The evening times., 1900-07-17
Circulation Statement.
4 State uf Mar.

state Of War.
The fiction that a state OF war does
not exist in China cannot longer be re-
sorted to by Mr. Mckinley and his ad-
visers. The fight at Tientsin on July IS.
in which our infantry and marines were
cut up and Colonel Liscum and other Off
GERS killed, was not an action against
mob Of Boxers. II was an assault upon
works scientifically defended by competent
Chinese generals and regular troops and
the result was repulse for the interna-
1ional forces. This we should call de facto
war. For he purpose Of avoiding an ex-
traordinary session-Of Congress the Ad-
ministratiOn is trying to convince itself
and the country that it is not also war de
jure. To make the subterfuge successful
it Is necessary TO assume innocence on the
part of the Chinese Government as to the
Pel1in massacre. and also that it is not re-
sponsible for the operations now being
carried OF By the Chinese Army with every
evidence Of governmental authority and
direction.
Although proof OF the direct connection
OF the imperial authorities with the lega-
tiou aIocity has been abundant. up TO
yesterday we viii admit that there was
a lOopi Die Of escape for the Admin ira
tion from the necessity Of eoaeedirg the
fact. But our dispatches today a.
nounce that the ViceToys of all
the provinces within the ken OF CON-
manders or consuIs have received an i'm
perial edict dated July 3. peremptoTiy
ordering them 10 begin war immediate y
against all fore eigners, on pain Of DEATH
That ediCt removes the last excuse for
the fiction that war is being waged by an
army in rebellion against its national aU-
thority. and is in effect a fat declaration
OF war by the Chinese Goyerrmeu c.-te
as definite under the rules OF International
law as if a formal declaration had been
addressed TO each Cne OF the allied powers
To make the situation stilI clearer. we di-
rect the attention Of our State Department
authorities to the fact that in issuing such
an edict Immediately after the massacre OF
the diplomatic representative Of the civ
ilized states in the capital Of China, and
without a formal denial OF completely in
the crime. the Chinese Governments has
adopted it as its own act, which every
unbiased person is thoroughly certain il
was.
II view Of the foregoing circumstances
and considerations. and remembering thai
war has been declared against the United
States, in the murder OF its minister. and
by Implication in the imperial edict Of
July 3. does Mr. Mckinley think that be
d
premises without calling Congress togeth-
er in extraordinary session.
Grant that. for international or other
reasons of convenience or prudence. IL
may be well for the allied powers to act
together without formal declaration of
war by any Of them. Does that change or
modify the mandatory duty of the Presi-
dent 20 convene Congress when war has
been declared. or is being conducted By
another country against our own? Ger
tainly not. and Mr. Mckinley will make a
grievous mistake if he attempts to face
the Chinese situation alone, and proceeds
to carry on an executive war without the
authority of Congress.
Mr.. Hanna wishes him 20 do so, and Mr.
hannas wishes have always been as law
unto the White House during this
Administration: but in the present in
stance We hope that they will not be re
spected. The crisis is too proximate and
appalling 20 think about the possible ef-
fects OF right conduct upon domestic poll
tics. Were conditions less frightful it
might afford US gratificstion to see Mr..
Mckinley justifying the charge OF per-
sonaI imperialism by ignoring the Consti-
tuition and engaging in joint foreign war
on his individual initiative. and consulting
no one but his brother sOvereigns as to its
conduct. His plain duty, however. is no.
to sleep tonight until he has called Cen
gress to meet in extraordinary session.