Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-08-09
Ministers as Hostages.


Il what is to all intents and purposes Al
d other foreign war. True. there has No
u been as yet an aetuaI declaration again,
China, but that is a mere matter O
form. II may be done as soon as Con
gress conyenes, for Congress alone ha
power to declare war. But hostiIitie
have begun, blood has been shed
troops are hurying to the scene an,
everything is being done that charac
terizes actual war. decentralization
has been pleased to proceed under Tia,
| suppositiou that the anti-tgrclgu move
tmeut i'm China and the attack on the
ministers at Pekiu Were to be aurlbut-
ed 10 popular uprising- for which the
| government in China was mot rcspau-
sible and Tor which it would soon dis
claim responsibility and ask for assist
ance to bring it to an end. In this
case, all that would be required ofChi-
ma would be an official disclaimer and
due PREPARATION for injuries done.
Our troops would then be withdrawn
and the incident closed.
But it is becoming apparent that the
Chinese government itself is at least
partially responsible for what has oc-
CURED. BY permitting, if not indeed
sanetioning, the murder of Won Ket-
teller, the German minister, and by al /
lowing the imperial troops to take |
part in the assaults on the legations. to !
say nothing OF the general massacres
OF foreigners and the opposition offered
to the Pekin relief force, as well as the
edicts issued to the Boxers
and the ill-concealed hostility exhibit /
ed toward foreigners, the Chinese gov T
eminent has done what cannot be rec
)neiIed with a friendly attitude toward |
1ther nations. China must settle the
recount and cannot plead innocence. /
-nwise influences may have been
'rought to bear and the dowager en-
'ress, who is the real head of the GOV
may be under control of an
J. foreign advisers, but this will not
uiliee. BY her official acts. by her
ins OF omission and commission. Chi
as government is held accountable.
To glance back little. it will be re-
rendered that the Chinese were the
ggressors, SO far as force was employ.
The Boxers secret society. bent
n the determination or expulsion ofaul
'reigners-have been flourlshlno in
nina for several years. Though their
octrines aud aims We're well known.
hina's government did nothing to re-
'ess them. Even when they began to
low their hostility openly and to kui
lie Christians and burn and pillane
eir belongings and when the minis
rs in Pekn protested, China did
'thing but make tardy promises that
ere not performed. 1t became neces-
ny for foreign nations having citizens
Id property interests in that country
send ships and troops to look after :
EN-. As soon as this was done China
garded it as an act of war. and not 4
ly offered all possible opposition to 3
landing of these forces and their L
vance on Pekin, but even. It seems
untenanced a cowasdly attack on the
icial representatives of the powers
Pekin-a thing never before done
the history Of the world-a shameful
each OF international law-au act de-
wing the most severe punishment
When two nations engage in war
ofthe preliminaries is the safe de-
cry Of the official representatives of
eontending countries beyond their
pective horders. The persons and
'perties Of these representativeSgare
rays held sacred. They are Given
ir passports and conducted out of
country with all possible courtesy
sr which the forces 20 at each other
1mmer and longs But China. in
hatred Of everything foreign. could
bear that these officials should es-
.e her clutches, and that they were
lost defenseless made them more A.
stlFe objects Of slaughter to the cow.
5 who surrounded them. But for
-
fortunate presence Of a few hum
d marines at the legations. who
he Tor the purpose Of protecting
n from impending danger tber
Il nave fallen easy and early vic
; to savage ferocity. BY as coura.
Us defense as the world has eyer Wi
wn' they have held out agsing.
Z IA Fs 49,