Evening star., 1901-12-19
Should Hetire the Empress DowaEer
and Follow Japan's Example.

and Follow Japan's Example.
From the Shanghai Mercury, October 81.
With the signing Of the protocol and the
withdrawal of troops the most threatening
danger of the far eastern question was
over, and Europe heaved a sigh Of relief
only less deep than that of China. Men
were glad to have done with troublesome
business which threatened more trouble
than it was likely to bring profit, and SO
when peace came, with it came relief Bet
ter relations have arisen, the British and
French troops have met each other in the
fe1d-the foot bah field-as friendly rivals,
and affairs on the surface are assuming a
more satisfactory appearance. But below
the surface there Is much yet to be ar
ranged. There are difficult commercial de-
tails yet to be discussed, financial diff
cnlties still to be adjusted, and political
questions affecting not only the northern
but the central parts Of the empire still to
be threshed out.
1t is the last that at the moment are the
most pressing. Russia is making promises
with regard to Manchuria. She could not
do otherwise in view of her repeated decla-
rations Of self-denial last year. But be-
hind and beneath the premises there are
stih grave reasons for distrust on the part
of China. Our teiegraphic information
party and the Yang-tse viceroys who are
supported largely by those in other and
more southern provinces. It is evident that
China would never give up Manchuria un-
less the empress dowager and her party
hoped to get some Overwhelming return In
the way OF support, and there seems little
reason to doubt that this support has been
more than limited at By some Of the agents
OF the European state concerned But It
will be well for the Chinese to remember
that Russia has, as we have lately demon-
strated, habit Of allowing great latitude
to her distant representatives, and of dis
owning their promises and even their deeds
whenever 1t suits her to do SO.
Ii China remembers this, and If she gets
thoroughly into her head the fact that thr
loss Of Manchuria will be the first abso-
lutely irretrieyable step toward her partf-
ton. she may then be induced to stand
firm, secure in the support OF all the powers
who wish to see her Independent and NOT
dismembered. Dispatches published recent
ly mention Great Britain and Japan as the
countries to which the court would look
for support in withstanding Russian an
gresston. But England and Japan do not
stand alone. There are Germany and the
United States equally Interested in the
maintenance Of the status quo. and were
China to rise to the occasion, insist on the
retirement of the empress dowaeer and
once for all throw In her lot with the nro
gressive west, the result in the course of
one single generation wepld be a second
Japan, with greater strength and more so-
lidity.
The suggestion that the .Yangtse viceroys
may be- sacrificed and with them all who
Manchu and his Boxer pets Is one which
opens up very serious atestion-so seri-
Gus that we cannot believe any action of
Inc sort can really be contemplated. Great
Britain Is too deeply engaged with the loyai
mandarins to permit their abandonment to
the tender mercies Of an angry court and
Its disappointed parties Were ANYTHING Of
the kind really contemplated we should ex-
pect to see strong naval demonstration in
the Yangtse. - -