New-York tribune., 1901-08-15
TWO CHINESE "SETTLEMENTS." :"

The long discussed protocol is 10 be signed
to-day we are told, at Peking, and thus 'hnal
settlement" of the Chinese problem Will he
effected. Commenting upon the terms of the
settlement, The Spectator" of London, recently
declared that Il did not believe the settlement
70 be final at all Such unbelief was and is
quite safe II is indeed scarcely conceivable
that any one is so credulous SO imaginative
as seriously to regard the present settlement as
final 1t cannot be final, for 1t has none of the
essential characteristics of fnality. A final
settlement must settle things. This one does
not. 1t exacts an indemnity for some past i'll
deeds OF China. IL secures no adequate assur-
ance against repetition of those deeds. Above
all. it does nothing toward so reforming the
Chinese system as TO bring the empire into line
with modern civilization and 10 make impos-
sible any recurrence OF the hostile manifesto
tions against foreigners which have so often
marked modern Chinese history. The Gods of
Things AS They Are have prevailed. The CHI
nese have acted savagely toward foreigners.
The foreigners have retorted upon the Chinese
with still worse savagery. A big indemnity is
TO be exacted. And as for the rest everything
Will go on Just as before. until there are some
more Boxer outbreaks and some more ferocious
reprsals by the Christian powers.
A few years ago there was another settlement
with China or one was attempted 1t was
made not by a concert OF powers but by a
single power, and that not a Christian power
of long established civilization, but by what we
call a heather power. lately emerged from bar
barism. It was a settlement which involved pay
ment Of an indemnity proportionately trifiing
compared with the one now to be exacted and
the cession of territory much less in extent
than that which is now being grabbed. But it
/ Ill, .l,o IL
vided for the complete reformation OF the Chi
nese Government and Of the Chinese admins
trative system, and for the full and free opening
of the whole Chinese Empire TO intercourse
with all the world. 1t provided for bringing
China into touch with Europe and America and
for making impossible a recurrence of the evil
conditions which have long prevailed. II
was a settlement which looked toward the
future more than toward the past II CON
tanned the essential elements of equitable final
ity. II was calculated to put an end, and a
just and benefcent end. at once and forever 10
the whole Chinese question"
But neither was that a final settlement
That was because II was not permitted TO 90
into effect. A fatuous combination of Chris
tian powers, led by the very power which has
done most 10 make the present settlement
mOckery upon 1nality, interposed its Veto under
military threats and thus prevented the Jap
anese settlement with China from going into
effect. The direct and logical sequel TO that
Intervention was the Boxer outbreak Of last
year II is a sad chapter in the history OF
selfish marplotry. The European powers would
not let Japan make wise, just and final settle
ment of the Chinese problem. And now they
themselves have made settlement which is
not wise nor just final. The contrast
between their work and Japan's is not TO their
credit. We do not mean that individually the
powers are not as capable as Japan OF making
! a proper settlement. Doubtless they are. But
as we have often hitherto pointed out. in this
case and in Others the action Of a concert of
the powers does not represent their collective
wisdom and justice. but rather their aggregated
Jealouses, prejudices and animosities. To some
extent indeed the present settlement may be
commended. But 1t does not go far enough. 1t
does not touch the root OF the matter And 10
regard IL as a final settlement would be opti-
mism so extreme as to be fantastic.