Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-19
EIGHT PAGES.
THURSDAY. JULY 10. 1900.
THE RIDICULOUS POSITION OF
THE CABINET.

Inc meeting of the Cabinet bas nod
the effect to definitely settle the roIa-
lions OF the United States with China
ana TO forecast clearly the course that
the Administration is to follow. Tho
administration is to go ahead and
make war to the limit of it's resources
nut is not to call it war. In the event
'hae 'he contest reaches proportions
beyond the srapple OF the 1O.665 mon
tnat can be spared to the invading
force Congress will be called to on
dorse what has already been done. md
10 authorize an increase of the nrmy
| ana The expenditure of larger sums for
the prosecution of the war. That en-
brief, was the program as fore
shadowed by what was given OUT after
the meeting.
Jas we have pointed out before. thIs
course permits much wider latitude
to Mr.. Mckinley than would be his
under q formal declaration of war. IF
war were formally declared, when the
Issue had been settled there would no
no excuse for retaining American
Troops IN China; under the present
program the troops can be required to
femaln IN China, and do police duty for
nm Indefinite period on the ground that
anarchy exists and there is no resnon-
Sible government. TO formally declare
war would be equivalent to an admis-
Sion that there is a responsible gov
ernment.
There is no fault to be found with
the hesitancy TO ask Congress TO de-
clare war. AS yet there is nothing to
show conclusiyely that we have n
cause for war. 1t is impossible, how-
ever, TO justify the subterfuge by
which 1t is endeavored to make 1t an
pear that the United States is not ac-
lively making war at this time. Moth
ing could be more absurd than the po-,
sitlon taken by the Cabinet. 1t re-
FUSED to admit that the President is
making war, while at the same time
the Paymaster- General Of the War De-
partment was authorized to announce
that the troops sent to China will re-
ceiVe the 20 per cent. increase of pay
provided by law for troops engaged in
actual war. This decision is perfectly
1S-oENN .AtN Juol. liz tlOOpS utSeFNe
the increase of pay, but how the troops
OF the United States can be engaged
In war while their country is at peace
is problem that may be left to the
Washington cosmists to solve.
: The significant feature of the situa-
ton is the evident purpose of Mr.. Nc
Kinley to use. without any say so of
Congress, the army of the United
States to police Mongolia. Here is the
declaration Of Mr.. Hanna, who may or
may not be member of the syndicate
seeking concessions in China, as to the
Presidents authority as he sees it:
The President has full power to
meet all conditions as they may arise.
he mas full treasury. and is empow-
cred TO call on the troops he may re-
quire 10 meet such emergencies as may
arise. There seems now to be no rea-
son why Congress should be called to-
gether. Subsequent developments. how
ever, may make such action neces-
-.
The troops being dispatched to China
carry complete outfit of winter CLOTH
ing, showing that the period of service
is not expected to be brief.
Under Mr.. Hanna's bold claim of alb
solute power for the President, Mr.. Nc
Kinley is to go ahead with his pro-
ora IN Of figuring az n po,uar IN Cn;,,,