The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-31
ABOUT DECLARING WAR.

sion, or maintain the authority of the
Government at home, to the extent
of making war This is, in fact, his
sworn duty. He must always accept
the challenge to war made by either
foreign or domestic enemies. But he
cannot order any aggression. That is
Congress- prerogative.
Congress can declare any form of war
it chooses-either general war" or
"qualifed, partial, OF imperfect war"
1t has done BOTH In general war J"
every individual in the United States is
at hostility with the enemy Nation and
every individual it it, and authorized to
aSsail it and them in every case and
under every circumstance permitted by
the general laws of war. In a equal
fed, partial or imperfect war" these
acts are limited to certain persons,
things, times or places.
As a matter of fact, declarations of
war rarely inaugurate hostilities in re-
cent times. The state of war usually
exists for some time before the formal
declaration is made. if it is made at all.
This has been the rule in Europe for
more than century.
We have had four foreign wars since
the Revolution. Two of these were
! general and two qualified"
Our first was "qualifed war 3" with
France, from 1898 to 1900. There
had been state of war existing for
some time. with considerable fighting on
the ocean, with captures of merchant
ships, privateers, etc. Finally, in July,
1898, Congress abrogated all treaties
with France, cut off diplomatic inter
course, and authorized our ships to
attack those Of France wherever found.
At the same time the property and per-
sons of Frenchmen in this country were
protected, our courts were kept open for
them, and Frenchmen actually sued in
our courts for the recovery Of property
captured by our privateers and had it
awarded to them.
Our second war was with the +" Bar
barry Powers" in 1908. The Sultan
of Morocco, the Bashaw of Tripoli, the
Dey of Algiers and the Bey of Tunis
claimed the right of exacting tribute
from all Nations having ships navigating
the Mediterranean, in default Of which
they captured their ships and reduced
the crew to slavery. We paid tribute
along with the rest, but somehow things
did not 90 to suit those worthy pirates.
The Bashaw of Tripoli. cut down our
Consular flag staff, and declared war
His example was followed by the Dey Of
Algiers and the Bey of Tunis. The
Sultan of Morocco also mixed in. W.
promptly accepted the challenge, ant
sent fleet thither. After four years O
gallant fighting and many brilliant
achievements we finally succeeded il
bringing the sea-marauders to terms.
Our next was general war will
Great Britain. A state of war had ex
listed for long time, owing to the depre
dations Of the British upon our shipping
A message stating our grievances wa
sent by the President to Congress, Jun,
|, 1912, and bill was passed by th
House, June 4, by vote of 70 to 49
declaring war between Great Britain
and Ireland and their dependencies
and the United States and their Terri
tories. June II, the bill passed tn
Senate by vote of 10 TO 13.
Our fourth was general war agains
1 | Mexico. Texas had rebelled agains
: Mexico, and succeeded in establishin
!, her independence. We annexed Texas
a and then Texas claimed that her border
j extended as far as the Rio Grande, Will
r Mexico claimed that they did not extern
beyond the Arroyo Colorado. Tb
a President ordered Gen. Taylor to tai;
e possession of the disputed country, wit
; the certainty that he would be resiste
e by the Mexicans. When they did +,
d sist, Congress declared that "war e,
i listed by the act of Mexico" and tn
b dance began.
4 Hinder the Constitution and the lav