The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-20
an TnconstiLntionaI Exccutive Nh

journal that wa has been declared by
China against the United States. in COM
mon with other civilized powers. is strong
ly supported by Sir Charles W. Dixie.
formerly a British Cabinet Minister. and
one of the most distinguished authorities
on Eastern affairs in the Old World. in an
interview reported from LoEdoI. Sir
Charles entirely agrees with us that
the invasion OF the Russian Amur prov
ince is q visible sign that there is, ard
all along has been. a responsible. direct
ing and controlling Government at Pekin.
He says:
III China were. as we have believed until now,
in tie ji-EoJS OF civil war. neither Of tire COR
tending psriies would have tlme or oppor unity 10
carry t.giT hostile operations into a foreign Coun-
IN The Chinese attack upon Russia has all the
appearance af being an act Of the Imperial Gov
ernmCnt at fckin. and the only Interpretation 70
To- placed this move is that thr responsible
Chinese Government at Pebn has proclaimed War
upon Russia, and upon the powers
In this connection I must confess that / am
much impressed b. abe fac, that l. Hung Chang
SHOULD have ielt II incumbent upon him 60 COM
Ply with the summons 10 proceed 90 Pekin. which
has reached him from the Imperial Government
there It Is extremely significant, and constitutes
another proof that there is responsible Imperial
Government in control Al Pekin.'
Taking these evidences that China is at
war with the civilized powers-incluGing
the United States-in connection VIA the
imperial war edict Of July 3. il viii be
seen that the fact of due notice TO his
Government by that OF China Of a state
Of war cannot longer be denied. That the
notice has been constructive rather than
direct and formal by an instrument in
writing. does Rot in any way affect the
case. Formal notice is not always given
by civilized states. Acts tan,amount 10 a
declaration are regarded as sufficient in
international law. There is. therefore, 10
loophole Of escape from the conclusion that
China is officially az war with the United
States.
1t suits the purposes OF President Nc
KinIcy and MS advisers TO ignore the fact
and adhere 70 the fiction that war does
not exist which the logic OF events has
destroyed as The Times and Sir Charles
W Dixie have clearly demonstrated But
this course is plainly one Of sub,eriuge.
adopted to avoid the constitutional duty
of calling Congress together in ez;raogii-
nary session. The acts Of the Administra-
t;cn are unieniabIe evidence that cur
executive authority knows a state Of war
10 exist that il has accepted notice, and
ras been and is acting accordingly; and
that it is deliberately wagirg foreign
war I'm defiance Of the rights Of The war
making power, and in open violation Of
the Constitution.
The fact is neither denied nor concealed;
J on the contrary. it Is frankly admitted that
i M I'm,
. Chinese terEtory not only 10 protect
/ American lives and property" which could
( not be done except as an act Of war in the
B presence Of a responsible and controlling
+ Chinese Government. but 10 exact indem-
nifty for The murder Of our citizens and The
destruction OF their missions and goods
II there has been a shadow upon which
Mr. Mckinley could hang a pretext that
he Is not distinctly waging war upon q for
eigu country on his own initiative. it is
dispelled b. the act of American military
( forces in taking part in the destruction Of
the great Chinese city Of Tientsin
/ That act Cannot be cited in support Of a
theory that. while China may be conduct
/ ing hostilitiCs against Us. We are not en-
( gagged IN war upon China. To summarize:
+ Il is not to Dc denied that there is a re-
+ spcusiJIc. controlling. and directing Gov
. eminent in P5kia. which has given Us not
! ice Of war. by numbering or imprisoring
our dipic,Catic representatives. By melting
. the torture and butchery OF. cur mission
aries and the destruction OF their missions.
By ordering the yioeroys TO cEtermiuate
cur coEsuls and all American cit-
zens found within their Jurisdiction. and
by mobiiizing and employing a large regu-
lar army. OF weII-traincd troops. armed
+ Win modern r.ecs and artillery, 10
/ expeI or destroy cur people ard 10 exclude
our trade fron the Empire. in defiance Of
I treaty obligations
On the part Of our Executive. war has
! been accepted and war-Iike operations UNI
. lsr;akeu in response. In assuming that
/ grave rt-poasibli,y. The exclusive war
masking rreros1-iye OF Congress has been
/ ignored and treated with contempt. Wn5n
The mHir7ry forces Of the United States
/ destroy cities. in country with which ;he
/ Administration declares that we are at
peace. and with which we maintain d.plo-
matte relations. it is not for the Executive
3 20 saE. This is not war; II is for Con-
+ gress to determine whether IL is or not.
whether the circumstance justify such
+ acts Of war and whether there is a respon-
. sibie Government in the country invaded.
/ agains, which war may be declared. or 10
z which explanations may be rendered.
/ Failure TO call Congress in extraordina-
( ~ session at this time is an executive
( UsUrpation Of the war-making power. and
/ a fragrant imperialistic violation Of the
Constitution.
Pro-COnsUI Allen and His Yacht.