NOW WHAT?

AND NOW what? Peking has been relieved, the city is full of soldiers of the allied armies, the Empress and her court have fled westward, and the capital has fallen.

Will China be partitioned and divided among her conquerors, or will she be allowed to exist as China under another monarch?

Russia undoubtedly wants immediate possession of Manchuria and Chihli, with, very likely, Shansi and Shensi. Japan is quite amenable to further additions to her own territory, and England, although disclaiming any covetous feeling, is believed by a great many of her friends, and all of her enemies, to desire control of the Yangtze valley.

Germany, France, and Italy are all discussing the slice that they desire, and only Uncle Sam has finished his task and wants to go home.

But is his task finished? What about the missionaries murdered in Paoting Fu? Since being relieved, we have heard of the murder, with shocking mutilation, at Paoting Fu, of Mr. and Mrs. Simcox and their three children, of Dr. George Yardley Taylor, of Dr. and Mrs. Hodge, of Mr. Bagnall and his family, of Mr. Pitkin, Miss Morrill, and Miss Gould. Is Paoting Fu to be allowed to remain on the face of the earth?

And what about Yu Hsien, governor now of Shansi, who had all the foreigners in his province brought into his yamen and murdered before his eyes? Is he to live? No, never. If there exists in America to-day one individual who counsels the return of the troops until the atoning blood of all the leaders and instigators of this awful crime has been poured out, may he be cursed forever.

The work is not yet complete. The Empress Dowager, Prince Tuan, Prince Chuang, Yu Hsien, Tung Fu Hsiang, Chung Chi, Chung Li, Hsu Tung, Kang Yi, Chi Hsiu, Duke Lan, and Na Tung must each and all be brought to the block, with as many of their followers as possible, before the blood of innocent American women and children will cease to cry from the ground for vengeance on their savage, bloody murderers.

Then and only then let America claim indemnity for the property of her citizens that has been destroyed, and retire from the carcass that the other nations will undoubtedly fight over.

If China is to be partitioned, it may injure our trade or it may increase it, but it is not worth our fighting for, when we shall be sure to obtain a great deal of it under any circumstances. It may be best that our troops should remain here during the discussion of the question, but they should not be used in any event.

It is easier to say what should not be done than what should. A few “should nots” like the following will indicate perhaps what might be done:

10. Cues should not be worn.

11. Christianity should not be forced on the people.

12. Priests and pastors should not be allowed in yamens.

13. Arms and weapons should not be imported, manufactured, or allowed to be owned by natives.

At the present moment Boxers are practicing in all directions at a distance of from twenty-five to thirty miles from Peking. All of the leaders of the movement are at large, and Prince Ching has returned to Peking to try and arrange a peace. Now what?