THE ENTANGLEMENTS ABOUT CHINA.
By T.
UNDER date of August 13 the New York World, speaking of the effort that the czar has made for the solution of the Chinese situation, said, "He has seen the obvious,—once a foreign force is seated there, dangerous complications and attempts at partition are all but inevitable." And then, making some further comments upon the situation, the editor of the World further asks, "Had we not better act on Russia's sensible and timely hint and begin to disentangle ourselves?" For the last day or two the despatches indicate that this country is about to combine with England in landing troops at Shanghai, in order, as stated, to protect commercial interests. The great slogan of the present time among the nations is "protecting commercial interests." In the interest of commerce how many millions of dollars are being used up in war, and how many thousands of lives are being destroyed! Is commerce worthy of so vast an expenditure of men and money? And would it not be better to get along without amassing such vast fortunes, thus saving the lives of the people and preventing these terrible entanglements into which the nations are so rapidly going? But we fear that no suggestions that can be offered will be of any benefit in the way of abating the great military fever that is raging in the world. Our only hope is in pointing men to the great and unmistakably clear prophecies that tell the meaning of these things. In thus doing we may be able to attract the attention of those who still have faith in the good old Book, and lead them to the refuge the Lord has prepared against the storm that Satan is bringing upon the world. The rescue of the ministers from Peking is only the beginning of this Chinese difficulty. Already complications are arising among the powers, and there is no forecasting what the end may be, except that we know this one thing, that these are the preliminary steps that are preparing the nations for the "battle of that great day." The shadow of Armageddon's great battle can already be seen coming over the world. Do not make the mistake that so many are making in these times, but understand the situation definitely, and prepare for the great issue.