Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-25
SATURDAY EVENING. AUG. Is. 1900


statement that great pressure Is being
brought to bear upon the President to
pursue q war policy towards China, by
an indefinite military occupation OF the
capital of that country and other forms
of hostility and violence, either alone or
in conjunction with some other powers.
1t Is said this pressure comes partly from
commercial interests that stand in with
the administration and partly from the
so-called religious element, who want to
force missionaries and religion upon
China. OF course there are many thou
sands OF reputable merchants and OF
genuine Christians in the land VINO
would view such policy with stern
disspprobation. But the depraved ele-
ment is numerous and very influential.
We observe also that a class of per-
sons calling themselves "the Ameri-
can Association" at Shanghai have
been busily telegraphing for troops, and
say that the military estimate" for
Shanghai is $1,000 This they send
by telegraph to their allies in New
York, who in turn forward 1t to the
American State Department. That these
fellows want a Chinese war and the
Jobs and plumber that follow 10
its train is obvious enough. Such Is
the development in less than two sboit
years of the imperial policy. The Pres
ident made war on the Philippines.
Not even Washington, in the better
days of the republic, would have dared
to make war without the express sane
ton OF Congress. The President swesrs
to obey the Constitution. II he wilful-
ly violates it he is perjured man. Ii
he now thinks war on China is neces'
sary, let him summon Congress in extra
session aud submit that question to that
body for its action. 1t is very desirable
that the United States should have
good trade relations with China. If
American live sand property have been
wantonly destroyed, this country has
right to suitable indemnity. Our just
rights and our interests end right here.
No exorbitans indemnity, no seizure Of
Chinese provinces, nor prof. agatlon OF
Christianity in any form or creed in
China by the sword, ought to be counte-
nanced by the people, unless we are to
initiate the vilest examples of European
governments. Now, this being our OBJ
vious duty and our interest, how can
these results be best attained ? They
cannot be reached by an overthrow and
dispersion of the Chinese government,
or by undertaking to dictate to the
Chinese where they shall have their
capital locs ted. So long as Pekin is
occupied by the allied forces the gov
eminent of China will not be apt to re-
turn there. II it we're to return and ne
gotiate under the military dictation of
foreign troops, all its acts would create
suspicion among the people and any
treaty such a government would make
at Pekin would be liable to be upset by
popular uprising. A stable govern.
ment is alike important to the Chinese
and to ourselves. These considerations
are clear enough to any man who is not
q jobber, but a friend OF peace, but, I'M
fortunately, with an administration so
easily controlled by dangerous, corrupt
and secret influences, nobody can tell
what is coming next. The man with
the pull" controls the administration;
the President controls the man with
the sword, and the American people
have ceased to have any real control
over their own government.