The San Francisco call., 1898-07-31
CHANGES FOR AMERICAN
 TRADE WITH THE ORIENT


had emigrated to some islands off the
 Atlantic or Pacific coast and there
 built up a remunerative trade With
 their mother country. The maternal
 instinct ought to be as strong in na-
 tions as in individuals. The mother
 cannot forget the child she has borne
 and reared through much suffering. say this merely to illustrate how we feel toward those of our own blood on these islands.
 Would the possessiotl of the Philip pines by the United States help to en- large our trade with China and other eastern countries and how?
 This would seem to be the natural effect of such a situation, but to answer this question in.i it's full significance will require time, and the tine has not yet arrived when the question can be an- swered properly. In general, of course, wider interests mean wider trade, but the old saw, Never cross a bridge until you come to it." may well apply to this case.
 To appreciate the recent progress of China in a material way one must thoroughly understand the Chinese character. China to the world at large is an unknown land. Notwithstanding all that has been said and written the Chinese are a very practical people. They are not moved with the fiery energy of the Anglo Saxon. They go slow and hold to the things they have. Time was when the masses opposed with a spirit even of fanaticism all in- ternal Improvements. That spirit only exists now in isolated instances. Re forms are now welcomed as never be- fore. The people are seized with the spirit of progress. We are a nation of four hundred millions. As it is a law of nature that large bodies shall move slowly China is not to be judged in her forward movement with a smaller na- tion. Nevertheless we are moving for ward.
 The genius of China is not in the line of the acquisition of territory. Were she circumscribed in territory, perhaps her ambition might be for more It has been said of her by Lord Wolseley, that in time she will overrun the world with her millions of inhabitants. No one need fear such @ result. Genghis Khan is pointed to as bright exemplar of what the Chinaman will do when he once sets about. it. But that illustrious war rior was a Mongol. Now the Chinese are not Mongols, in the proper sense of the word, although the masses of man. kind so believe. The Chinese are dis tinct. race altogether. No. we shall be satisfied if we are let alone and al- lowed to work out our destiny as @ na- tion in our own way That way may not be the way of the European or American; but it is the way best suit ed to the peculiar nature of the race or races which inhabit what is known as China.
 A national awakening is already go- ing on. Some years ago a Chinese dip- lomat in Great Britain wrote an article which excited much discussion in America and on the continent. the opening sentence of which was, China awake! That watchword is on the lips of millions to-day, although when it was uttered it sounded like a discord- ant note. China is awake. It Is no small task to lift a nation to the plane of the high ideals of her wise men. But when a people once awake to the dangers which surround them they make rapid progress. China is not in such an advanced stage of decomposi-s tion as some affect to belieye,s. Aroused as she now is to her material interests her future is secure.