or
ganization Of an effective police system. and
the capital will be removed to Shanghai.
Mr.. Morgan's idea is evidently taken from
the British custom of governing provinces
through native rulers under the control Of
a British resident, who is given paramount
authority. The same plan might possibly
work in China, but it might be difficult for
the powers to agree upon the European su-
preme head OF the government. And while
We are commenting upon the plan we might
ask: Why not an American supreme head?
1t is American diplomacy that has led so
far in dealing with the present situation in
China, and as the United States has no
ambitious designs of selling territory in
China. it is possible that the Chinese would
be more recOnciled to an American than
to an European referee.
The plan of disarmament is good one
and should be put into effect whatever may
be the form of government finally agreed
upon. But it strikes us that, considering
the conservatism Of Chinese thought, and
the fact that the country has been gov
erned by an emperor from time immemorial,
it would be better for the powers to place
on the throne an emperor whom they could
trust to carry out the desired reforms, and
in order to insure the best results they
could surround him with a council of Eu-
ropeans and Americans, chosen from all the
powers interested, and guarded by sun1cient
bodies of troops. If the capital were re-
moved to Shanghai large military force
would not be necessary to insure the safety
of foreigners If a few battleships and ar
mored cruisers and gunboats were kept
constantly in the harbor.
The emperor chosen could, with the adj
vice and consent Of his foreign council, ap-
point the vieeroys, and they should be
properly subordinate to the central power.
Making the viceroys the rulers of the coun-
try would be something like placing the
cart before the horse.
1t is evident that Europe and the United
States will be compelled to interfere to
establish an orderly and responsible gov
eminent in China, as the present govern
ment is utterly demoralized and powerless
When they do so, they can establish finan-
cial administration that can administer the
finances so as to easily pay the foreign in
demnity. for China is rich country, and a
1.-THE of the revenue stolen by the mandar-
present system would meet all the foreign
claims.-Minneapolis Tribune.
Here you have in detail the whole
villainous scheme of the worlds great
capitalists to conquer and destroy the
Chinese empire, and to parcel the
Chinese territory out among the lead
ing world powers as colonial depend
encies.
Scarcely two weeks ago this same pa
per, the Minneapolis Tribune, denied
that the administration had any design
upon China beyond the rescue of Ameri-
can citizens, our missionaries and dip
lomatic officers. The facts are that
our missionaries and ministers in China
have never needed an armed invasion
of China for their rescue.
Our citizens in China have at all times
been safer than are Cinnamon today in
our Pacific coast states. 1t is true that
in China political faction is opposed
to the presence of foreigners there and
demand their expulsion. and exclusion
JuoI 40 ROAASlCdl AdCtlOuS III ILLS COuuLTy
demanded the expulsion and exclusion
of Chinese from our shores.
In our own country this Chinese ex-
clusion party carried an exclusion meas
ure through congress and in Seattle,
Tacoma and other Pacific coast towns
hundreds of Cinnamon were killed and
whole colonies of them driven of.
Was not this as much cause for China
to send into this country an invading
army as any act on the part of China
has been cause for the allies to invade
Chinese territory?
Did China send over her battle ships
to demand indemnity and her armies
to march upon Washington?
Every schoolboy is familiar with the
disgraceful and cowardly spectacle of
three or four or five boys clubbing to-
gether to whip one, but not one Of them
could be found brazen enough to boast
Of his prowess in leading such an at
tack
Here, however, in the Tribune, one of
Americas leading da1lies and an adj
ministration organ, we find day after
day the announcement that American