The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-08
Circulation Statement.


The Crisis in PeiNin.
The message received at the State De-
partment last evening from Minister Con-
ger at pekin is undated. but il contains
internal evidence that it must have been
written between July so and August 8.
Whenever 1t was sent out, the British
Legation compound was still beseiged and
under a continuous rifle fire from the I'M
perial troops. Mr.. Conger stated that the
Chinese Government was insisting upon
our leaving Pekin. which woald be certain
death" Ammunition and provisions were
nearly exhausted.
We will not be uncompIimentary enough
TO Mr.. Mckinley and his advisers to believe
that they or any of them have been hum
plugged into an idea that the Chinese Gov
eminent has been acting honestly in con-
nection with its repeated declarations that
the ministers and foreigners in PekIn were
being protected and fed by the Imperial
Government. There has been too much
evidence of systematic duplieity and
treachery all along TO allow Of such be-
lief Gut the Administration stands IN
mortal terror of Congress and would rath-
CT take all the risks involved in defYing
the Constitution, and waging a foreign
war of invasion and vengeance, Illegally,
than to call it together. Hence the fiction
is Rugged, that state of war does not ex-
list in China although the Chinese Govern
ment is firing on our legation, is planning
the massacre OF our minister and all the
American men, women, and children who
are with him, and is resisting our efforts
TO sena Tel.e-. with an army which already
allies and will continue to fight US step by
step back to the heart of Pekin.
The only reason why this condition of
affairs is not war is because TO acknowl-
edge that it is would compel the President
to perform his plain duty and Issue a
proclamation converting Congress in extra
ordinary session. The country Will p,a-e
its Interpretation upon Mr.. McKinley's Ie-
fusal TO act in obedience to j perfectly
clear and unmistakable mandate of The
Constitution. If he enjoyed all the cent?
dence of the people that he orce cid. it
would still be demanded of him that ne
call upon the war making power OF the
nation for advice and authority to act in
the face of so terrible crisis as row con-
fronts the United States and the civilized
world. Considering the extent to which
his Administration has forfeited public
confidence, it is all the more incumbent
upon him to bow to the voice of the
country as well as to its fundamental law.
He has no right to assume Individual
power and authority never conferred upon
him by the Constitution. to inaugurate and
conduct a foreign war, and especially one
N which practical if not formal alliances
h T.,
are in hearty accord with the purposes
for which our troops and ships have b en-
sent to China We wish that more sol
diers and marines could have been spared.
What We object to is not the policy, but
that it has been adopted and pursued with
out due authority.
Six weeks ago it was sufficiently obvious
that the task before the Government OF
the United States was one which could not
be accomplished with small brigade. or
even a full division of troops It was as
well known then as ii now is, that only an
Insignificant military force could be with
drawn from Cuba, Porto Rico, and the
Philippines for service in China, and that
to secure the army likely to be required to
protect our interests and exact retribution
from the Chinese Empire, Congressional ac-
zion would be necessary. Yet nothing has
,een done to meet the emergency The
President should have been authorized to
sail for volunteers a month ago T takes
time to turn recruits into soldiers, and to
clothe, arm, provision, and mobilize them.
Mr.. Mckinley could have ,staiaed all
the authority and support he needed, could
have been able at his discretion to enlist
volunteers, and could have had Congress
'otf his hands" by this time, if he had
acted promptly, when the necessity for ac-
ton first became apparent. But disregard
for the people and fear Of their representa-
tives have kept the Administration waver-
ing and webbing, until events have oc-
CURED which would now render an extra
ordinary session painfully embarrassing to
the party in power On that account 1t is
perhaps to be expected that Congress will
be further ignored. and that the hostile re-
lations between Canton and Pellin will con-
tinue to be strictly executive. If so there
is no remedy. and the only satisfaction OBJ
tainable will be found at the polls in No
vember. We mistake the character and
temper of the American people If they do
not seek it with grim determination on the
occasion to which we allude