Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-14
EIGHT PAGES.
SATURDAY. JULY II, 1900.
1T is WAR.

When the Ninth Infantryswas order
edtrom Manila to Taku the Yirrinian-
Pilot pointed out that it was nm net
orrwar oylPresident Mckinley. without
warrant of authority or OF known
Facts. and asserted that it would be
1oiiowed by actual war with Cbinn
me swift progress OF events. is. com.
pealing tho open recognition of the
truth of, this assertion. From one reg
iment ordered to China as a beginning
ana q feeler." the administration has
passed to 1000 men, and as MANY
more as,may be necessary.
The Washington dispatches OF .yes-
terday declare that the ''pians of the
War Department for feeding the army
in China are being gradually formu-
lated. Soldiers going by way of Ma
easaki are to carry rations for sixty
days, and transportation for q "for
ward movement" is to be on hand.
Manila is to be utilized as a base OF
supplies and transport will be nut
in service for q regular weekely run
with supplies between Manila and
Taku. which Will form the base on Chi
nese SOIL" An American officer Mt
T4en Tsin says: '"rhere has been more
real war here than in Cuba or the Phil
ippines." If fierce fighting in the field.
the dispatch of troops and yet more
troops, the location of n base of sup
plies on the soil of foreign country
and the arrangement of lines of COM
munication by sea and land, If these
things do not constitute war, what is
war?
This war was not begun by China
1t was begun by Mr.. Mckinley. 1t is
being carried on by him. 1t matters
not what 1t Is called-it is war. So far
as has appeared China did nothing
that could be construed as an act of
war until her soil was invaded and her
forts and armies fired on. The United
States forces took no part in the attack
on the forts; they participated in the
subsequent fighting, the beginning of
war between this country and China.
The action of the administration can
not be justified, whatever the point of
view, So far from contributing to the
safety of Americans in China, it has
increased their danger; it has angered,
.
1t has increased the embarrassment OF
the Pekin authorities, already harassed
and hard pressed in their attempt TO
protect the legations from the fanatical
and maddened popuIace: above ALL this
action has been taken in violation of
a provision of the Constitution so plain
that schooiboy could not mistake or
misapply 1t. 1t is Imperialism gone
mao. From war on the Filipinos to
uphold sovereignty bought from n
anatton that did not possess it, we have
5ibeen hurried into a war on Cinnamon.
land upon others IL need be, to protect
a our interests in China" What inter-
ests have the United States in China,
beyond the American residents there
whose lives this outrageous invasion
has imperiled?
Surely the justification Of those who
stand for the Republic against the
Empire has come swiftly. This is no
mere matter OF politics. 1t goes deeper.
We are UP to what shall settle for CEN
turtles. If not for all time, the fate of
3 popular government Whether it shall
triumph or shall perish from the
earth" is a matter that 1t rests with
4 the American people to settle by their
approval or disapproval of a policy OF
ebsolutism and bloody aggression, de-
s.Iiberately inaugurated and maintained
that syndicates may profit and that
hungry heelers may play the Nelly.
And all this in the name of progress,
of civilization. OF religion even! The
can't and hypocrisy Of it are sufficient
20 raise the gorge and make the con-
eernpt Of the naked savage in the wilds.