The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-23
WHAT MUST COME.

The authenticated reports from China
reveal a condition of unpreparedness on
the part of the powers such as must cause
much surprise. While the nations have
been standing off in doubt and suspicion
regarding each other each watching for
some special significance in the attitude
of the others, the situation has developed
in such a way as to make 1t necessary
for them to act in cooperation for their
own protection.
Most of the comment made on the Chi
nese situation must for the present, at
least, be uncertain in it's conclusions The
statement made Sc emphatically by the
Chinese minister at Washington that the
imperial authorities are In nowise re =
sponsible for the developments at Taku
or elsewhere is entitled to a great deal Of
consideration. Yet, the fact that those
in command of the imperial forces should
fire on the warships of the powers, as
was done at Taku, is of such prime impor-
tance as to render it almost impossible
that any such event c0u.d have occurred
forces of the empire being in revolt, or
of those in command acting with the ex-
plicIt understanding that they were obey
ing the orders of those in authority.
1t cannot long be in doubt what the
attitude of the dowager empress and those
under her control is. The inherent alb
surdity of many of the reports thus far
received renders it necessary to take all
the intelligence except such as is known
to be authentic with a good deal Of al
lOwance. If Tien Tsin is seriously men
prove to have been assailed, there is no
course for the European powers and jap
an to take save that Of making aggres-
sive war on the existing dynasty If 1t Is
responsible, or upon the Boxers until they
have been suppressed. In no event can
matters be allowed longer to proceed as
they have been proceeding for the past
week, Actual invasion of China will be-
come a necessity, and will inevitably be
followed by the actual partition Of the
country.
It is this condition which the suspicious
of each other entertained by the pow
ers have SO long averted. 1t is a condi-
ton, moreover, which. from present ap-
pearanees, can only be averted in one
way. and that is through the creating Of a
Joint control by the powers over the ad-
ministration of Chinese affairs. A Joint
protectorate such as has already been
suggested will be an effective solution for
years to come, after the present conditions
of violence and revolution have been
brought to a close
There is no record in the worlds history
save that furnished by Japan alone of O.
primitive race, whose civilization dates
back for centuries and which has suf-
fered mental or moral decay, recovering
itself, and assuming again place among
the leading nations Of the time VIII the
Chinese people realize that condition?
W IL NiASJI hAICll IliCy nave luTONn OIL Or
had thrown off for them by the young
er nations, the shackles which bind them
to the dead past, rise to the demand of
modern civilization. or will they as a
race show themselves incapable Of meet
ing the great obligations and opportunt-
ties which a national revival will throw
around them?
AS events are now progressing In the
Orient, 1t seems plain that upon the an
swer to that question must depend the
future outcome of the position which
foreign peoples are taking in the affairs
Of the Chinese empire