The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-18
ACCESSIBLE SOLUTION.

.S1,ppose that the wound that Prince
Ching received in his defense OF the IeEa-
tons at Pekin does not prove fatal, and
suppose that the poison drunk by kwans
Su, the Emperor, proves to be as harmless
as the dose that the Empress prepared for
herself, what will the effect Of this situa-
ton be on the final solution of the Chinese
question as It is to-day?
1t seems to Us that it will give a strik-
ing example OF another European concert
gotten up to raise funds for a hospital for
sick nations. Common sense and the desire
for money, both of which have SO far gov
erned nations more than the desire to
propagate grea: principles. will cause the
forsis., Powers to make certain demands
and to follow certain courses OF action when
they finally get into Pekin.
The first thing that will be demanded
will bs terrible reckoning in blood and
treasure for the loss OF those Europeans
tina: have fallen victims to the unrestrained
fury, OF the Chinese mob, and we must re-
member that Europeans have sacked the
holy city of Pekn before, and will do so
again.
Blu. tina experience with Turkey, that
other celebrated sick patient, and the
growing desire for foreign trade will lead
] the diplomatists inevitably TO adopt a
course of action tina: viii leave the admin
istration Of China in the hands OF Chinese
| officials. reserving to Europeans the right
| to trade with all protection for life and
| property.
| One thing is certain, that the foreigners
| Will not be unmindful Of the gallant as
sistance tina: Prince Ching lent them when
| their ENJOYS were making their sturdy
fight against Prince Tuan's rioters. AS a
representative Of the government Prince
| Ching fought to the end 10 repei an irsur-
rection that menaced both the internal and
external peace of China. and his brave and
statesmanlike course will mark him as a
| man upon whom the foreign governments
| can rely.
Prince Ching represents that type OF a
stateman that is always valuable TO a State
| in time Of national crisis. He is by nature
and by instinct conservative, and there-
| fore ne will not ALLEVIATE the great masses
| Of his fellow-countrymen But his intelli-
| Gence enables him TO SEQ the necessity for
| concessions to foreign ideas, not in clothes,
speech or religion but in railroads. manu-
| features and production.
| The foreign Powers will, therefore, in
| our opinion, pu, Prince Ching forward as
the the stalking horse through which
| China will be kept open for foreign trade.
| There seems to bs an unvaryinS consensus
| OF opinion tina: to partition China will mean
| more in men than the trade itself will be
| worth. And we observe further a diminu-
ton in the cry that soldiers and customs
duties maintained by thu European Powers
| for the money there is in it mean in them
| selves any real advance in civiliza ton for
| the Chinese people. The matter, apart
| from the bitterness caused by the recent
massacres, is now simply one Of cold bust
| ness. The manufacturers are seeking an
| outlet for their goods: China offers the
field that they desire, and the sole ques-
! ton that occupies the minds Of the various
! governments is how this fed can be OBJ
tanned with the least cost and trouble
| Prince Ching is the means that will be
used, in our opinion, and it will prove OF
benefit both TO China and to Europe to
| have SO valuable an intermediary between
| the advanced ideas on one side and con-
| servatism on the other.