Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-21
TWELVE PAGES.
THURSDAY. JUNE q, 1900.
WE PROGRESS-THE PRESIDENT
DECLARES WAR.

The decision of President Mckinley
to send regiment of soldiers from the
Philippines to China although dEplo-
interrupted and China is still Il friendly
nation in the view of international law.
is most suggestive incident, show
Ing as it does the concentration of
rover in the hands of the chief execu-
tive and the disregard OF constitutions
al limitations. 1t shows even more
clearly that imperialism has made the
United States Il factor in the Eastern
imbroSllo and subject to the annoy
ancas and perils of that ENHANCEMENT.
VIII any one seriously contend that
two years ago. before he began the sub
5ugation of the Philippine islands, that
Mr.. Mckinley would have ordered
American soldiers to invade China
without having finst obtained the sane
ton of Congress: II the soldiers in
question had been ut San Francisco in
stead of Manila, would they have re-
ceived such orders? 1T is of course
not necessary 10 point out that the dis
patching of a hostile expedition 10 the
coast OF China is Il declaration of war
against that country. and would be so
regarded by any Western Power.
Therefore. in sending out such expedi-
tion the President declares war. n pre-
rogative that is vested by the Consti-
tuition in Congress and in Congress
only.
or course. the situation in China Is
both grave and anomalous. That, how
ever can not operate to clothe the
President with any new powers or pre-
negatives. If he has the power to send
1000 soldiers to China he can send
100000. or any number that he may
deem necessary. Ii he can invade Chi
ma without the sanction of Congress, he
can invade Canada or Mexico or Bra
I'll or France or Germany If he has
the power to throw soldiers into any
country that is nomlnally at peace with
the United States. he can declare war.
The precedent of throwing an army
into another country is n precedent
and 1t means plainly that the President
may declare war. Whether lie dis
patches 1000 soldiers to China or a mil
lion TO Mexico or France. the principle
involved is the same.
When Spain was yet In Cuba Ameri-
can citizens were maltreated, and 1t
was vel! understood that the life of
General Fitzhugh Lee. then Consul at
Havana, was in danger. For the Pres
ident to have landed soldiers in Cuba
would have been only what he now pro-
poses to do in China. 1t would have
meant war with Spain. Mr. Mckinley
III q.
Congress authorized such action. Since
then, however we have progressed. and
Mr.. Mckinley thinks nothing OF i0-
vading a nomlnally friendly country
without asking authority Of Congress.
These be matters that will bear a
good deal of chewing from them that
have pretended to see in the acuuisi-
tion of the Philippines and the subse-
quent war ON the Fipinos only the
same sort of expansion that has given
us the Louisiana and California tracts.
and the States carved tharcfrom. In
less than two years we have the specta-
Gle of the President declaring war and
Of the United States engaged in the
wars and broils that have been long
brewing in the East. Powers grow by
the exercise thereof. First, the Presl-
dent made war on the Flipinos. now
on the Chinese. Whether war was Just
In either case us not u question that
need now CONCERN us. However Just.
the President has no power to make
war. II he can make war on the