The times., 1898-09-19

settled down TO domeSic pursuits, and
It was hard even 10 get the needed re-
cruits for native regiments, so little did
men care for fighting per Sc. 1t was this
uplifting of mankind that England and
America all the world over was destined
to do
The Cuban Question.
Then he was interrogated as to Cuba.
Should the United States establish pro-
tectorate with the idea that eventually
it would become an integral part of the
Union? 49,
NO was the decisiye reply. Il am
not in favor of halfway measures; why
not do the job tlAeroughly?" He went on
to say that the Cubans had shown them
selves much further advanced than the
Filipinos. having a measure of self-gov-
ernnlent among themselves and apparent
ly some capacity for orderliness He had
only taken the Philippines as an extreme
case. But American influence was GER
tain TO predominate in Cuban affairs
speedily. Why daily; why resort TO ex-
pedients; why not do the ultimate thing
at the beginning? Again he reiterated
America had no grabbing policy. She did
not ever intend to seize Cuba or any
other of Spains possessions, but the ir-
resistible march of events meant only
one thing. Statesmen must perceive 1T.
The same was true of China. Besides
the potential possibilities of commerce and
manufactures there were stupendous prob
lens. Here were 40o,OG0,000 Of people,
peaceable, industrious TO remarkable
degree, with inexhaustible resources
The surface only of China's trade has
been scratched" he exclaimed. Americas s
import and export trade with China has
increased immensely in recent years. Its
possibilities are almost incalculable. That
undeveloped land of the Mongolians was
about to be opened to commerce and civ
ilization All England asked was open
ports'-a fair field and no favor.
An Open Market in China.
IF we cannot compete successfully
with the others in open market We will
sit down. look it over and see where we
are distanced and try to remedy the sit
uation. Only we want no differential
rates; no national restrictions. We care
not whether Russia or Germany or what
not has the title if only trade is open TO
all.
I'VE made Hong Kong an open port.
That's our plan and principle. If you
and we together made representations,
not threats, does anybody suppose the in
timation would not be well received and
tremendous benefits for all mankind re-
sult?''
England's colonial secretary of state
went on TO say that Americas public
men could not be blind TO this situation;
they must appreciate what it means for
trade, as we'll as civilization generally,
and they ought to understand Englands
attitude in the premises. If, few years
hence, England having gone into it alone,
We found ourselves left out in the cold.
we could have no just grounds for COM
plant.
Nicaragua Canal Must He Built.
Conversation shifted to the Nicaragua
Canal question. Mr.. Chamberlain did not
feel so well informed upon that topic
as TO warrant any comments. He sup
posed that events had made it certain
that now the canal would be constructed.
The trip of the battleship Oregon, the
trade relations between the Atlantic and
Pacific and various other considerations
made the canal a sine qua non, he sup
posed, for this country.
There had been talk, he understood, re-
garding a dual guarantee by England and
America. The proposition 10 keep the
canal open to all nations at peace with
us would receive most respectful and
courteous consideration by England, he
felt positive If such a representation
should be made.
Had the short and decisive Hispano-
American war raised the opinion of
America in foreign eyes? was asked.
Mr.. Chamberlain thought it had not
very materially changed the European
view of the United States. If Spain
had not so utterly collapsed you would
have lad lot of trouble he observed.
But the ultimate result was plain TO all.
You had seventy million people. If the
first army was wiped out you would put
800. 900 more men in the field, and II they
were not enough million, and even If
million were not enough you would put
two yes, five million
You see ne went on. smiling, there
were two assumptions, or rather the first
was fact: first, your resources, tremen-
dous resources, and secondly your tenac-
ity for Il was believed you were as te-
nacious as your forefathers."
Then in graceful sentences, Mr.. Cham
berlain enlarged upon his theme.
All Europe Understands Us.
''AH Europe understood the situation
The wars of independence, of the con-
quest of Mexico, of 1S6O-'65, has made
your national characteristics plain Your
inroads into the markets of the world
had shown your energy and adaptability.
Your exports of breadstuffs, etc, had
shown your fertility. Slow to wrath,
when once the Cuban situation reached
an acute stage the end was only a ques-
ton of time. Your tiny regular army of
25 600 deceived nobody except the pur-
blind Dons. Jealous and intelligent, the
mass of the population would soon be
carrying arms, if need be. and temporary
setbacks would only have made your peo-
pie more grimly determined Ericssons,
Maxims, Gatlings, together with Deweys,
Hobsons, Schleys would have sprung up
like dragons teeth if the war had con-
tinued."