Editor’s Table: The Situation in the Far East

EDITOR'S TABLE. 298

and we have faith to believe that they will be achieved. Meantime the general board by official action at its regular meeting on January 26th decided through the pages of the Era to express its appreciation of the responses that have been made to its appeals, both on the part of our subscribers, and those who directly contributed of their means, from one dollar to several hundred dollars — to the accomplishment of this laudable undertaking.

THE SITUATION IN THE FAR EAST.

The world's storm-center for the present seems to have moved to the "far east;" that is, along the coast of China.

It was doubtless the late war with Japan which revealed the helplessness of China to Europe; and emboldened Russia to make large demands in the way of concessions for railroad routes through Chinese territory, with termini on the Chinese coast — south of the ice-locked coast of eastern Russia — as a reward for virtually compelling Japan to yield possession of Port Arthur after capturing it in the late war. The activity of Russia in Chinese affairs ever since the close of the China- Japan war has been a source of uneasiness in Europe; and it was but to be expected that other European nations at the earliest opportunity would seek to offset the advantages Russia had obtained from the rulers of the "Celestial Empire." That opportunity came to Germany when a short time ago two German' missionaries were murdered by Chinese, in the province of Shang-Tong, whereupon the German emperor sent war ships to the scene of the outrage, and certainly took more vigorous steps than is usual in such cases, in the early stages of demanding reparation. German marines were landed on the coast of China and immediately took possession of four Chinese forts, from which the Chinese fled, not even making a show of resistance. This was followed by the Germans taking possession of Kiao Chau City, at the head of Kiao Chau Bay, accompanied with every indication that its occupancy by the Germans is to be permanent. Then came the melo-dramatic incident of the German emperor sending his brother Henry — his only brother —

to Chinese waters with more German war ships, to awe the already frightened Chinese into acquiescence with German demands. The departure of Prince Henry from Germany was accompanied with such flourishes of grandeloquent speech on the part of both the prince and the emperor, as could only be justified by some really patriotic movement incurring great danger for the sake of the Fatherland, but not at all suitable for a land-grabbing expedition to gratify the "earth-hunger" from which Germany in common with other European countries is just now suffering.

In view of the headway Russia was making in securing Chinese concessions, however, it is not at all to be wondered at that Germany should take advantage of this opportunity that the murdering of the missionaries afforded her, to place herself in a position to profit by the prospective dismemberment of the far eastern empire. Russia had unquestionably placed herself in a position to profit by China's misfortunes; England from her rendezvous at Hong Kon g was prepared to secure her share of Chinese territory; the French from their possessions in Indo-China could not fail to secure recognition in the pending partition; but if Germany was to have any advantage from China's prospective dismemberment it must be by prompt measures vigorously taken; hence the much-a-do about the murder of the German missionaries, the seizure of Chinese forts, the occupancy of Kaio Chau Bay by the German fleet, the dramatic departure of Prince Henry for China with more war ships, with the accompanying brag and bluster of the German emperor.

The apparently contemplated action of European nations in respect to the dismemberment of China is indefensible from any standpoint of political ethics. And yet, may it not be that in the remarkable scenes now transpiring in the far east there is taking place events that in the end shall result in the good and up-lifting of that mass of God's creatures whose lot has been cast in a land overshadowed by spiritual and intellectual darkness lo, these many centuries?