The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-22
China md Civilization.

rLbina- observed Mr.. WI 1ing-fanS,
Chinese Minister at Washington. in lis
Philadelphia address Tuesday evening,
should not be judged according to the
foreign standard" We presume not.
This is not the first time that Mr.. WI
and his colleagues at London and St Pc
tersburg have assured us that, in judg
ing China, We should accept Chine Sc
standards. ideals. ethics. and practices as
entirely proper where China is concerned
We should also accept the structures of
WI and other Cinnamon upon Western
people and Western civilization as both
just and generous.
From this point of view we ought to be
grateful to WI for the forebearance he
displayed in his latest public utterance.
True his animadversons were severe
but they were expressed in courteous and
dignified language. He naturally blamed
foreigners for the recent unfortunate
occurrences in China Too polite to
make the charge directly. it is evident
that. Mr. WI believes that. in order to
bring about the fall of the Manchu dynas
ty. and the partition of the Empire. the
civilized States, through their ENJOYS and
missionaries. have been for years steadily
cnnspiring TO incite the Boxer rising. and
the butchery OF diplomatisis, preachers.
and teachers, with all their women and
children. How nearly this plot has sue
cecded the world knows.
We cannot concur with Mr.. WI in judy
inc ba lafa All IN
standard. When denouncing the Govern
ments and peoples OF civilized States for
their shortcomings he would do well TO
remember that. while his Government was
attempting TO carry the foreign legations
in Pekin By force and arms. with the
sentatives of friendly powers and their
wives, children, guards, and servants. he
was treated with complete courtesy in
Washington and his countrymcn within
the United States were in no instance in
terfered with. The same is true of the
Chinese Ministers and Cinnamon general
ly in Europe Mr.. WI should be lenient
to US when he compares the position of
Chinese subjects in America with thar of
Americans in China, at time when the
amiable Empress Dowager had ordered
their determination for the crime of be-
ing foreigners. She did, in fact. cause the
horrible torturing and murder of a lot of
American women and children at Paoting-
flu. But all these small mistakes of policy
her envoy is cheerfully willing to over
N ha
course pursued by the foreign yellow press
in China. He says that in 1t, columns
are devoted daily 10 denouncing the Chi
nese- Government and its officials. and
condemning very,hing which the people
hold dear and sacred. The recent unfor-
for the foreign press. II furnishes them
with material for Safeguarding the Gov
eminent and people of China without
stint"
This recent unfortunate uprising"-the
more unfortunate for China because in
cited, fos;ered. and 0rdered-by the Chinese
has Indeed furnished writer's
for the press with material with which to
shock the world. Their occasional tempta-
ton TO ''blackguard'' the Government OF
China, Mr.. WI must not regard in the
light of Chinese standards. II this country
and its people had retaliated upon the
Celestial envoy and his people, had de-
molished his legation crucified him and his
and slaughtered every China
man in the United States. that course of
procedure would have been essentially Chi
nese and eminently proper from the Mon
golian point of view. Ii would not have
been in accordance with the ideas or meth
DDS of the West. So, the foreign press in
China, working on civilized lines. could
hardly avoid annoyance on learning that
The Government at Pekin had offered re-
wards for all foreign men. women, and
children delivered TO il alive that they
might be put TO a lingering death with all
he refinements of torture resulting from
he eminent talent for hellishness which
he Chinese have been at great and con-
slant pains 10 develop through many ages.
Neither could continual reports of sicken-
ng outrages and brutalities. visited upon
peaceful and helpless women and children
W Government officials in various parts OF
he Empire. be treated with Indifference or
evity by critical yellow press.
The principal trouble with Mr. WI is
hat. like his race in general. he inter- |
rets Mr.. McKinley's cut and scuttle policy |
8 a confession that We had no right to |
and troops in China, nor to Interfere with