The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-26
Circulation Statement.
Real News From PcI>in.

After hanging by the eyelids to an illog-
zeal and foolish hope for nearly a week
the Administration has about abandoned
the idea that the legation people in Pekin
are alive. The last despairing message oil
Minister Couger. dated July /, and re-
ceived yesterday, is undoubtedly genuine
1t shows that on the day when we at home
were celebrating the birthday OF American
independence our unfortunate diplomatic
representatives. their families and guards
we're face to face with fate too horrible
to think Of, and which they must have
met a few days later.
The Conger despatch Of yesterday brands
the alleged message of July is as a fraud
Just as the substance Of the message OF
July I agrees with that of the same date
from Sir Claude Macdonald, so the other
message is practically a paraphrase Of the
messages sent out by Sir Robert Hart and
Baron Nissi. respectively. on June "a and
June %. The internal evidence that the
one forwarded by the Tsung-li-Yamen, as
of July IS. had been intercepted and sup
pressed for three weeks is complete and
convincing.
A London cablegram of yesterday stated
that Lord Salisbury has informed Amoas-
sador Choate that the British Government
has good reasons for believing that the
final assault upon the legations and the
massacre Of the Ministers and other for
eigners occurred on either July or IL 1t
is probabIe that these things really hap
pened on the 9th or 18th, in view Of the
persistence of native reports to that eff
feet which have originated in various Chi
nese cities from independent and widely
separated sources,
The role OF friendly confidence in the
good faith Of China can no longer be played
BY Mr.. Mckinley. his advisers. and Admin
istration and Chinese Legation organs. 1t
is as plain to the Government now. as it
has been to a majority of thinking people
all along. that the Chinese, with charac-
teristic duplicity and treachery. have beer
playing a game upon the American Exeeu-
tive. success in which has made it th'
laughing stock Of Europe. Foreigners hay'
been simply astounded at the gullibility o
our State Department. which has accepted
the aimsiest lies imaginable as gospe
truth. and asked other powers TO believe
them. England and Europe perhaps, dt
not understand the American official mo
tive which has been quite consisten
with the Administration policy OF always
hoping against hope that what it does no
want viii not happen through the opera
ton OF some accident or miracle
But an end has come 70 such inyertebrac!
and nonsense The President must nov
prepare himself to acknowledge that, il
butchering our Minister and the othel
American men. women, and children in Pc
kin, China has declared and begun wal
against the United States. and that such ;
state Of things demands that he should
instantly convene Congress to determine
what steps this nation should take in con
sequence. He is not the war making power
He has no constitutional right TO colduc
war, to infict punishment by war, or Z
exact war indemnities. He is the creature
Of the Constitution. which clearly define!
his duty in the premises and makes f
mandatory upon him. II may be pleasant
for him to carry on foreign military ad-
ventures without consulting anyone out
side OF his brother emperors. but it is no
constitutional. and a point has beef
reached beyond which he must not go OF
his own initiative and responsibility.