The Washington times., 1901-07-06
Circulation Statement.
Chinese Conditions and Relations.


Nothinz that might happen in China
probably would surprise anyone, and,
optimistic as the Administration has
announced itself all along, it cannot be
without uneasiness concerning the fu-
ture. that is, unless it altogether ig-
nores the reports and statements OF
Mr.. RockhilI, who knows the native
character, speaks and writes the Ian
guage of Confucius, and has had long
and valuable experience in the Flow
cry Kingdom.
Danger signals are being seen in va
rious parts Of the Empire, and they
have reference to the early withdrawal
of the European and Japanese troops.
The Court, at Singan-fu, still lulls the
Ministers of the Powers with fair
words. but the secret agents Of more
than one Old World Government report
that the Empress Dowager, who is in
control as much as she was when she
ordered the attack upon the legations,
is pushing war preparations through
her following of generals and mandar-
ins. and that a more terrible outbreak
of anti foreign agitation than happened
the minute the soldiers are removed.
This view agrees with the gist Of pri-
vate reports received in this country
for several months past They all in
dicate the utter uselessness of relying
upon the fendish old woman Tsi-Hsi,
and the results which VIII follow if she
is allowed to continue in imperial con-
troll. She has learned nothing from the
lesson Of the invasion. In spite of the
demands ard exactions of the Powers
and their concession by her special
ENJOYS, it is plain enough that she has
been sparring for wind all along, and
playing merely to get the largest part
possible of the foreign devils out Of the
country, in order to begin another war
against WesterneTs generally ana mis-
sionaries and legationers in particular.
The outlook, therefore, is not promis-
ing for peace or an ultimate settlement
with China. Since January, 1900, that
Government has treated Us only with
duplicity and treachery. The attempts
TO massacre our diplomatic representa-
tiyes and eyangellsts, the latter largely
successful. are not unlikely to be re-
peated when the coast is once free Of
foreign armies.
In this connection If may be as well
to remark that the impendins effort Of
the Chinese residents Of this country TO
induce our Government not to extend
the Geary Chinese Exclusion Act is !
hardly q happy one. 1t is true that the |
law in question was enacted in defiance 7
Of a solemn and binding treaty. AS |
long as China maintained a dignifed /
and decent attitude toward the family |
OF nations in relations with her, the |
Geary act placed and kept US in the |
wrong as far as international ethics |
were concerned, although the strict /
construction Of international law does /
not oblige civilized nations to observe |
the same religious care in relations 1
with barbarous peoples that they are /
held to as between themselves. Still, |
the Burlingame Treaty waived that /
point by Implication at least, and the /
exclusion act furnished tenable Chi |
nese grievance, UP to the time that /
the she-devil who in effect rules China /
ordered the butchery of the Americans
In our legation and throughout the
Empire. That action and what fol- |
lowed it relieve US OF any feeling of
conscience in our treatment Of the Chi
nese exclusion question All the pcti-
tions and appeals Of Cinnamon now in
the United States. asking that we shall
open our ports to the unrestricted i'm
portatiOn Of the hordes OF Asia, viii
merely amount to waste of time and
paper. The Geary act perhaps may
not in terms be re-enacted, but there
is as little probability that the open
door OF America viii be opened TO Chi
nese immigration as there is that the
Chinese indemnity ever viii be paid
short Of another punitive invasion