The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-06-27
FROM THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
From Our OWa Correspondent.

mcuuOuS lupOrE VI 1TGSlueuC MChtn-
ley's action in ordering United States
troops tc China. 1t is, however, the
logical sequence of the Philippine war,
waged by the President without the
direction Of Congress, and is only what
at least two members Of the Cabinet
have heen advocating for a long time.
The position of this country in regard
to China is peculiar. 1t neither owns
nor leases foot of soil there. 1t has
few citizens, whether missionary or
otherwise, in China, and most of those
few are further south than the place
where the Boxer agitation is in pro-
gress. It has treaties with all the
great powers in regard to China,
whereby it is guaranteed, in the
"srhere of influence" of each, all trade
rights and facilities held by the citi-
zens of the power itself. China has
| always recognized this country as q
friend, and has always gone to the ex-
treme limit Of friendliness in condon-
ing Outrages against her citizens and
in paying indemnities for the loes of
life or property to Americans in that
country. Why then, it may be asked,
does the United States take the lead in
sending troops to occupy Chinese soil7
No other country, save possibly Russia,
has sent anything except marines, and,
only few days ago, Mckinley was
declaring emphatically that the United
States would do nothing more than
this. Yet to-day regiment is on the
seas bound for Taku and moro will
follow follow in uS.+ practically HS Inlimited
Diplomats here can suggest but two.
Either, first, the United States has de-
termined to join in the race Of the Eu-
ropean powers to seize q part Of the
Chinese coast before it is all monopo-
lized by the others; or, second, it is
taking steps to oppose Russian intri-
or aes of e chnaa wife Bfn Is
in South Africa. Either one or both of
these must be the case, according to
the international view. Why the Uni
ted States should take sides against
Russia is not explainable other than by
practical alliance with Britain. Rus
sin has been our friend when Great
Britain was our enemy, and has always
It was the first country to accede to
By every consideration Of gratitude it
is said that we should stand by her.
There are few things more curious in
American politics than McKinley's de-
tiance Of public opinion in standing 80
strongly by Great Britain, even to the
theti EsnGhlies she iE crushing. Il
Is also most curious that So few papers
are asking from whence Mckinley de-
rives the right to send troops TO China.
This. goes without saying. Since he
bought the Philippine war, the country
has gotten used to many things which
it Eou!d not have tolerated before.
The political situation to-day is re-
markably similar to that in 1872, when
Grant was renOminated for the second
time. IL the last year of his first ad-
minist1atiOn, q succession of scandals
bnr5G upon the country, just as the
Cuban scandals have done now. No
body will have forgotten the great
Credit Mobiller fraud, and the subse
quent "Whiskey Ring" disclosures,
which were directly traceable to Gen
eral Grants palpable inexperience in
civil administration just as those of
to-day are traceable to McKinley's
weakness and yielding to personal
favorites. After Grant had been nomi-
can party bolted outright, as the Ger
man and anti-imperial Republicans are
bolting to-day. True. the bolt did not
avail to defeat Grant because the
Democrats had the South counted
against them by the carpet bag gov
ernments, and because they did not
believe in their candidate. Many thou
sullenly declined to support Greeley,
and other thousands voted directly for
the Republican candidate and elected
him. Here lies the difference this
year. The Democrats do believe in
their candidate; they are united; they
are aided by n largo section of men
party and who either boited four years
ago on account Of silver OF will bolt on
account of imperialism, and thp South
is s0lidly. for them instead of being
solidly against them is it was in 1872.
In other words, the causes which
should have. defeated Grant exist to-
day, while those that saved him do not
exist. making Bryan's election almost
The Democratic Congressional Com
mittee has given out O statement show
ing to what extent the various trusts
have increased the prices of their pro-
ducts. The list is too long to print,
but the following articles. all of which
idea of the burden laid upon the con
sumner by these institutions, which
have been so fostered by four years Of /.
Republican tariff and Republican re-
fusal to prosecute even in cases of the
plainest violation of statute law. All
the increases below are from January
2, 1899, to December 80, 1890: Linseed
oil, from Al to 80 cents; petroleum,
$3.50 to 5000; sugar, S4.0 to S5.12;
ipecac, $3.50 to 1896; camphor, 88i
cents to 51S cents; qninine, 81 cents to
30 cents; sal soda, cat cents to 20 cents.
20 cents to 81 cents; juta hemp, 25 cents
TO 90 ccnts; pig lead, 1896 to @4.85;
tin-plate, @S 90 &5 .2E; Portland cement,
&l.eSto @a.25; nails, Sl.10 to 92.60: wire
He..e,5s 80 70 Vo.SU lltnrac1te coal,
@3;l5 to $3.50; glass, @a.57 to e2.e9;