St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-08-25
Items of Intelligence Relating to
Affairs at the National
Capital.
EFFECT OF. THE PRESIDENTIAL POLICY.
Attitude of the Administration ON the
Chinese A1fair-The Natural Result
OF ImperiaIism-The Democratic
Declaration ON Issues Empha-
sized.
Especial correspondence.l

murdered turns tne eyes or the cOun
try on Washington, to see what course
the administration will take Natural
ly the indignation over the outrage
causes various expressions of strong
feeling, but it is generally recognized
that the administration is in a peculiar
position. Almost any step that it takes
will expose it to criticism from the vast
number of people who have been view.
ing with alarm the policy of imperial,
ism.
1t is unoficially given out in admins
tration circles that troops will be
rushed to China and that severe punish
ment will be meted out to the nation
which has been guilty of allowing the
murder of our minister and many
American citizens.
Still, it is explicitly pointed out that
no war viii be declared against China,
no matter how many troops it takes
to carry out the intentions of the adj
ministration, and that Cinnamon will
not be deported from this country while
hostilities are going on.
This sounds very much like the ad-
ministration's way of doing things.
1t is now carrying on one unauthorized
war in the Philippines under another
term. It is doing in the Philippines
what it denounced in 1898 as criminal
aggression"
It is said just now that the admins
tration has no intention whatever of
helping in the partition of China, but
will only act with the other powers to
punish that nation for the attack upon
our citizens. But this assurance will
not go very far with those who haze
watched MeKinley's course in the last
two years. The administration has a
very optimistic and facile way of mini
mizing its imperialistic performances
beforehand.
On the Administration.
Ex-Congressman James Hamilton
Lewis puts the whole Chinese trouble
squarely up to the administration. He
says:
81 charge the Chinese outbreak di-
rectly upon the republican administra-
tion. It is the direct result of the an
nouncement made by this government
that the United States intended to en-
ter into the division of China. Since
these assertions China has viewed us
as invaders. It's assaults upon us are
because OF that feeling Of our hostility
to them.
During the last Is years wherever
have been killed it has de-
yeloped that they had violated some
sacred ritual of the Chinese faith. 9th
er nations besides the Chinese visit the
offender with death for such desecra-
tions.
s1t is apparent for the first time in
the present generation that the Chi
nese government has given sanction to
an assault upon Americans and for
eigners generally.
-ssThis is because our missionaries and
ambassadors were regarded as the adj
vance guard of a force determined to !
the Chinese empire"
mfr. Lewis goes on TO point out that
SO long as we kept aloof from alliances
with the continental powers the Chi
nese government treated our people
with consideration and gave us trade
privileges.
1t was only when this administration
was beguiled by England into an un-
aerstanding that she would be helped
n her policy of despoiling China that
he trouble began.
Among others Mr.. Lewis quotes ex-
Minister Denbys while a member of the
Philippine commission, speaking for
The administration, as saying that the
lime had come when we should join
'ther powers in appropriating a re- |
'peetable sphere of China to ourselves"
Senator Lodge recently said that our
should "bear its response |
'ilities in China and participate with |
he nations of the world in the division |
II that empire from the base of the
Fruits OF Imperialism.
Mr.. Lewis remarks that we are now
Gaping the fruits of the harvest sown |
" this administration while under the
lauence of its dream of imperialism.
lie says:
I'VE must take one of two courses:
Iumiliatingly step out of China with
cad Americans unavenged, or proceed
o revenge the infamy by marching our
rmies into country which can band I
ogether standing army equal to
very man. woman and child we have
q the United States and still not begin
D exhaust their surplus"
1t is clear that if war is to be made
China we are both unprepared and
nable to reach victory, while losing
be trade because we have made enc
lies Of the people.
The question is, are our people still
yilling to take the woeful result which
be policy of the administration. as
roposed in the Philadelphia conven-
on and admitted by the president in
is speech at Canton, inevitably pre-
pilates upon US Is it to be empire of
ar and bankruptcy or republic of
eace and prosperity2 It seems to be
p to the administration.
As il to emphasize imperialism as the
Icst important issue. the news comes
'om the Philippines that Gen. Mac
rthur not only cannot spare any
.ooDs from the pbi1iuY,inas INIT thot