Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-03
TW PAGES.
TUESDAY. JULY ), 1900.
WHAT 1T LEADS TO.

To the average American of this
generation liberty is commonplace.
He was born to it and takes it as a
matter of course. 1t has not cost him
anything: he has not been compelled
10 fight for 1t. He is thoughtlessly In
clined to dismiss 1t as a bore, rather
than a blessing; he regards any sus-
gestion that he or his descendants may
lose 1t. as nonsense or demagogy, be-
cause he thinks, Qn an entirely indif-
ferent and indefinite sort of way,)
that his liberty can be curtailed only
by changing the government suddenly
from Il republic to a monarchy. lie is
sure that no man would have the
audacity to attempt n coup d'etat in
this country. He. therefore. dismisses
the subject as unworthy OF consdera-
ton.
This is probably the reason for the
apathy with which Mr.. McIiinley's
invasion of China, in dcrogation of the
rights of Congress. is regarded. Yet
this is n precedent which may very
easily, and quickly. lead to the practi-
cal destruction of the liberties of tie
American Citizen. Any power that
can run the nation in debt can en-
slave the citizen. The power to tax
Is the power to utterly destroy the
man who is taxed War cannot BE-
made without vast expenditures: AMI
this money must be collected, and is
now being COLLECTED, from the citizens
III the form of taxes. If the President
can make war, he can incur obligations
that will have to be met, even though
taxes have 10 be doubled to meet them.
Just now there is a surplus in the
treasury because the taxes of the ma
ton are still on war basis If such
we're not tile case, the cost of the war
being made on China would have 10 be
betrayed by lcvying extra taxes. To
be sure. Congress could refuse to levy
tire taxes and thereby declare the gov
eminent bankrupt. But that would be
the only alternative. In invading
China. therefore, Mr.. Mckinley viz
tually assumes the right TO tax the
citizens OF the republic to carry on tie
war.
Nor Is this all. If President of the
United States can violate one section
Of the Constitution on the plea OF
cincrgency-uttcrly hollow in this
case there is no reason why he or his
successors Should not violate any pro-
vision. If in an emergency the Presi-
dent can make war. he can i'm anothcc
emergency logically do whatever is
necessary to prosecute that war. Ii
he can throw 5000 men into China
without rcr,oieSiou or f'norroee lo ,,,.,,
throw 100000 under the same prctcyt.
Since there arc not 500. 600 men in the
nrmy. he can draft enough citizens 10
make up that number. TO be sure, the
Constitution gives him no such power:
M more docs ii give him power TO
fcnd an invading army into China,
emergency or no emergency without
authority of Congress. If squads Of
soldiers were 10 appear in the streets
Of Norfolk and, acting under orders
from the President. were to nab the
citizen on his way TO business. to pull
him from his desk o.. his dinner table
TO take his chances with the lot. and
to be shipped to China TO uphold the
policy of executive aggression there
would be tremendous howl in this
seaport. Yet. that would not be a
moro fragrant infringement of the Con
stitu;ion than is the maling Of war on
China by the President sending sol
dicrs into that country. The mower
that con declare war holds in its grasp
tho life. the liberty and the property
of every citizen OF the republic, because
in such war the citizen may be requir-
ed to give up all Of these. The right
to make war involves the right to tax