New-York tribune., 1900-08-03
4 "PLAIN TALE" FROM PEK1NG.


The Falstaffs of the press and of the Chinese
Government, too, are most effectively set down
by the plain tale which Dr. Morrison relates in
the columns of The London Times" We sup
pose there were some unheeding and unthink-
ing mortals who little while ago mistook sound
and fury for sense and truth. They contra sted
the superior enterprise and information Of the
new journalism" with that of the old fash
ioned sheets. They read the lurid and ghastly
tales Of horror which were furnished piping hot
every morning by the Fat Boys who wanted TO
make the flesh Of the public creep and felt that
there was enterprise there was push, there was
"hustlng for news" and that the steady going
old fogies of the profession were completely
beaten, dstanced and discredited. Yet to-day
typical old fOgy. which has for weeks been
daily beaten on scare news" easily surpasses
all its rivals in the enterprise and completeness
Of its news from the Chinese capital. It gives
TO the world the first authoritative and detailed
news letter from Peking since the siege Of the
legations there began. And all the enterprise"
and exclusive specials" and "stupendous beats"
which have been making life hideous are now
shown to have been either impudent and heart
less inventions or equally foundatlonless pipe
dreams, which might just as well have orig
mated in Whitechapel or in Doyers-st as to
have been cabled at great expense from "our
special commissioner at Shanghai" Such is the
Irresistible consideration which springs to mind
in vindication of that journalism which prefers
not TO tell so much rather than to tell so much
that is not So
Beyond this somewhat circumscribed profes-
sional view of the matter, however arises the
far more important consideration that Dr. Nor
rison's narrative dreadfully impeaches the Chi
nese Government of duplicity and criminality.
That is the conclusion to which we are regret
fully but inevitably forced We are told that
on one day the Imperial Government praised
and encouraged the Boxers in their murderous
doings, and the very next day protested to the
Powers that the deeds Of violence were all done
by bandits and solicited outside help in sup
pressing th4 criminals. We are told that the
German Minister was murdered by an Imperial
officer, and yet the Government has protested
that the deed was done by some local brigands
Again. we have had over and over again the
most solemn assurances that the Imperial Gov
eminent has been protecting the legations from
the fury of the insurgent mob; yet Dr. Morri-
son declares that the attacks upon the legations
have been made by the Imperial troops directed
by General Yung Lu, the Empress's commander
in-chief and General Tung Flu Slang, the lat
ter's troops, we assume, being chiefly Mahomet-
ans from Kan-Su, and that their gallantry in
attacking the legations has been applauded in
lmpeSial decrees In view Of these things It is
difficult TO avoid the conviction that the
Empress Dowager has been at the head of
the mischief all along and has been playing
double game OF unrivalled wickedness and TINT
all the tales Of her having been deposed and
poisoned and made insane. and of her having
quarrelled with Prince Tuan were tricks In
that game. Such conclusion is, of course. by
no means Incompatible with continued belief in
the good faith Of the Chinese Minister Mt Wash
ington and of many other officials of the Chinese