THE CHINESE POSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11536, 22 November 1900, Page 4

THE CHINESE POSITION.

xHE present Chinese position would unless the report that the Dowager Empress is secretly preparing for war be true—appear to have simplified into a question whether the guilty princes are to be imprisoned or executed. But, in reality, the question is not only whether the guilty princes are to go unpunished or not, but whether they are to be left in control of China or not. For we know the Chinese well enough to know certainly that any statement as to the degradation and imprisonment of the Imperial "Boxers" is less than valueless. These Princes are still in authority at the Imperial Court, that is to say, they are the actual rulers of all China not occupied by the Allies. Their surrender and execution would be a complete and unquestionable victory for civilisation. Their escape will be, to many of their ignorant millions, as complete and unquestionable a victory for savagery. The brutal and inhuman slaughter and outrage perpetrated by some of our Allies will but inspire the Chinese with hatred and desire for "revenge; but the stern condemnation and ruthless execution of the guilty who sit in high

places is British in thought and deed, and worthy of our soldiery. Such righteous retribution will impress every one in authority throughout the Chinese Empire, and how much they need impressing we are only slowly beginning to know. The accounts which are becoming current of the unspeakable horrors innicted by officials upon our missionary countrymen and womennot to mention converts— be hardening the world to insist upon capital punishment for those who were feally responsible, however exalted.