Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1895 — TOPICS OF THESE TIMES. [ARTICLE]

TOPICS OF THESE TIMES.

MODERN Readers of ancient history are always horrified at the atrocities, the utter disregard of human life, the cruelties and torture perpetrated upon the living and the. indignities cast upon the dead, * which go to make up soMarge a part of the details of wars and conquests.'Civilized warfare no longer recognizes what was at one time regarded as a necessary part of any victory—the disgrace and final execution of the vanquished foe. Such atrocities are no longer permitted. Only a few hundred years ago the heads of the leaders of defeated factions in EngJand werg cut off and carried about the streets of London on poles, I 'finally adorning London Bridge and ■ Temple Bar. The Chinese war has ! revived to an extent some of these obsolete customs, and the struggle has been -marked by the utmost cruelty and indecency on numerous occasions. Admiral Ting was in cpnrmand of the Chinese naval forces at Wei-Hai-Wei. After his defeat he committed suicide, knowing that the Emperor would hold him responsible, and that he would probably be executed in any event. Evidently Mr. Ting knew the temper of his Majesty, for when the Admiral’s body arrived at Tientsin the coffin was pened and in obedience to orders from Pekin the head was severed from the body* stuck upon a pike and fastened above the gate of the city prison. Defeat and death was not enough fora man who probably did all he could do in defense of his country. He must be disgraced, as if that atrpcious action could help the Chinese cause. We do not need to go back to ancient history, it would seem, for horrible reading. We are getting enough and to spare ‘in the news of the day, and unfortunately it seems that these occurrences are well established and do not rest upon an author’s imagination for verification.