Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-25
THE MEAT THAT CAESAR
FEEDS ON.


What. may we inquire, are American
soldiers doing in Pekin? How do they
come to be planting the flag on the
walls of the Imperial City? BY whose
authority and to what end are these
things being done? Where. in letter
or In spirit, does the Constitution of
the United States confer any such DOW
CT upon William Mckinley as Presi-
dent?
When Mckinley declared war by the
invasion of China the country was told
that it was not war, in the first place.
and that If it was war, Mckinley de-
c'ared it because of the grave emergen-
cy and to save the lives of our people,
who were in eminent peril. Having
made this specious explanation. moro
than two months were dawdled away
before a really serious attempt was
made to succor the people in whose be-
half, it was explained, Mr.. Mckinley
had ignored Congress, assuming for
himself autocratic power in the use
of the American army and navy.
The allies marched on Pellin and our
people We're rescued from the British
legation. That was the purpose and
the only purpose, as the Administration
repeatedly asserted for which Ameri-
can soldiers were ordered to China
When that had been accomplished.
how does it come that American troops
are pressing on to the storming of the
Imperial Palace ut Peltin? If we are
not Mt war with China, why are our
soldiers taking the aggressive, now
that Minister Conger and those with
him have been saved? If their rescue
was the only motive for the fighting
that has occurred, why does not the
fighting cease, now that the rescue is
accomplished? Has William Mckinley
the power to keep an American army
in China indefinitely; to use it for the
overthrow of the Chinese Government
with which lie claims we are at peace:
to employ 1t for the purpose of policing
Mongolia? Where is there a shadow of
authority or precedent Tor such high
haEoed courses?
y We are told that there is no Imperial
ism. What, pray, shall we term this
exercise of autocratic power? Caesar
and Caesarism grow apace. When
communication With Conger was first
cut off Mr.. Mckinley hesitated as to
whether he should send troops TO
China. The State Department admit
ted that even in a grave emergency it
was n stretch of power. 1t plainly had
Its misgivings. Then there was hcsita-
ton as to cooperating with other Pow
ers. There We're to be no "entangle-
ments" Then came the cooperation:
then the acceptance of n foreign mill
tarist to command American soldiers.
Lastly, we behold Mr.. Mckinley throw
ing off all DISCUSSES and making war
along with the best of the autocrats.
What are our soldiers fighting for?
Not TO rescue American citizens, for
they are already rescued. Not to COM
pei the payment of indemnity, for no
demand for indemnity has been made
as yet. Not to conquer an enemy, for
it is officially declared that we have no
enemy.
When Mckinley declared war on
China the Virginian-Pilot asserted
that he did so without calling Congress
because ne did not want to be hamper
ed by Congress; he wanted free hand.
The event has abundantly shown that
it was right. The transgrcssion OF au-
thority has been increasingly nagrant;
the purpose of it increasingly manifest.
Mr.. Mckinley. taking shrewd adj
vantage of n circumstance that moved
the nation to indignation and horror.
has established clear precedent for
executive declarations of war. lie mas
again narrowed the Constitution. so
that now it does not govern him in our
relations to other nations. With Them
as With the colonies. Mckinley is the
m tiOn