The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-20
A POLICY OF BLOOD.

It is not surprising that the authorities
at Washington should be alarmed over
the more recent developments of the sit
uation in China, or that they should be
so profuse in their declarations of opinion
that the announced purpose of Count Won
Waldersee to engage the troops of the
allies in another raid into the interior is
without any foundation in truth Their
lack Of capacity for the initiative, and
their failure to insist upon anything
whatever which would hasten the restora-
ton of peace in China have resulted in
placing them in a very discreditable po-t-
ton and is doing violence to the wishes
and purposes of this people toward the
Chinese
When it became apparent, as it did to
The ordinary observer some months ago,
that this nation could do nothing to avert
the inevitable In China we should have
withdrawn our troops save such as we
might maintain there for the protection
Of the interests and safety of our own
people We ought at once to have with
drawn publicly and unequivocally from all
cooperation with the interested powers,
and have insisted In our own behalf upon
proper reparation for the wrongs done
us We could and can yet gain as much
In this direction, if not. more, by indie
pendent action than by cooperation with
powers which are daily re-enacting the
fable Of the wolf and the lamb in China.
1t does not really matter whether Count
NNaldersee does contemplate the raid
mentioned in the press dispatches. His
nation and its ruler make no secret Of
purpose to pursue policy Of blood in the
Orient The only restraint on the Ger
man emperor are those placed on him by
the mutual jealousies of the European
powers. If any intelligent observer can
discover anything in the conduct of those
powers in the aggregate or separately
which does not point to a similar policy,
held in. bond by exactly the same con-
siderations, his keenness of mental Wis
ion is to be commended.
1t is time for this nation to declare. an
iedependent policy in China. There is
nothing to be gained by playing second
fiddle in negotiations which all the indi-
cations are will be maintained indefinite
ly with view to further exaction, and
of further fastening the fangs of the
territorial wolves on the carcass of the
Chinese empire.
Cen Chaffee's instructions will be con-
CURED in by the country. 1t is crafty
ing to the national sense that he should
have such prompt and peremptory direc-
tion offered to him to withhold all CO.
operation with Waldersee. But the Amer
lean people seeks something more from
its representatives in Washington They
seek TO have the position of this country
in China more clearly defined, and to
have all show of military force with
drawn at the earliest moment AS a
means of coercion alone are troops now
being maintained by other powers in
China. In that attitude we are being
made to join, against the opinions AMI
wishes of the American people. The
sooner our representatives Withdraw
from equivocal a position and proceed
on their own account to adjust their diff
ficulties with those who are now charged
with representing the Chinese emperor.
the sooner will an end be reached by the
false policy which has been pursued
throughout