The Irish standard., 1900-07-21
The Chinese Troubles.

The Chinese Troubles.
The United States has trouble enough
of its own. Mr.. Mckinley must not go
looking for more in China, says the
New York Herald.
In spite OF the traditional policy OF the
American republic to "avoid entangling
foreign alliances" in spite of the fact
that the United States is not at war
with China, American soldiers will pos
Nsibly go with the allied expeditionary
force to Pelin, will fight shoulder to
shoulder with the troops of France,
England, Austria, Italy, Russia, and
Japan, and will help carry destruction
and bloodshed into the heart of a coun-
try with which the United States is pro-
fessedly at peace.
This is the latest development of the
imperialistic spirit that has animated
Mr.. Mckinley and the republican party
for the last four years, spirit that has
already brought about war with Spain
chronic discomfort that only awaits OPP
portunity to break out into open rebel
lion in Cuba and Puerto Rico, and
costly, un-American guerilla war with
the Filipinos, Who trusted in our states
mems solemn promises that they should
be free to enjoy right claimed for
every people in the Declaration of indie
pendence, to alter or abolish any form
of government wherever it becomes in
tolerable for the governed.
Nothing could show more forcibly
the extent to which the American ma
ton, under the guidance of imperial
McKinleyism, has strayed from the true
course laid down for it by George
Washington in his farewell address than
this proposal to send United States
troops to fight Europe's battles.
If there is one people on earth that
has no right and ought to be ashamed
to NEEDLE into China's internal affairs it
is the American. Every sort of vexa-
tious, iniquitous regulations have been
devised to harass and discourage Chi
nese immigration. "No Chinese, cheap
labor has been made a political slogan.
The Chinese have been set upon by
brutal rnobs in the west time and again.
Only a couple OF weeks ago !Asiatic
laborers on railway lines were attacked
and beaten Petty restrictions have been
enacted by congress to drive away the
Chinese from a country that claims to
be the land of the free. Their most
sacred beliefs have been used as a
weapon, against them. and their lives
been rendered into'erabc so that they
might be got rid of.
Yet China has not sent an expedition
airy army to enforce the rights OF her
subjects to that justice which is due to
all human beings, civilized or uncvil-
led Why, then, should the United
States go to war with her because
number OF Europeans and some ambi-
tlous. injudicious missionaries have
stirred Zip the hornets? The role OF
America in the whole, affair is very
simple one. The quarrel is I.urope's;
let Europe. fight it out alone. The
United States should Eeep its hands free
to tender its good offices when the mo
mcnt Tor mediation arrives, as it will.
TO use Prince Bismark's phrase the
United States should be nothing but the
honest broker in the matter and merely
protect the lives OF its citizens
Anything beyond this is a monstrous
departure from the principles OF equal
freedom for all that are the glory and
the safeguard of the American republic.
That these principles have been troddcn
under foot in dealing with the Chinese
is undcniablc Railways have been
made across their tcndcrly revcred
gravcyards, and some barbarians are
even advocating that any excess Upon
the part OF the natives be punished by
the destruction of their sacred nlauso-
leum. How would the United States
like similar measures to be adopted by
foreign people with regard to Amer
lcan seaports under the spccious plea OF
spheres of influence" What kind of
reception would be given to a company
that should try to run railway through
an American graveyard?
Let the people think OF this side OF the
question and cry HAITI to Mr.. Nc
l>lnley i'll his disastrous imperial policy.
The United States is not yet tied hand
and loot to Europe, but it soon will be
Ii imperial McKinleyism is allowed to
go on its way unchecked much longer.
A Big Whepper.