The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-18

gof tite News sedi tor'ais rs to- drnwink,
sccncluslotls, therefore, It would appear
that China has small choice.
But the News goes on very scnsibly:
"Ot course, We know that there are
those who will nrgue that we would have
taken no sticll course toward Great
Britain, France or Germany, and WHO see
no difference between these countries and
China. Yet the difference is vast. We
know precisely I,ow the British, French
and German governments would con-
duct Themselves, and VIC know that they
are botli able and willing oRprotect don't.
scicd Foreigners, ~. III M Il 4 q
This is quite true. 1t cannot we'll be
disputed that tile Chinese government
has often admitted that 1t could not on
force its own laws, compel obedience from
Its officers, or even suppress rebellion
against the Emperor" Admitting the
duty Of, "a government to protect Its cit
izens, wherever they may be, II would
seem to follow naturally, that the nature
and degree Of that protection must vdry
With flo character OF u; the country In
question. But tie News, differentiation
between the great European powers and
China seems to be1incomplete. One rea-
son why we would not exhibit the same
policy toward Germany. say, as We are
now exhibiting toward China Is, as It
says that Germany probably would not
require IL. THE other, mt least equally
patent, is that We should snot dare to
do so. % q As n II ;l|Esl
1t might Nc suppose, be slarsucd that
missionaries and others who deliberately!
place themselves I'm hostile or dangerous
territory may not reasonably expect that
the armies OF their: governments should
be kept at their ready disposal. Con-
,ceding, however the general principle
of this protection, how far should NC all
low 1t toa carry us Would we allow
rumors OF possibly impending danger to
American residents in Germany, sup
posing that to be conceivable. TO lead US
to action which that country would justi-
fiably regard rs cause of war? II not
we have no right TO stale such action
In regard to China. II China had ton
times her present military strength, would
we have informed her SO openly that we
were making all preparations to land
troops within her borders To adopt to-
ward a weak country an attitude which
we should not dare adopt toward a strong
one is to play the part of a bully and
a coward.
The fact that We own territory close
to tho proposed scene of action is, more
over mere chance. The juxtupostion
OF the Philippines is an accident How
are we to protect our residents in foreign
countries near which we have no pos
sessions? Are we to argue from such a
precedent that 1t Is our duty to begin
at once the acquisition OF military bases
all over the globe, that our soldiers may
be always near to the spots where Amer
leans may have straycd into danger2
The threatened uprising In China Is de-
scribcd as anti-foreign in intent. II 1t is
in reality to be directed exclusively against
the Americans, there is. to our shame.
good reason for it. II on the other hand,
as is much moro probable, 1t is generally
anti-foreign.in nature, 1t Is worth noting
that none OF the other powers have as
yet announced TO the world that they are
llurrying forward offensive preparations.
II they have regarded military prepa-
rations as necessary. they have made
them propcrly-in an unobtrusive. quiet
and diplomatic way. This country is alone
in having advertised its fears.
We would remain the defenders of
the administration that the chief ground
for criticismsis not that 1t has Thought
1t necessary to prepare for trouble in
China. but that it has made these prcpa-
.rations with public flourish altogether
in defiance OF the recognized rules Of
diplomacy. That we have felt free thus
to disregard international etiquette. with
"a friendly power whom we have already
given excellent cause for offense. is diff
cult to explain on any other grounds than
that We have felt that we could do SO
with mpunity.
st7rs Z n