Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-07
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE: WEDNESDAY EVENING SEPTEMBER 1870
Interviewer-How long a time do you

yOnu tnlS. lntenu 10 70 up hS iai az
Pekin, and to examine the country ant
return before the rivers freeze. What
do then depends entirely on circum
stances and the inclination Of our party
may, and presume | shall, visit the
principal ports in China and Japan; anC
when | have concluded my stay, pur
pose returning home via the Suez Canal
thus making the trip round the world.
Judge Neutrality-suspicious. former triI
to this coast proved beneficial to YOU
health2
Mr.. Seward-Quite so. And it gave
me great satisfaction. learned much
about the countries north Of us, and
also about Mexico. We Americans dc
not know anything about either. We
use our own capital for our own devel
opment, and forget that there are coun
tries of vast and undeveloped resources
on either side Of us. The time has now
come when the civilization of the United
States must reflect on adjoining coun
tries. They must draw their eniighten
ment from us.
-Interyiewer-Do understand you to
say, Mr.. Seward, that the countries north
and south of US must eventually become
politically, as well as commercially,
united with us?
MIR. Seward--No, sir; / did not say
that. But do say that they are to be
developed and civilized through the in
Auence of the United States, and that
their progress will naturally add to our
prosperity whether they are politically
independent of us or not. And if did
think they would eventually become a
portion, Of United States territory !
would not proclaim it now. When
went to Victoria | found
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN
had preceded me. He was going to take
the country by force. They leveled
their guns at him and forbade him to
land. | arrived shortly after and they
extended to me most cordial invita-
ton to be their guest and to address
them. / accepted In my speech
told them of the faults Of their govern,
ment and told them that | wanted them
to improve themselves. The result was
that they knocked at our door for admit
tance. So if / wanted any country,
north or SOUTH to be added to our
domain | would not go out in the streets
and proclaim that they must join us, but
/ would keep quiet and let things take
their own course.
Judge Hastings-Mr. Train has pre-
ceded you to China also Governor Sew
ard.
Mr.. Seward--Yes; he is ahead of me
in everything.
MEXICO.
Interviewer-What is your opinion in
relation to the present state of Mexico
Mr.. Seward--I think Mexico is the
least understood and appreciated coun-
try on the earth. She has immense re
sources, and is bound to achieve great
wealth and power.
Judge interchangeable you consider
her capable of self-government2
Mr.. Seward certainly do. She has
been working under great disadvantages.
The Spanish colony brought with them,
root and branch, the curse Of an ecclesi.
astical government. The Mexcans have
had to fight that for years. They have
fought and conquered Maximilian and
they have just now got Papacy under
subsection to such an extent that a
church bell dare not ring only for SO
long a time. A man can now be born,
marry and die without the aid of a
priest The priests do not now control
Mexico lear as much as Beecher does
the United States. They have good
schools, good system of taxation, and,
! consider, are now capable of selfgov-
ernment.
THE CooLIE QUESTION.
Judge Hardenburg-The coolie ques-
ton seems to be the most important one
at present What will come of it?
Mr.. Seward-You would make good
interviewer, Judge. Your question re-
minds me of a time when | was inter-
viewed on law snit was counsel for
one side of a land case, and man
wanted to know what grounds of sup
port had. took out a huge pile of
deeds, power of attorney, ETC., which had
been furnished with and handed them to
him to read He said it was too long a
job, so | read them right through for,
him, 1t took two or three hours, and
when had finished | looked up at him
to see how he stood it. His only sur
prise seemed to be that the papers had
not been drawn up by myself. | told
him that could have drawn them up,
but that | had taken my privilege of
using the labor of some one else. So it
is in this case; could only give you the
labor of some one else. | want to see
what is in that country. That is what /
am going for-merely to satisfy myself.
Now, Judge Hastings, when you and
your daughter take another trip to the
Old World, you must take this China
trip 1t will do you much better than
it will to do Europe"
Judge Hastings-I would dearly like
to take the trip, Governor, and you must
not be surprised if you meet Judge Har-
denburgh and myself there.
Observation-Disclosures Seward, in lis
tening to your entaining and instructive
remarks ] have forgotten that ] am con
nected with o newspaper. / shall watch
with much anxiety for your opinion of
the Orient and its inhabitants, and be-
fore leave | would like to know what
you think the political and CONNER
cial effect of the increasing trade with
China will be.
Mr.. Sewsrd-When ! was in your
State, friend of mine came TO me and
told me he had been nominated by the
Democrats for Justice Of the Peace.
" All, said ]. II congratulate you."
Here an awkward pause ensued. lie
finally added, |" Mr.. Seward, never ask
a man not to vote for me. l replied,
" And / never vote before election
So it is in this case. When |
have been to China / can tell you what
my opinions are. As it is now, | have
not sufficient foundation to form any
opinion
The chat lasted over an hour, and APP
peared to be enjoyed by all parties.
Mr.. Seward did the most of the talking,
as his listeners we're quite wiling hs
should do. The conversation most of
the time took a general and humorous
turn, occasionally trenching on politics
during Shich Judge Hastings, being the
only Depoerat present., cane in for sey-
erai Sly faps in Mr.. Stewards dry way.
fhe annual State elections are rapidly
coming on. In Florida and Mississippi,
Mondav 0ctoher z. in Nebraska Yuas-