Lord Salisbury has taken the right course in China. He
has demanded that the Viceroy of Sze chnen, who is respon- sible for the non-prevention of the massacre of missionaries in that province, should be dismissed ; and has ordered the fleet in China to ascend the Yangtse-kiang and threaten Nankin. Within twenty-four hours of receiving this demand, the Emperor gazetted the dismissal of the Viceroy, and the reason for it ; degraded him from his rank, and declared him incapable of the public service. It is stated that the Emperor had previously decided upon this step for other reasons ; but that in no way diminishes the force of the Imperial Prescript, which, in fact, warns all Chinese Viceroys that they are responsible for the safety of foreign missionaries with their official heads. The Viceroys are very powerful, but they cannot resist the direct action of the throne, and will in future take care not to give their enemies such a chance. Their own authority is complete locally, and it is perfectly fair to hold them responsible, if not for mob outbreaks, at least for their success.
