The Results of the China Invasion
The news comes from Peking, China, that the peace protocol has at last been signed, and that several of the foreign ministers are leaving the Chinese capital. The San Francisco Chronicle thus sums up the net results of the invasion of China and the negotiations which followed: “The interior of China is no more accessible to western commerce and civilization than it was before. The relative status of the foreign powers with China, excepting Russia, is where it was before the Boxer uprising started. Foreign missionaries are restrained from performing any of the secular functions which they formerly exercised and from intermeddling in the secular affairs of the country. The looting of the palaces of Peking and the raiding of the surrounding country have more intensely inflamed the Chinese against foreigners. The vicarious punishments which were exacted for the massacres humbled nobody in authority. The intensity of the native hatred of foreigners is again in evidence in Peking, where they are being jostled in the streets, now that the foreign troops are not present to afford protection. Europeans are, in fact, regarded more than ever as oppressors, with whom non-intercourse is a duty. . . . As the indemnity must be collected through the customs, its payment reacts upon the nations imposing it. It becomes a direct burden upon foreign commerce. The results to western civilization have thus been practically barren. Russia alone of all the powers has profited by the experience. She has acquired control of Manchuria, with which she has been in contact and has coveted for two and a half centuries.” Thus how little has been accomplished by “Christian nations” that went out as such to teach the heathen respect for themselves and their civilization. The lesson which it should teach is that Christianity is not advanced by sword and rifle. God’s Word, accompanied by the power of His Holy Spirit, is the only weapon able to conquer the heathen abroad or at home. “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” Prince Chun, brother of the Chinese emperor, was received by Emperor William at Potsdam, on September 4, the prince expressing the sorrow of his brother over the massacre of the German minister at Peking. The ceremony was designed to impress the Chinese with Germany’s view of the solemnity of the mission upon which they had come. The buttons and epaulets of the emperor’s white uniform were enveloped in crape. The Chinese envoy was given no salute by the body-guard, nor accorded any honors until his mission had been completed. Afterward the usual courtesies of royalty were accorded the Chinese prince. A despatch from Peking states that the Chinese are chuckling over what they regard as Prince Chun’s victory, and Russia is profiting by the incident. Foreseeing that Germany would moderate her demands, the Russians daily advised the Chinese to remain firm and thus embarrass Germany, declaring that the czar was interceding with Germany to spare China an indignity. Accordingly the Chinese attribute Prince Chun’s success to Russian assistance. President McKinley delivered an address to the visitors at the Pan-American Exposition on September 5, in which he declared the policy of the government to be in favor of reciprocity treaties with other nations, the building of the isthmian canal; the laying of a Pacific cable; and the encouragement of the merchant marine. The speech was at once taken up by all the press of Europe and England as a declaration of America’s policy to forge forward in commercial conquests. While most of the comment was friendly in tone, still much of it showed a fear of America’s domination in the commercial world, the same fear that has given rise to the European discussion of a combination against America. The president’s declaration that isolation was no longer possible nor desirable was in other words a declaration that the policy of “expansion” would continue to be the policy of the government of the United States. Numerous war vessels of foreign nations are assembling in the vicinity of the disturbances in Colombia to be prepared to act in case of danger to foreign residents. The United States battle-ship Iowa arrived at Panama on September 8. Residents of the seaport towns of Colombia are leaving for the United States. The forces of the government and the rebels are face to face, and it is reported that a pitched battle may occur at any time. The little fleet of Venezuela is reported to be about to attack the seaport towns of Colombia. It is also reported that Ecuador is sending a force for the invasion of Colombia. The United States Government has offered to mediate between the two republics, but Venezuela has politely refused the offer, and Colombia has not replied. According to a contemporary, only 4 of Kentucky’s 94 counties permit the open sale of liquor; in these 90 counties liquor can be sold only on a physician’s prescription. The State of Texas has 120 prohibition counties, Georgia 133, Missouri 84, Tennessee 70, North Carolina 60, Florida 39, Virginia 55, Alabama 50, Arkansas 50, and West Virginia 40. The army transport Dix arrived at San Francisco on September 5, with the bodies of 325 soldiers who had died in China and the Philippines. It is reported that the Russian embassy at Constantinople is arranging a settlement of the difficulty between France and Turkey. A decree has been drawn up by the French Government expelling a number of Turkish officials from France. A despatch from London states that Holland is now demanding satisfaction from Turkey for the violation of the Dutch legation in Constantinople by the Turkish police, who forced an entrance while pursuing a man whom they wished to arrest. A British cruiser recently prevented a Turkish vessel from landing troops on a certain island in the Persian Gulf. The Turkish ambassador at London has informed the British Government that such action is incompatible with friendly relations. The troubles of Turkey are increasing. The steel trust still maintains its attitude of non-compromise with the leaders of the strike, and while propositions have passed between the parties at variance, peace has not been declared, and the strike is still on. The trust is operating at least a portion of its mills, and there are some signs of disintegration in the ranks of the strikers. The war between employed and employer in San Francisco has not yet been declared off. Vessels are unloading and drays are moving, but the strikers refuse to yield, and violent assaults upon laborers are of frequent occurrence. At San Bernardino, California, 300 skilled machinists went on strike on September 9 at the railway shops of the Santa Fe railway, the company having refused their demand for time and a half for holidays. The proposition to combine the bituminous coal-mining companies of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, and Kentucky, under the management of Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, seems to be assuming definite shape. The existing companies are to be maintained, as in the case of the United States Steel Corporation, but the general direction will rest in a great corporation, organized under the laws of New Jersey, which will own a controlling majority of the stock of each company and elect its officers. In this way, to all practical purposes, a trust will be formed, while still maintaining the outward appearance of separate companies; and whatever law might be aimed at trusts would be unable to touch such combinations or limit their activity. General Kitchener’s proclamation threatening death to all Boers found bearing arms in South Africa after September 15 has drawn out counter proclamations from at least two of the Boer commanders in the field. De Wett has proclaimed that he will shoot all British troops found in Orange River Colony after September 15, and Myburg has ordered that all armed colonials found after that date be shot. It is reported that trains are now being operated over the New York Central road with a motive power of hot water. Each car carries a motor underneath its platform and also a tank of hot water. The hot water is injected into the chamber of the motor and exploded into steam in a high-pressure cylinder, after which it is conducted to a low-pressure cylinder. The water is heated at stationary furnaces along the line. A report from China states that the city of Foochow has been practically destroyed by fire. Only sections of the outskirts and buildings along the water-front were left. The loss to foreign traders alone is placed at more than a million dollars. Many of the natives turned looters, and in suppressing the looting large numbers were slashed and stabbed by swords and bayonets in the hands of the soldiers. A new disease has made its appearance among the cattle, horses, and swine of eastern British Columbia and Alberta. The disease resembles influenza, but is severer and quicker in its work. The majority of the animals afflicted are paralyzed for forty-eight hours before death. Those that do not die from the disease remain paralyzed, and have to be killed. The German Government’s annual report in the matter of strikes shows that during the year 1900 there were in Germany 1,433 strikes. By these strikes 7,740 different business concerns and 298,819 persons were affected. Of the business concerns affected by these strikes 2,733 were completely closed. The German war-ship Cormorant recently visited the Mathias Islands to punish the natives for the murder of a German scientist and his party. In the fight between the men of the war-ship and the natives, 80 of the latter were killed and 17 captured and deported. The czar of Russia was met by the king of England at Copenhagen on September 9, and together they journeyed to Fredensborg, where a grand banquet was given at which all the British, Russian, and Danish royalties were present. The Cotton Belt passenger train was held up by six masked men at Eylau, Tex., on the night of September 3, the robbers securing, it is claimed, about $50,000. They have not yet been placed under arrest. Mormon missionaries who are now in Japan propagating their doctrine, have been mobbed in the streets, and have been ordered by the police to leave the villages in which they have been preaching. The steamer Dolphin arrived at Seattle from Alaska, on September 4, bringing, it is reported, $1,500,000, mostly in drafts held by the passengers.