The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-16
The Administration Chinese Policy.

The last faint ray OF hope Tor the I'M
prisoned Ministers and foreigners in Pekin
has been dispelled. At none of the worlds
capitals is it believed that any of them are
alive today There may be differences OF
opinion as TO dates or details, but not any
as to the main fact. To some extent the
story OF Saturday purporting to describe
the murder OF the Russian Minister and
his wife was yesterday discredited by a
despatch from st. Petersburg. which de-
MED that such news had been received by
the Car or Government. Nevertheless,
We are strongly inclined to accept 1t as
probably true on account of its practical
agreement with the native gossip of
Shanghai and Chefoo a week ago. But,
whether true or not, the civilized powers
and peoples have settled down to the con-
yiction that a massacre has occurred and
that all the people gathered within the
legations at the end OF June have been
butchered.
If the Administration, which is as fully
convinced as people generally are that the
hideous crime in question has been COM
mittcd would now display the proper en-
ergy and show a brave and intelligent pur-
pose to do its whole duty without any
palterng whatever. We might consider it
inopportune If not unpatriotic TO indulge
in harsh criticism OF its past course in
the connection. But, unfortunately. the
situation, horrible as it is, does not seem
sufficiently so to disturb the equanimity Of
in ro,rer
Mr.. Mckinley, it is again reported, has
no present idea of returning to his post of
duty and is said TO avoid the Chinese ques-
ton in his front porch conversations. 1t
is limited that there is division of counsel
among the Department heads regarding
the policy and methods 10 be pursued in
the crisis In other words, the claws of
the eagle. who should be preparing for a
swoop upon the wretches who have de-
stroyed her offspring, are palsied with
hesitation and delay. In the Administra-
ton circle the question is rot: What is
our duty in the circumstances. but: What
effect would a given line of action have
upon the vote in Ohio or New York or
some other place? What is it to the trust
magnates and their political agents that
our diplomatic representatives, American
women and children, gallant company of
our marines and a devoted band of our
missionaries have been tortured to death
in the streets of Pekin? 1t is far more
important that all the forces of partisan
government should be exclusively used to
the end that the country may have four
more years of unbridled control by Grim
inal monopolies. and four more years of
colonial exploitation and loot outside of
and in defiance OF the Constitution.
One would think that the consciousness
OF grave responsibility for the Pekin TO ror
would shock the Administ alton into sc-
ton. Weeks ago. in ample time 10 have
rescued the legation people, the late Min
lister Conger notified the State Department
of the terrOrs of the situation. Genera
Miles urged that troops be sent at once, IN
sufficient force 10 escort our people to the |
coast. Some preliminary plans in that d. /
rection we're N;scissed, but there izte: e |
ended Ther65was no doub. then. ard tha!e |
is rot any now, that. If we had despatch |
a brigade to .Taku early in June, 1t wo Ii |
have been Joined by Russian force equal |
in numbers, and the,two bodies would have |
been able TO force passage 10 Pskin and |
would not have been seriously opcos d. |
Why was net something of the kind doce? |
The answer undoubtedly is that the idea |
of succoring Minister Conger was absn- |
doned in Difference to the wishes OF Great |
Britain. That power, being preoccuriei in /
South Africa, did not desire any movement |
on the part of Mr.. Mckinley that would |
Justify or excuge the smallest Ru-s,an mill |
itary activity in China. Because Great |
force our legation guards, Russia would do
the same the Americans in Pekin were loft |
TO their fate.
Now that they are no more. and tn
blood cries for vengeance, the irsrltad ard
horror-stricken civilized ra,.ozs of tn
one excepted-sre wo XII z vi
feverish haste TO prepare for TIE task CT
which promises 10 X tn }. IL
itary resources of all combined Il i;fo.
open to question that our intere-t7 en-! or
duty IN the premises are as great aad i'm
peratiye as those of any other goKcr h |
United States owes 1t to Itself AMI 10 |
to take a Leading Part in plli; h
ing the Chinese fcnds. Tina: course is
accessory to inspire respect for anisf.sr.c CT
he Republic In the future, so tnat. In da 81
o come. our people travelling Or nee ssari.y