The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-28
LOOKING FORWARD.



This Chinese question puts a problem of
foreign relations to the United States in
different light from that in which it
has ever been presented before. This
country is not interested in the expansion
of empires. and the policy adopted by
Washington i'm the beginning and reig-
iously adhered to ever since prccludeS
this government from participating in the
partition of China. if that partition is
TO occur. But there is more i'm this ques-
lion as now presented than the acquisi-
tion of territory or supremacy of empire
As ii appears to those best qualified to
Judge, the United States has an interest
in the fate of China and the action of the
foreign powers not conceived of in the
policy of isolation laid down during the
youth of the republic. 1t is held by some
of the broadest visioned men in congress
that the policy of Indifference toward the
International politics of European and
Asiatic powers does not extend to our
commercial relations with those powers
nor to the action of those powers which
affect those relations.
Such an Interpretation of that policy
as would ignore an injury to our com
mercial development. it is held, would
place restrictions upon us which would
ultimately be destructive.
1t Is the opinion of careful students of
the situation that the duty of this gov
ernmcnt is to participate to the extent of
securing i'm perpetuity such commercial
rights and privileges i'm the orient as will
admit Of the indefinite development of our
commerce on the Pacific. 1t may be u
matter of indifference to the United
States what territorial dominion is ac-
qured in China by Germany. Russia,
England or Japan. provided their extern
sion of empire does not carry with ii the
power to place upon our trade-or pros
pective trade-with the orient such re-
striction as they may see IT. In other
words, it is held to he our duty TO claim
certain commercial privileges independ-
ent of the caprice Of contending natiocs
and that we should not consent to the
carrying out of any policy as to China
which deprives us of that.
o
This view Of the situation Is one that
| looks into the future, In the life of a
nation a few generations count for lit
| tie. If this republican form of govern
ment is to survive. there must be no re-
striction upon its development which does
not rest as we'll upon other forms of gov
| ernment. A healthy development for a
| country like this does not involve, neces-
| sarly, territorial expansion. II is nat
| urally confined to internal progress and
| advancement I'm production, i'm manufac-
| turing ana lllt dllS, anu lllt OpGillHS UP
| of markets to be reached with our COM
merce. The protective policy of the ad-
mnistration and the natural resources
| of this country may be expected to lead
| to the highest internal development, and
the home market will naturally expand
| 4 foreign market Is necessary, however,
to render available the profits of this
capacity for production. In Germany
| France, England and in all countries out
side the orient, our policy of protection
| 10 American industries is met by retail
iation and competition. There is a well
defined limit to the expansion OF our
trade in that direction. The orient alone
is open, or may be opened and there the
trade is undcYeOped and subject to nj.
most unlimited development in the fu'
| ture.
II dominant rival powers are to dictate
the tariff flaws, and sign commercial
treaties for China, to grant or take away
at their will commercial privileges we
may seek or now enjoy, II Is foreseer
that great wall will gradually he con
structed around the United States, and
we will sink to a low place among ma
tions, being the hewers of wood and the
| a Ir.r n