The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1900. THE RIGHTS OF NATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 103, 18 June 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, JUNE 18, 1900. THE RIGHTS OF NATIONS.

The present threatening aspect of affairs in China, and the steps being taken by the European Powers and Japan to guard their respective interests in the Celestial Empire, brings to the front again the question as to under what circumstances and to what extent, outside intervention with a nations affairs is justified. The liberty of the individual, which is an ever varying and always complex question, is simple in its premises and issues compared to those involved in the larger one of national liberty. Nations make and enforce their own laws for and upon their own subjects, and until lately these were deemed to be beyond the right of outsiders to question, much less interfere with. But how 1 are laws to be made for nations ? Or, being made, who is to enforce them ? This is the problem that nations in general and statesmen in particular are confronted with. It is only within late years that the doctrine of outside intervention has entered the region of practical politics, as, although there have not been wanting instances of one nation or ruler protesting against some flagrant outrage on the part of another, and even, as in the case of England under Cromwell, being prepared to enforce compliance with its demands by force of arms, there has been no attempt to draw up an international code to the provisions of which all nations should become subject. Nominally uow each nation is a law unto itself; but that there is forming a world-wide conscience, which will in its turn be expressed in worldwide laws, is evidenced by many events that have occurred within the present century. We need only refer to the most recent of these, such as England's intervention in Egypt, the powers in Crete, America in Cuba, and England in the Transvaal. The issue involved in these cases was moral as distinguished from territorial, notwithstanding that to a large extent accession of territory was gained by the intervening Powers. We purposely exclude considering instances such as the joint action of Englard and France against llussia in the Crimea, for although this war was normally entered upon on behalf of Turkey iheir own territorial influence and interests were threatened by Russia's aation. The difficulty hitherto, has been the want of agreement between the Powers able to frame an enlightened international code and to enforce its observance by all nations and people?. Jealousy, distrust, envy, fear, and other evil feelings have hitherto successfully prevented concerted action on the lines indicated, but there are not wanting signs of an improved state of affairs in l the near future, The Peace Conference, though in many respects a failure and an occasion for discouragement, was yet a success in this respect: that it showed more plainly than ever the necessity for and the possibility of international action in the interests of humanity. If we read tbe signs of the times aright, a practical illustration of this will be afforded by the concerted action of the Powers in the present trouble in China. No better sphere could possibly have been chosen for experimenting with and in a measure demonstrating the lines on which the law - and - police - nations should deal with nations crimina'ly recalcitrant. Such conduct as that now being exhibited by China unquestionably calls for prompt measures being taken for its suppression and punishment. More than this, it would be culpable folly on the part of the Powers to leave China to her own devices until there was soiiie reliable guarantee against a repetition of her present oll'ending. Once China has been properly taken in fai.d, and made to feel the restraining force of European influence and oversight, or, even if circumstances should prove it necessary, the Empire should be divided up amongst the intervening Powers, this will be a warning to Turkey, and any ether country with ft fancy for criminal and atrocious misgovernment, The ultimate result is likely to be that nor, only will the standard of honest and equal administration be raised in countries where it is now trailed in the mud of cruelty and barbaric ignorance and oppression, but also in lands with more claims to respectability and ju-iiee, the standard will gradually be "li'vated nation vicing with nation in tlm upholding of pure and generous lav.y, and liiwr just and impart al iHhniiii.sini'.io-.. XiiG " liiglifs of Nutimis *' are likely in the fatttju to bo ses.iicti'il to light government., and nations failing to conform to tins stand::rd may expect to bo dealt with even as they aie now about to deal with Chini.