Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-14
NlsCAlLANEoUs RECoRh
Why War with China ?


the War Department is making prepara-
tions to send another regiment Of infantry
70 the Philippines, ain anticipation of an
outbreak in China which will necessitate
our armed Intervention" We are further
informed that the administration Regards
the situation in China with grave anxiety
and is deeply apprchensive of having TO
make a campaign there in the coming
summer" This apprehension" il is
added is not based so much on any par
ticdlar report or special information from
government agents as upon public news
Of repeated incidents, all "tending to
show the unsettled conditions that exist
in the different provinces of the Chinese
Empire and the wcll-known weakness of
the central government"
Fudge and nonsensel Why not admit
the truth, which is simply that our adj
ministration at Washington is constantly
itching for war, and will eagerly grasp
az the slightest pretext for fighting.
"Protoction to American interests is
the pretext advanced for the warlixe
suggestions that follow any intimation
Of internal troubles In China. As TO look
ing 70 the government Of China 20 protect
foreign interests as well as her Chinese
interests, when internal troubles are
threatened, no such suggestions win be
considered
When our great Civil War was inaugu-
rated VIC heard nothing in foreign govern
ment circles about "rishing troops to the
scenes of conflict in order to protect
foreign interests in American cities, North
OF South. Had such thing been at
tempted, these foreign forces would have
been the target for the bullets Of Ameri-
can soldiers, Union or Confederate when
ever they happened to be within the range
Of the firing lines.
There is large Chinese population on
the Pacific slope in this country, and il
happens not infrequently, in San Fran
cisco and other cities Of California, that
some of these Chinese residents are sub
iected 20 indignity and outrage. Sup
pose, when these things occur the gov
emment Of China should attempt to send
over Chinese regiments to be quartered
in this country for the protection of Chin
ESQ interests. Would such regiments Of
Chinese soldiers be permitted to put foot
on American soil Not for an instant.
Then, why should not our administra-
tion treat the Chinese government with
the same consideration il would exact
Of that government under similar condi.
tions in this country, and look TO il for the
protection Of American interests durina
internal troubles in China VIII It not
be time enough for us to talk Of armed
intervention when China shall admit hei
inability TO preserve order within hel
domains, and call upon foreign govern.
ments for armed assistance b?
The organized government of Chins
stands today in as full integrity as doe.
the government Of the United States. Il
has an accredited ambassador to repre-
sent il at Washington. Has the President
conferred with tho Chinese Ambassador
and asked him about the ACCESSIBILITY O.
rushing United States troops to the Philip
pines for use in his country in the even
of internal disorders there
IL is astounding to learn that our Wa
Department is '1oolSing ahead to the pos
sibility Of long campaign" in China
and is deliberately preparing for one
What possibility is there of a war betweei
that country and this ? And what righ
has this government to take a hand il
Chinese troubles by sending lis ame,
forces to that country, on the pretext tina
internal troubles there may make it neces
sary for as 10 interfere " for the protection
OF American interests ?"
The only answer to this question is tha
China is tempting country, full of III
possibilities Of rich plunder, to be stolei
under the guise Of armed interference 70
the protection OF foreign interests then
located. Her government is held to b
helpless in the face of foreign attack
Perhaps 50. But is that any reason VIII,
foreign governments, presuming on thei
superior strength, should attack her
Let us have done with this talk about TN
necessity for interference" which thu
far has been shown to be nothing mon
than pretext for a war Of aggression an,
plumber