New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-26
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BENJAMIN l. WHEELER, OF CORNELL.
SPEAKS AT TEACHERS COLLEGE
ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
THE SICK MAN OF THE EAST NO LONGER TURKEY
But CH1NA-TNrEREsTs TRANSFERRED
FROM THE NETHERLANDS
TO THE Pacific

TO THE PACIFIC.
Professor BENJAMIN l. Wheeler Of Cornell Uni
versiiy addressed the students and faculty OF the
Teachers College yesterday afternoon on the sub
| ject Of The Easternmost Question
The professor introduced his remarks by speak
ing NJ the policies that have hitherto chiefly oo'
tanned among the European Powers. and said that
| the sudden change from the Mediterranean
centre Of movement and interest would drive the
United States 20 the contemplation or foreign
policy which she has not so far been DESTROYS OF
entertaining He spoke OF the responsibility tha'
this Government has In the Issues now at stake
and the attitude that willy nilly' she must as
sumo.
1.-The critical times said the speaker. ARE draw
ing the ends ~ the world together Nations 500
tho supreme moment approaching. and we shoua
not fail to realize the Importance and advantages
OF the tlme-of the year-the day, We have said
Hands off" to Europe when there was danger OF
an arbitrary movement. now we are on IN" DRINK
OF war and We inquire into the cause OF this cen
trail disturbance We that Germany Is hostile
TO our movements toward Cuba, and we cannot
touch that island without involving many aues-
tons Germany wishes TO assert herself france
glares at Germany while Russia. glacier-ke, is
rushing down from the North Japan has tried ner
strength with China. bringing on at bound the
Fasternmost question The march OF events is
transferred from the Egean 10 the yellow sea
Comparative philoogy." said Professor Wheeier'
has a place in this question
He then graphically sketched the influences OF
Occidental and Oriental domination OF thought
and territory from the conquest Of Alexander the
Great v.7ich fixed the boundary. he said. OF Oren-
taIism and divided the world as IT has remained
divided TO this day On the one side is india and
China having half the population OF the globe; on
the other little Europe and America. with what
may be counted on OF Africa. But the boundary
is one not Of States. but Of religions. The line OF
derarcation is Mahometanism. II is the mascu-
lire virile West Of action Joined 10 the feminine.
imaginative Eastern world Of thought
The Eastern question Is not one Of to-day. said
the speaker Crossing from Athens into Smyrna.
the traveller passes from the West. which believes
In purpose and force. TO the East which rests In
IT'S denial Of the right NJ individuality and its spirit
Of waiting and inaction Alexander led the West
over Syria and Mesopotamia 10 the gates OF India
and along his lines Of march civilization came back
into Europe from India. the land Of dreams"
The speaker in drawing up n summary OF polit-
ical European movements. gave the reasons for
the Influences operating far In keeping apart the
Occident and the Orient and then showed how in
may be expected and spoke Of the tremendous
forces to be found in tho dominant religious ten
denotes of each.
I'm the old Eastern question there a Sick
Man" said Professor Wheeler. "and in the new
Easternmost question there Is a Sick Man. too. but
past: only temporary hold is maintained by her.
because Russia Is still not ready TO act: but the
Sick Man is China. and where the carcass Is
there will The eagles be ga thered also. So fate
moves 10 its goal: and fate and history shsll turn
and overurn till he whose right It is to reign shall
reign king OF nations"