The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-07-26
POLITICAL CONDITIONS.
Leading politicians arriving


The alarm is shared more gener-
ally by Republicans than by Dem
ocrats. They realize that their
party is in power and that any
mistake made will surely prove
disastrous in the election. With
the situation in China eliminated
the success of the republican party
seems to be fOrgone conclusion.
The situation in China confront
ing them today. however, is not
only a serious problem, one call
ing for the ablest craftsmanship 10
its handling, but condition with
out any precedent for the guidance
OF those who are called upon to
direct the affairs of the govern
ment.
In this emergency the president
has determined to proceed slowly.
Like the mariner ON the stormy
ocean he is taking his bearings and
proceeding cautiously. Instead of
leading public sentiment the policy
is to follow it so far as it conforms
with sound national policy. And
herein lies the fear of many of the
leaders of the party. They re
member the hesitancy of the presi-
dent at the outbreak of the Span
ish war, and the general wave of
discomfort and disapproval that
swept over the country before the
administration moved In the
present crisis there is fear of sim
liar caution and hesitancy on the
part of the executive.
In the face of the news of the
atrocious murder of all Americans
in Pekin, which is without a par
allel in the history Of time in its
barbarity, the administration
still insists that the government of
China is not responsible and that
a declaration of war against the
Celestial government would not be
justifiable from present conditions.
Its position is, therefore, that of
assisting in the restoration of Or
der in the Orient>and then insist
ing upon the summary punish
ment of all those implicated IN the
murder of American citizens and a
money indemnity for the lives lost
and property destroyed.
Judging from the opinions ex-
pressed by members Of congress
and senators from the central and
west states this policy does not
meet their popular approval. There
seems to be a universal cry for
vengeance, The proposition to
perpetuate a government which
has shown itself to be notoriously
incompetent and unable to main
tain order, added to the further
fact that the officials of that gov
ernment are practicing duplicity,
meets with severe condemnation
by the people of the middle and
western states where there is a
strict adherence to the Mosaic doe
trine of "an eye for an eye" or "a
tooth for a TOOTH" especially
where this government is called
upon to deal VITA foreigners. In
fact the general sentiment in that
section goes a little further; it is
in favor of two teeth for one and
two eyes for one.
AS an evidence of this feeling,
requests have been pouring in on
the war department to raise regi-
ments in the middle and western
states to participate in the cam
paign in China. The martial
spirit Is evidently aroused and the
people seem determined that this
government shall take no back
ward steps in avenging the death
of Americans. The inability of
the government to except these Of
fers owing to lack Of authority,
evidently does not appease the peo-
pie, who believe that it is the duty of
the president if he has no author
ity, to convene congress and Sc
cure legislation which will admit
of an increase in the army suffic
lent to meet existing conditions, or
conditions which may arise.
This is what is causing the re-
publican leaders, particularly those
from the western states, alarm.
They are afraid that that martial
cD;rif ouopn tho rvactarp ,oorlo