Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-23
TWELVE PAGES
SATURDAY. JUNE %. 1900.
TIE VIOLATION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE.

When trespasser is found upon
ones private property. Il very natural
impulse Of the offended party is 10 vio-
tate the law made for his protection,
become an outlaw. and shoot the tres
passer on the spot We have had in
stances of that in this vicinity and else
where.
So it is with the present Chinese trou-
bic News comes that Chinese are muir
dering Americans and destroying their
property. There is no doubt OF the
fact that brave missionaries have yield
ed up their lives to the frenzy OF the
Infatuated mob that they went to turn
from their hcathenish ways
This is n sufficient cause to mike the
blood run hot ana swift in the veins of
Americans. but viii that cause. grave
MS it is. justify n breaking away from
The organic law and fundamental
principles of this government: a vo-
laticn of the Constitution, under which
alone we arc assured protection against
not only the Legislative but the Exec
tive. If not the Judicial branch of the
government? One violation unheedcd
means a precedent Tor all time to come
1t is understood that the President
will send from the Philippines an army
to China. 1T matters not whether one
thousand or one hundred thousand SOL
dieis be sent. since the principle IS the
same. This is an "nvason" OF another
country as contemplated by the Con-
stitu;ion. An invasion is alone an act
OF war. and Congress alone can declare
war. But. it Is argued with great We
hemence. that the Chinese have commit
ted acts OF violence which amount to
hostility Admitting as much. is it not
still matter to be taken up diplomatl
cally by the Executive and his Secre-
taIy of State, who should refer their
nets and correspondence to the Con
grTess, which alone can declare car; and If
urgency demands. an extra session
should be called This is the law as it
Is understood 1t is likewise precedent
hnd custom. A few years ago many
Italians were hung by q mob i'm New
Orleans Earlier than that. in the West.
certain italians met death in the same
way. Did Italy invade America with
k1oops2 But this principle comes home
closer to us yet. Down in Cuba. few
gears ago. the crew OF the Inflated Viz
gfn1us' We're mercilessly shot. y few
years later. and only few months ago,
Spantnrds laid waste the property of
Americans. murdered them and jeopar
diced che life of even FltzhuGh Lee
che American Consul. who wrote. advis-
ing Americans to leave the island: and
lastly the Maine" was blown up in
Havana harbor.
What was the result of all this?
Were troops hastened to Cuba? 1t was
taken up AUTOMATICALLY; diplomacy
failed. It was referred by the Presi-
dent to the Congress and the latter
declared war.
1t Is with a degree OF surprise. there
fore, that one notes the sudden and
positive stride of the executive branch
of government, the President, towards
Imperialism. Ills Excellency seems to
have overlooked that he is not King
or Monarch, governed and ruled alone
by his own sweet viii! He seems to
have scared above the United States
Constitution which he has sworn to
defend. and which every officer, be he
great or small. must swear TO defend.
II the Constitution be wrong and Grip
pies the Executive by not granting
him sufficient power. then that great
document should be amended! But,
while 1t exists, let it be obcyed and
Hved up to-
4ut tho question 10 made that the