Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-27
TWELVE PAGES.
FRIDAY. JULY o7, 1900.
NOT NECESSARILY PARTISAN.

II Is amusing to see the eagerness
with which the Democratic ncwspaners
seiHe upon every act Of President Nc
NlHleyS Administration in their desire
10 make n point against the Republi-
can party. but it is still moro au,lsinp
10 see the same papers attacking ii
upon exactly different grounds For
instance. the Norfolk Pilot, an intense
democratic paper of the free silver
type. Is bitter In denouncng the Presl-
ncnt because he landed troops on Chi
nesc soil to protect American citizens
from massacre, While the Landmarks
another paper of tho game CITY. which
hiso supports BRYAN and Ii to /.
severely criticizes him for not making
more haste in sending troops to the re-
Ilcl or American citizens in China -
Spirit of the Valley.
SO far as The Virginian-P Pilot Is CON
"crned. ii would have condemned n
Democratic President for doing what
AIR. Mckinley has done. In condemna-
ton of Mr.. Mckinley 1t has been par
'isan only in the sense that It believes
Mr. Kinicy's unwarranted assunntion
of authority to declare war to he n
loEical result OF tho principles to which
the Republican party processes allie
Elance; In Democratic President
such an assumption of power dele
gated to Congress would have been
monstrous and unnatural. as was
Clcveland's use of Federal troops at
Chicago. MIR. Mckinley is a Rcpubli-
can, and his party is chaygeable with
his official misdccds. unless ii shall see
fit to repudiate them. 1t certainly
shows no disposition OF that sort
When the order to Macarthur to
send troops to China was promulgated
The Virginian-Pil promptly took the
ground that the action was unau hor-
lied. and was a most dangerous pre-
ccdent. not alone for Republicans who
may be chosen President hereafter. but
for Democrats as we'll; IL asserted that
the sending of the troops me;int war.
ana that 1t was no part OF the Prcsi-
dents business TO make war. 1t was
not n particularly popular or peasant
position TO take. and WAS sure To he
misunderstood and misrcprrscntcd. as
1t has been. Doubtless quite uninten-
tionally, by our Valley contomporarv.
Nevertheless both the course OF events
In China and the sober second thou,.nt
of our own people, rave ahtndantiv
justified that position. 1t has become
plain that without accomplishing any
good purpose whatsoever. this country
has been made a party 20 what is
proving a most bloody war. Amerirau
soldiers have laid down their lives.
CALAMITY as they always do, because
"it was orders" more troops are being
hurried to the seat of war; while the
Administration lancnts its inab.liiv to
send at least an army corps. Mr.. Nc
]<inley is making war on China. and
he is endangering. rather than protect
ing, American lives thereby That Is
the situation. If it were the purpose
OF the Administration to save the lives
and property of Americans rather than
TO make this country party by dircc.
participation in what may cventuatc in
China, it is strange that 1t did not urge
upon other countries more 5tron sly the
necessity of giving japan free hcnd
rs mandatory power.
Policies are Judged by what they ac-
compish. Mir McKinlc;'s policy in
this matter has merely inruriatcd the
Chinese, without possibility of accom-
plish'ng the rescue OF the Americans
at Pekin. II has been nj once radical
and ,imid. If war was justih I'd "
necessary in the circumstances. then IT
should have been made Ivy Congress.
and on scale very dlnercnt from that
which made possible the disaster 10
the Ninth Infantry at Tien Tain. Flu
tilely and In defiance of precedent. au-
fhority and prudence. the United