The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-04-17
Feeling the Squeeze.

So long as China's acquiescence in
the demands OF the powers consisted in
cutting off the heads of the officials
who had instigated the Boxer rising or
had been leaders In the war, her course
was along an easy and accustomed
way. The Dowager Empress may have
felt some twinges of remorse as her
tools went to execution, but such abra-
sions of Chinese sensiblities were
quickly healed. The real difficulty in
complying with the exactions OF the
offended governments of Europe
comes in settling their demands in
money or territory, and the difficulty is
not lessened by the circumstance that
the powers themselves may not all be
actuated by sense Of justice not en-
tirely unmixed with the alloy OF sell
fshness, not to say the dross of ex-
IRENE covetousness.
1t is clear that China will not be
left in condition to repeat the bloody
work of the past year. Foreigners res
ident in China and foreign interests in
the Empire will never again be ex-
posed to the peril and violence they
have suffered in the past twelve
months. China will be amerced not
simply vast sum in money for her at
tacks upon Europeans and the des-
truction of their lives and property;
she will remain for long period, if
not permanently, under foreign surveil-
lance. The Taku forts, commanding
the entrance Of the route to Pekin, are
to be dismantled and the road to the
Capital is to be kept always open and
unobstructed, rendering the seat of
government always accessible. China
is to remain in the future continually
at the mercy of the powers now repre-
scented on her soil in the negotiations
for indemnity for the past and security
for the future. Back of their demands
are fleets and military forces, already
in Chinese waters or on Chinese soil,
and reinforcements to any needed ex-
tent are within hail. Whether there
will be dismemberment OF China time
with the maturity of diplomacy in the
case will show. China's salvation, il
in her present emergency there is SAL
walton of her continued entity for the
most ancient of kingdoms, will come
from disagreements among the admin
istrators of her estate. The interests
OF the administrators, with the posi-
BILE exception of Russia, are so nearly
balanced that it is probable the empire
will be kept practically intact for the
dividends in plucking the future may
yield. Since the powers may not agree
on the partition of the real estate of the
decedent it may be more profitable to
hold it in common than to fight over it.
In the way Of territorial advantage
Russia has the stronger hand. She is
in Manchurie. She is there to stay.
She is not an unwelcome comer-to
the inhabitants. She is making herself
solid with the people. With the sword
in one hand, there is food in the other
for relief from starvation. Hunger did
not come in her train. She found it
there. 1t was legacy of the inCompe-
tency, the imbecility of the Chinese
government. Russia has lately been
receiving from the Manchurians con-
spicuous indications from the theatre
of her occupation that her presence
is not unwelcome. Russia has plaus-
IDLE pretext for her presence in Man
churia. Trade is following her flag
and her subjects are entering the prov-
ince in numbers and moro are on the
way. A competent authority on the
subject of Russian occupation of Mar
churia says:
That the tide will ever tn n the other
way is not in the nature Of hings.
China has granted concessions and
quick advantage has been taken Of
them. There can be no effective nc
tice to quit. All the materials for a
case which will warrant little contro-
versy have been placed in Russian
hands. In good faith millions of rou-
bles have been spent in Manchuria
The investment carries with it obligc-
tons with the fulfllment of which
fault cannot Justly be found, The
sword is there to protect. Without it,
locomotives would be ditched and
tracks torn up by hosties. Japanese
susceptibilties to The contrary notwith-