The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-21

In spite d thsseforts Of the Admins
tration to conceal its movements under .
cloak a otncih -semecy that Il rs m
American as Il IL unwise. regular war
time activity Is apparent In both the
military departments Of the Governmeft
Particularly Il this true Of the War De-
partment, whose chef is especially solicit
tous on the point OF keeping the American
people under the impression that we are
not At war with China Under the direc-
ton Of Secretary Root hurry orders have
been telegraphed to the commanding OH
GERS Of all the organizations selected for
service in China A week ago provision
was being made for only six thousand
troops to be sent to China. Today sill or
ders for supplies OF clothing and equip-
ment have been doubled SO as to provide
for twelve thousand soldiers for nzhting
purposes in the Flovery Kingdom. And
now the Secretary Of War. presumably I'M
der the advice of the President. is looking
around for more troops to send there. The
Secretary Of the Nlvy has been induced to
order the speedy recruiting Of the Marine
Corps up to the full strength allowed by
law, and this work is now progressing
One thousand additional marines will he
landed near the disturbed district as soon
as they have been secured and transporta-
ton facilities are available.
The bare fact that at this early stage
the regularly constituted fighting strength
Of the nation has been taxed to the ut
most limit for service in China and that
the responsible authorities are resorting
to all the technicalities of the law to get
more men to the front Is. of itself SUM-
Gent to show that the Administration does
not believe Its own words when 1t de-
clares that America is not now at war
with China and that there is no certainty
that a formal state OF war will not exist
in the near future between the two ma
tions.
ley was drifting into war with Spain
he inspired his official advisers to talk
just as they are talking now. At no time
preceding the actual declaration of war
were our relations with Spain as badly
strained as they are today with China
Mr.. Mckinley then. as now, insisted upsto
the last moment that he was capable OF
dealing with the situation without the aid
Of Congress. In that trying time, as in
the present, Administration organs and
Spokesman were pleased TO fill the land
with the cringing cry Of trust the Presi-
dent" Well, We. trusted the President"
until nearly the whole civilized world was
in doubt as to whether We were nation
Of poltroons or imbeciles. The national |
sense Of Indignation. quickened into vigor-
GUS activity by Democratic urgency. forced
the Administration TO pick up the gage Of
battle flung at US by Spain. Apparently |
the whole history of that time will repeat |
itself in this emergency. The Mckinley |
Administration is again drifting" 1t has
an advantage now which was not on its |
side when war was Inevitable with Spain.
That advantage consists in the fact that
Congress is not in session, and in Mr.. Nc
Kinley alone rests the authority to sum-
mon it.
Who doubts that II Congress were in |
session some means would be quickly de-
vised by which We could get definite and |
satisfactory news from China which would |
determine beyond peradventure the status |
Of our relations? Avowedly the Admins |
rration has exhausted all the resources at !
its command to this end without result. |
Avowedly, also. the Administration does
not know whether We are being rushed into
war with China or whether it is necessary
merely to send to the scene Of bufchery
enough Of our soldiers and guns to pro-
tect American life and property. II Con-
gress were here these points would not be
long In doubt.