The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-02-20

alleged to have suffered. In each
case, it is probable that the amount
demanded and received far exceed
ed any just claim. The excess in the
case of the United States was per-
haps less than in that Of the other
powers participating, but the $24,
100000 exacted by this country is
now known to have been vastly in
excess of reason. So intense was
the feeling of the late secretary of
state, John Hay. against this extor-
ton that he urged up to the time of
his death that the indemnity be re-
turned to China.
Now. with 100000 inhabitants,
Of the flooded provinces starving to
death, another former secretary of
state, John w. Foster, is urging the
same course. In support Of his de-
mand the Boston Advertiser cites au-
thority for the statement that the
entire American claims which have
been filed cannot possibly exceed
S2,O0O,000. If this assertion Is
true, then the United States is placed
In the disgraceful light of withhold
ing from that famine-stricken coun-
try the great sum Of $4,000. 900.
This is a poor testimonial to the
American sense Of fairness. While
the indemnity was ostensibly exactei
because Of the mission stations de-
stroyed, it is significant that there is
not missionary organization in the
United States which approves of the
extortion. The missionaries them
selves denounce it as a shameless
piece of robbery. as un-Christian as
it was excessive.
The plea is made, however, that
the United States. in exacting this
money, is doing no worse than the
other nations represented in the
march to Picking. This will hardly
be sufficient salve to the American
consciousness Of being in disgrace
full combine to plumber weak ma
ton. The exaction Of these vast
indemnities has been one Of the
causes Of the present distress. There
have been floods and crop failures
before. but the effects of these
| natural causes have immeasurably
been increased by the fact that all
China. in order to pay the indemni-
ties, has been drained of the coin
with which its people would have
bought food. Some millions of Chi
nese are starving to death by inches
because the Christian world is
determined to make the yellow men
pay fictitious damages, and the peo-
pie are thus staggering under taxa
ton which has eaten up their SUBJ
stance. 1t is hardly good excuse
for US that other Christian" nations
are in the same bad business. The
Advertiser Is therefore fully justified
In saying:
We believe that the Christian men
and women Of the United States
would be glad to have Congress pass
a resolution authorizing thepresident
to pay back to China the $4,000.
900 which VIII still remain after
every American claim has been set
tied In full. That would be honest
That would be"Christian.." The
money smells too strongly of starva-
tion and death to do any good to y
nation which does not need ito and
which takes It only because China
is too weak to protest against the inn
pudent robbery.
This nation cannot AFFORD to be q
partaker in such graft" whatever
the great powers Of Europe do.
Send the money back.
The return Of this indemnity
would add another to the important
and progressive presidents which
the United States has contributed to
international relations. and It would
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