The evening times., 1900-09-24
Circulation Statement.
The CriSis In China.

In China events are marching rapidly
toaaFd a fresh and threatening crisis.
EmboIdened by the secret support of
Russia, and the invertebrate complais-
.. ce of the United States. the Empress
Dowager has dared TO defy Germany and
the other powers by appointing Prince
Tuan Grand Secretary TO the Emperor.
Minister Wu asserts that this position is
one of only nominal power and a sine
cure II that were true. it is not one
which Tuan would desire or accept, It
makes him, in fact, the Chancellor of
the Empire, and the medium through
which all communications with the
throne must pass.
\ more unpleasant commentary upon
the latest position OF the United States.
in breaking the concord of the civilized
powers by joining with China and Russia
against the Western European nations,
could not well be imagined. The concert
would have held together but for the
American blunder of the Russo-American
compact. If Mr.. Mckinley had refused to
consider the Russian proposal until he
had communicated with the allies Russia
would have Withdrawn it, and the way
NOuIti HOW Dt open IOI JOlHl atiiOH III
setting up a responsible government in
China, and for negotiations with it for
peace and indemnity. But the action OF
the United States has served to feed the
insane pride and vanity of the Empress
Dowager and her advisers and Ihu5 has
operated to dissipate any hope tha5 they
would bring themselves 10 sue tor peace
in good faith.
Prince Tuan's elevation is regretIable
IN moro accounts than one. 1t is a direct
and objectionable affront to Germany. and
Will be SO considered by the Kaiser. Aside
from that, it places the power and ma-
chinery of the Imperial Government in the
bloody hands of the very man who. equally
with TIE Hsi, is responsible for the nur-
der OF Baron Won Ketteler. the attack mp
on the legations. and the torture and
butchery of the women and children Of the
American mission stations. It veriies
and justities the view we have adhered to
all along, that The de facto Government Of
China is in the hands of The Empress
Dowaser and Tuan, and that Ii Hung
Chang, Ching and Yung Lu are merely
their tools. The Administration is conf
n3tted TO their recognition as the duly
authorized plenipotentiaries Of the legal
Government of the Empire. After the in
suit hurled at civilization in the promo
tion of the Boxer chief to supreme au-
thority under the stolen throne, We are at
= loss to understand how any self-respect-
ing power could think of recognizing
these ENJOYS of usurping government. or
fa n s1a IN,
face as has been administered to this as
well as to other countries, by the Imperial
iend and murderess.
She has scored an important point in
her game of disuniting the invading
powers, through the triumph of her d
plomacy a Washington; and the situ-
alton in China thereby has become more
complicated and menacing to the peace
of the world than ever. Instead of the
reorganization and settlement which
might have come with continued concord
the continuation OF war against China
by Germany and other powers apparently
is rendered certain, and the prospect
that. in the end, the Empire will be
partitioned and the open door" nailed |
up against us is vastly increased 1t |
looks very much as if our amateur di- |
plomacy had supplied the nails for the |
job
That serious trouble is in the air is |
sufficiently shown by the haste with |
which all the maritime powers. this one |
included. are enforcing their squad |
rons in Chinese waters. All the signs 7
point TO a battle royal but who the / |
ligerents are to be, irrespective of Chi |
M. it would be premature to say One |
thing appears TO be plain, and that is /
that peace negotiations for the pres ent |
would be a waste of time The ruler of |
the Chinese Empire is pretending to |
treat. She is actually preparing to |
fight. The orders to Minister Conger
to begin preliminary negotiations with
TIE Hsi's peace ENJOYS are in pursu- i
ance of a design 70 find some excuse for
scuttling. Mr.. Mckinley might as well
seuttle without negotiating His Ad-
ministration has done all the mischief
1t could, and jeopardized the worlds
peace n the doing. Being determined to
cut and run, that movement would better
be executed without further ado, and
without furnishing the Cabinets of Eu-
rope with additional grounds for treat
ing the United States with derisfon and |
contempt
s.da