The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-27

In China respecting the imposi-
ton and collection Of a war in
demnity has given rise to .
great deal of discussion anent
the facility implied principle
involved OF monetary reparation for the
loss Of human life.
The rules governing the collection Of
this indemnity were submitted to the
ministers and approved by them at a
meeting which was held about the mid
die of March, and a plan was agreed to
for putting them into effect, SO it may
be accepted as settled that an indemni-
ty will be forced from China, whatever
may be her sentiments in the case On
the publication of these rules. however,
what may be termed an almost univer-
sal protest has been made against the
enforcement Of a penalty. especially Of
the magnitude mentioned, as wrong in
principle and excessive in amount
But an examination Of historical writ
ings goes to show that China's is not
an isolated instance Of the compound
ing for the loss Of human lives by
means Of filthy lucre, and that, IL the
original draft Of the measure be con-
frmed and accepted. the sum demand
ed viii not be much more than what she
paid to Japan after the war of 1915.
IN fact, she invoked the protection Of
virtually the same powers that are now
banded together for her humiliation
and was served far worse than if she
had treated with Japan alone. She was
given back Port Arthur and the Liau-
Tong peninsula by the treaty of Shi-
monoselSi, and the indemnity demanded
by Japan was pared down to the last
million Of taels.
But what was the result?
Russia demanded the -retroceded ter
ritory in return for her good Offices.
Germany took another section because
Russia had received so much. Great
Britain accepted another for the same
reason. and close behind her came
France. with resultant complications.
from which, If the great powers extri-
cate themselves without war and blood
shed. it VIII be through some unprece-
dented miracle Of diplomacy.
However. an appeal to precedents
viii show that other nations, and some
of them ranking China in the scale of
civilization. have been compelled to re-
extent than she is now called upon
to do.
Incredible as it might seem to be as a
principle. the precedent has long been
established Of a money compensation
for the loss of life, especially for the
killing OF foreigners in a country where
their rights We're supposed to be safe
followed this precedent not once only.
but several times particularly in the
matter of indemnifying China for the
murder of her own subjects in this
country. A notable instance was the
killing of Italians at New Orleans by
incensed citizens not many years ago.
The question Of their just deserts did
not enter into the calculation, but JUS
tica was demanded as a matter of inter
national comfy. In that case money
was rendered by Secretary of State
Blaine and was finally accepted by the
Italian government In essence. how
ever. it may be held that human life is
inestimable and cannot be compounded
for on the basis of a pecuniary value;
but. in fact it has been prOp0unded
and accepted as perhaps the only means
of reaching n nation or body of people
offending in this respect and assumed
as Il malSeshift for the purpose of tiding
over emergencies which might other
wise result disas trously.
Viewed as a matter or international
equity. the United States has contrib
uted something toward this method Of
compensatory adjustment, and one of