The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-20

Now that the powers have withdrawn
their troops from China those who have
kept in touch with the progress OF affairs
in that empire are unable 10 state definitely
what the nations of the newer civilization
have gained by sending armies 70 the seat
of the most ancient civilization. The pow
ers sent armies TO China 10 relieve their
legations and put an end 10 the persecu-
ton Of foreigners by the Boxers. The
former was accomplished. but ii remains
to be seen il the lives and property of for
eigners will be more secure hereafter than
previous to the outbreak. To the Chinese
in the vicinity of Picking the superiority
of the European soldier over the Chinese
was demonstrated. but the cruelties prac-
ticed must have lessened the atrocities Of
the Boxers in the judgment of those Chi
nese who were robbed and who saw their
kindred wantonly murdered.
Aside from the immediate object of re-
lieving besieged legations and foreigners
in Picking the broader purpose of COM
polling restitution was to impress the Chi
nese government and people with the feel
representing modern civilization and must
conduct themselves in manner that will
be satisfactory TO the nations OF Europe
and the United States. True. the powers
have the promise of the Chinese authori-
ties to protect foreigners and their inter-
ests but while this promise has been given.
the willy Chinese leaders have seen that
the powers cannot agree upon policy to
be pursued i'm the event China does not
keep its pledge They have extorted from
the Chinese government a promise to pay
a large sum of money to indemnify for
eigners who have suffered loss. In consent
ing to pay this indemnity the Chinese diplo-
mats displayed a marked Indifference, caus-
ing a suspicion that they either did not in
tend TO pay the award or were satisfied
that the powers would indirectly pay it
themselves.
There can be no doubt that the vigor
with which the powers acted until Picking
was occupied impressed the Chinese rulers
that they were TO be held responsible for
observance OF the usages which are
law between modern nations, but when the
astute Chinese saw the diplomatic repre-
sentatives of the powers spending weeks
in proftless contention they discovered that
it would be impossible for them to unite
upon a policy for the control of China. In
their eagerness to obtain advantage over
each other in China they might involve
themselves in a war. but all of them could
not agree upon a line of policy which would
enable them to control that empire Ger
tainly. the months spent in useless confer
ence must have forced the world to con-
clude that the powers are unable to die
tate TO China because they cannot agree.
Two or three points for which the United
States has contended have been settled,
namely. that the Chinese empire must not
be parceed out to European nations and
that the door to China will be open to all
nations alike so far as II is opened. No
other essential points have been even mega
lively agreed to. What Russia has pro-
posed Great Britain has rejected. In all
that has been done attempted Great
Britain has displayed the greatest lack of
purpose because it was expected that that
government would lead For the most part
ii has found fault and then acquiesced.
Members of the Ministry have limited at
an Anglo-German agreement, but the idea
was fouted by Germany.
So 1T has come about now that all the
armies have left China. and left it really
more hostile to foreigners and foreign in
fluence than when they went there TO res
8
outrages perpetrated by soldiers and more
dangerous because the lack of unity on the
part of the powers has led Chinese rulers
10 believe they cannot unite to enforce
observance of the rights recognized by
civilized nations. Consequently fresh out
RACES may be expected.