Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-31
FRIDAY. :. DECEMBER 81, 1897.
orr INTERESTS IN CHINA.

The threatened partition of China is
the uppermost topic of discussion with
the papers throughout the country, and
some of our exchanges are growing pa
thetic over the matter TO the extent of
comparing what is in store for China to
the fate OF Poland Our readers will ex-
cuse us for saying that to this latter
class of contemporaries we feel like ex-
claiming "Ratsg' For the people of this
country to indulge in expressions Of SEN
timental sympathy with China would be
the veriest hypocrisy. The average
American has far less sympathy for
John Chinaman as man and a brother
than the average northern man has for
the negro. and that tells the whole story.
None the less. we have an interest in
the drift OF events in the far East and
~ there Is TO be a division Of the Celcs-
tial empire there is call for our SYM
patty Of certain kind. The call comes,
however from Great Britain. Criticise
Britain's brutal methods of extending
I her sphere of influence az we may, just
ly denounce England as we may for her
Irish policy, common honesty compels
the admission that when any dividing
I'D takes place on the other side of the
water. we are more than pleased to see
Great Britain get the biggest portion.
When we discard all fol de rol about
the rights of the Chinese, for which we
care nothing so long as the infringement
OF those rights does not interfere with
us, and bring the question down TO one
of business and commerce and pocket
nerve, we find THAI in the present com
pllcation our interests run with those of
Great Britain and Japan. Under the
British policy Of free trade a British
grab generally means a chance in the
territory grabbed for American trade
competition. Where Britain goes the
world is free to go, in the matter Of
commerce.
The planting of colony by a Power
of continental Europe means exhaustng
tribute from the colonists for the bene-
ct of the home government and dis
eliminating tax on other countries at
tempting to trade with the colony. The
extension of the British Colonial system
carries with it the development Of the
country colonized and the opening Of its
ports as freely TO American as TO Bril-
fish trade.
AS regards trade, we are now on an
equal footing in China with all other
nations, and either the preservation OF
the status quo or the expansion Of the
British zone of influence in the empire
H. Ann of
commercial relations with the Chinese
But Just to the degree tl.at Russia, Ger
many and France may absorb areas Of
the empire, and British domination may
be circumscribed. will the possibilities of
that Increase be cut off. Indeed, If what
Is said to be the plan of partition
aimed at by France. Russia, and Ger
many is carried out. the trade we have
already established with China will ne
cessarily suffer materially.
90 we say that II there is 10 be a di-
ylding up OF China, we hope, for our
own sake. Great Britain will get the
lions share, in truth. The Monroe doc
fttne bars the way to our active in
reference in the Issue, seeing that such
interference Wplia DC " AifiNS
On the part Of Europe in the affairs OF
dos continent. But II does not stand
n the way Of our proposing as a new
YEARS. toast Success TO John Bull" In
MS instance. II the game of partition is
really 70 be played in earnest. AS he
would, in respect OF our trade interests.
he acting as our proxy, 1t would be UNI
,.ecoming and ungrateful and show a
lack Of Intelligent selfishness not TO do
mat much This we can say without
ccneoning Johns many transgressions
or contravening the contention that the
other Earopean Powers have as much
right to grab In China as has Great Bril-
tain. II Is perfect consistency TO recog-
nlze shnt right from the point OF view
cf Germany. Russia. and France, and
from our own point Of view hope that
these Powers may DO disomnted In al
tompt:ag TO exercise the risht