New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-04
TUr TTCEPOy AND HIS TEACHING.

The most eminent statesman OF China the
virtual ruler of the most populous nation on
earth. whose antiquity cannot be measured, has
had a hearty welcome from the President ana
people of the United States. the youngest OF
great nations. hui al 'cady the richest and most
povcrful In the best sense he came not as a
stranger. having enjoyed the intercourse ana
personal friendship of eminent Americans
among whom was President Grant. and having
Cor years studied with deep interest American
affairs. and he has also personally known many
of The ablesi Of those Chinese students who have
been selected for education in this country ana
well knew Minister Burllugame. by whom the
treaty was negotiated under which such ediica-
ton of Chinese youth in American colleges be-
gan For the first time he secs in old age
Nation which has for more than thirty years
since hc became Il power IN emma, occupied IL
large place in his thought.
He came 10 the United States on diplomatic
mission of the gravest Importance to both couil-
tries It's precise nature has yet TO be oInclall!
disclosed but it is believed to embrace as one
of it's chief objects the consent of this Govern
mcnt to modification of the treaty under which
China is restricted from imposing higher duties
on mpo'ts flDm the United States. Great Brit
ain. Germany and France. The situation Tor
the Chinese nation and the statesman who Is It's
Ambassador and virtual head Is one of extreme
difficulty. Worsted in war. forced to pay
heavy indemnity to Japan. compelled to rely
first upon Russian aid, for which, 1t is by many
believed. the Russian price may be practical dis
mcmberment of the Chinese Empire. and GRIP
pied in finances because silver in which import
duties are paid. has lost Learly half its value,
China appears to have only this alternative
consent of Western nations to the imposition OF
higher import duties. or practical bankruptcy
and enforce nent of Russian claims. probably
involving the integrity or independence or the
Empire.
These appear TO be the facts, though the sltua-
ton and the proposals Of China are as YET nor
officially known But if 1t is in the power OF the
United States in a measure to determine whether
the Empire shall impose duties necessary for lts
characterization the established policy or TINS
Nation would seem TO be in harmony with that
appeal 1t has not been an American doctrine
that international obligations should be so con-
strued as TO deny friendly nation the right to
preserve its existence. or that the taxing power
of one nation should be regulated by the inter
csts Of others. If conserving to Il desire or
China would involve loss 10 American commerce,
II is conceivable that mutual concessions might
be made But assurcdly the history and prac-
tice and the principles Of the United States
would not forbid liberal construction Of the
underlying spirit Of treaties which in the lapse
of time have cone to diminish by nearly half
the power of the Chinese nation TO sustain it.
self by taxes Oh imports.
Without Intention the Chinese ViccrOy is do
ing great service to the United States. He
is here at time when this Nation is on the point
OF deciding whether its monetary system shall
be that of China or that of Europe, with the
silver standard or the gold standard OF value.
He has come from the greatest silver-standard
nation of the world. Old the face of things to ask
for relief from other nations because China has
been practically bankrupted by the decline In
the value of silver. He has come to urge that THIS
decline has so impaired the resources OF emma
that we cannot justly insist longer upon treaty
which now permits payment OF duty in coin
practically worth only half what it was worth
when the treaties negotiated. because it
would probably involve the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
the Empire There could not be more valuable
obiec,-lesson for American voters ut this time.
The question whether they wish to have their
own Nation crippled and stripped of the power
TO maintain It's own integrity Is for them vital
one Paid in gold. the revenues OF this Nation
are now too small for its necessities. Paid in
silver, they would not be half enough. 1t Is
plain that they could be paid in silver only, if
by free coinage gold should he driven out of gen
eral use. The temperance advocate who brought
before audiences n "frightful example" never
enforced n lesson more imprcssively than the
mission from the greatest silverusing nation in
the world cnforces the lesson that free coinage
OF silver is the broad road to bankruptcy