The Washington herald., 1908-02-19
For SaIe-Loot.

As nation we have fair cause to feel
little and ashamed this week over the
disposal at auction OF what is frankly ad-
mitted 10 be loot from the imperial
palaces of Pekin. stolen during the siege
OF the legations in 1900. The true story OF
this looting has. perhaps. never been told
fully-it Is too shameful and hideous in
all its aspects. though many frightful
glimpses of the truth may be had in the
'Indiscreet Letters from Pekin.' pub
lished about a year ago by Mr.. Putnam
Weale. who vouches for the accuracy Of
his facts. II is true that the looting was
not confined to any one of the conquering
nations-English. French, Germans. Japa-
nese, and Americans We're all tarrcd by
the same brush II is true that there
have been many apologists who have de-
clared that the Americans stayed their
| hands. and were not SO rapaciOus or
greedy in theT stealing rs the other ma
tionalities, but it is-in view of the pub
L ished facts-doubtful whether this is true.
Certainly America and Americans got
their share OF the valuable loot. and much
of il has come TO this country in the
hands OF private individuals. We have
tried TO forget the unpleasantness Of IL
all and TO gloss the thing over but the
shame of il will not down. and it is now
revived in a most brazen way by the ad-
vertiSements setting forth the fact that
the collection Of loot made by the wife
of the former American Minister to
China is to come under the auctioneer' 5
Chinese porcelains, enamels, brasses.
bronzes, jades, ivory carvings, Iacquers.
Buddhas ancient weapons. a great num-
Der Of imperial and mandarin robes. origi-
nal rolls of rich silks and gold brocades
which were made for the imperial house
hold. beautiful hanginGs and palace en-
broideries," &c, Sc These things.
frankly stolen from the imperial palaces.
are to be sold TO the highest bidder As
they were the property of the American
Minister TO China, they came into the
country duty free.
With the loss 10 China Of these valuable
art objects. many Of them Of intense his
toric interest, we have nothing 20 do.
| That the nation was despoiIed after the
siege Of the legations was only part Of a
weIl-deserved punishment for cruel dou-
| ble-dealing. but what concerns rs as a
nation Is the spectacle Of the wife Of an
American Minister 10 the desnoiled coun-
/ try frankly selling these spells, Il is said
! that most Of these things were bought by
| their present owners from the looters.
and We all know that they were bought
| for a 1.-THE of their real value. The sol
! diers who stole these things were glad OF
any market. for they could carry little
away with them; and in the far East to-
| day stories are still told. with many a
Chuckle, of ignorant soldiers selling dia-
mond-studded watches and priceless
/ bronzes for a handful of Mexican dollars.
It would be interesting 10 know Just
what the Conger collection Of loot cost in
actual money. but this VIII never be
/ known in all probability. We shall know.
at the end or the sale. what the valuabIes
bring. and that should be Illuminating.
/ Meanwhile, the fact OF the sale must
/ give our Chinese friends food for
thought. 1t is hard 70 see how the mo-
rality of the case can be defended on any
grounds. Without mincing words. the
property that is 10 be put up at auction is
stolen property, and the shame Of this
/ lootins rests, in a measure. upon us all
as American citizens