Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-05
MR.. HAY FOR WAR AT ANY
PRICE.

At no time since the beginning Of the
war in China has the situation been
so critical as at the present, save pos
sibly Immediately after the repulse of
the attack of the allies on Tien Tsin.
The Chinese who are in q position to
know assert that any advance on Pc
kin is likely to result in the downfall
Of the dynasty. the massacre of all the
foreigners in that city and a state of
complete anarchy in the empire that
1t will take years time and limitless
blood and treasure to put down. In
this opinion foreigners best acquaint-
ed with conditions liz China concur.
This being the condition by which
the allies are confronted, the attitude
taken by Secretary Hay. and of course.
the President, is amazing. The most
authoritative and distinct statement of
that attitude that has appeared is the
following from the Baltimore Ameri-
can. newspaper that is in close touch
with the Administration:
This government persistently re-
fuses to consider the Chinese Govern
mentS overtureS at compromise, and
insists that the city or PelSin shall be
entered by American troops-by force.
IL necessary. 1t is possible that il Min
lister Conger should. in an unqucstion-
ably authentic message, urge this gov
eminent not to send troops to Pekin.
that the march of the expedition might
be abandoned But there Is good rea-
son to believe that Secretary Hay has
instructed MIR. Ragsdale. the American
consul at T'icn Tsin, to convey to Mr..
Conger the instructions not to make
any such suggestion; that Mr.. Conger
has been informed of the Emperors
appeal for mediation and the condi-
tions on which Mr.. Mckinley will un-
dertake 1t. Mr.. Hay is determined that
the troops shall enter Pckin, and he
still feels convinced that the Chinese
dread OF the footing of the city and the
dissertation of the temples and the
tombs by the European soldiers will
finally induce the Tmprcss Dowagcr
to order an imperial army corps to
provide safe conduct for the relief
expedition to Pekin.''
This. 1t must be remembered. is the
attitude of the Administration in view
of clear intimation from Pckin that
the proposed advance on that city will
be considered an act OF war, and in the
face of preparations that show conclu-
sively that Pekin is not merely bluff
ing. 1t is true that communication
with Minister Conger has been cut off
But 1t Is not for Mr.. Hay or for Prcsi-
dent Mckinley to say whether that
constitutes sufficient ground for dec
laration of war against China. BY
what authority. therefore, does the Adj
ministrntion propose to commit what
1t has been specifically warned VIII be
considered an act OF war? Why is Mr.
Hay determined that American
troops shall enter Pekin" at any cost
of life and Mt the risk OF the massacre
of the legationers now under imperial
protection?
But this is not the most mysterious
and astounding part of this truly re-
markable statement of Mr. Hays pur-
pose. How does 1t come that MIR. Hay
has endeavored to caution Minister
Conger against asking that the ad-
vance on Pekin be delayed? To these
questions no answer Is possible. at
least none that would be in keeping
with an honorable and upright policy
on the part of this nations official
agents in crisis so big with peril to
our people at Pektn and TO the peace
OF the United States. It is not to be
rcconciied with any simple purpose to
succor the legationers: 1t can mean
only that the Administration is DELHI
erately bent on precipitating further
hostilities when diplomacy might serve.
And II as n result our people in Pekin
perish. there should be no difficulty in
placing the responsibility.
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