The evening times., 1898-08-18
goTHE FATE OF CHINA.
Ansso-su.on Iute rc.t~ la the Analr

AnasO-saxon IDte rests iM the Affairs
''h' of Asia.
The Eastern question that has for years
kept Europe on the verge of war has
shifted its scene to the Asiatic coast and
the Chinese empire. and the center of our
own attention is likely to pass from the
Caribbean to the China Sea. The New
York Commercial Advertiser notes that
"the vital point in Spanish-American re-
lations is Tot Cuba. but the Philippines.
and this is vital because of its touch with
the vaster issues shaping themselves in
Asia. Acquisition of standing ground in
the East was not necessary to give the
United States deep interest in the coming
social, political, and commercial revoiu-
tion in China, but it has made that inter-
est more tangible. has given 1t visible
point. Our interest in the fate of China
began with our Pacific-carrying trade
fifty years ago. and has grown with the
expansion of our Pacific commerce till 1t
is second only to that of Great Britain.
During ali these years our interest has
been common with the British. and 1t re-
mains so on the commercial side. With
the political and diplomatic entangle-
ments into which the exactions of trade
are drawing Great Britain We desire to
have nothing to do: but with the funda-
mental motives of the policy which is
slowly urging her to war We have the
livliest sympathy. II war comes, We
probably shall take no part in it as
nation: but people we shall encour-
age British efforts and delight in British
triumphs as sincerely and keenly as she
sympathized in our victory over SPAIN
The reason is plain. That war will be
inspired. as this was inspired. by the
ripest instinct Of civilization whose most
forward evangelists IL Is the mission OF
these two nations to BE-.
..Angio- Saxon inte-ssts in China were
simple enough In a.. osxfnnlng. and they
grow complex oniy Sith the aggression
and interference u other nations Their
sum Is expressed in the open door for
trade. This 1t has been the common poll
cy of the two nations to establish In ASIA.
in India and Japan well as III CHINA
British conquest of India opened 1t to the
trade CT all nations on equal terms. Tne
American expedition to Japan. whlcn
broke down the barriers OF centuries.
opened treaty ports TO the trade of all
the world as well as that OF the United
States So the opium war and the kim
dr.d aggressions and interferences of
Great Britain in China gave her no ex-
elusive privileges, but opened Chinese
ports to the trade of the whole world on
equal terms. Wherever Anglo-Saxon CIV
iiizatiOn has gone in the East the open
door for trade has followed. So II Will
be in the Yangste Valley. if in the march
of events that snail become as British as
Hongkong or India. So 1t Will be In the
Philippines. If In the logic OF events they
ia. ri
The policy of the open door for trade
has come to an end in the East with the
establishment OF the continental powers
in North and South China. and II can be
maintained in Central China on y by con-
version of the British commercial infiu-
ence there into political dominion Tne
open door is an Anglo-Saxon principle.
only understood and recognized by these
two peoples Where Russian. German or
French dominion begins exclusive privi-
lege enters and equal opportunities Tor
trade end.
The condition which is about to confront
the Anglo-Saxon world is exclusion from
those ports of the East occupied by the
continental powers more complete and
lasting than that they had 10 endure from
China herself. II is futile TO resist this.
as Great Britain sought to do, on moral
grounds or in the name of civilization.
Continental nations cannot comprehend
the principle, and laugn at the feeble
ness. of 4 power which refuses dominion
to ask only trading rights. 1t begins to
be understood in England that the only
way to meet continental aggression is 10
share in the partition of China, and to re-
coup the trade lost in the North and
South by making Central China British
This effort will be followed by the
United States with sincereSt sympathy
and unqualified moral support. That is all
Great Britain will exact and all the con-
ditions call on US to offer. unless there
should be such a warlike combination
against the English as should menace the
future OF the Anglo-Saxon race every
where. There is one form of moral sup
port which Great Britain will expect, and
which We can hardly refuse, and that Is
acceptance of that share of responsibility
for maintaining Angio-Saxon principles
and traditions in the East which chance
has thrown unsought into our hands. We
are called on to enter the scramble for
China. but the least We can do is TO keep
the door open in the Philippines. 1t will
be small return for equal opportunities
of trade in India and Central China to re-
tain and govern these islands in the in
terest of Anglo-Saxon civilization.