The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1898-10-19
AMERICAN
INTERESTS
Have Grown TO Enormous Pro.
portions in China.
They Promise To Develop Wonder
fully In the Near Future.

The Secretary Of State has begun his
career in a way that harmonizes with the
new position and responsibilities that
the war with Spain has rought TO us,
says the New York Sun. The despatch
Of the Baltimore and Petrol to Tientsin,
where the foreign fleets are assembled, ia
primarily for the purpose Of protecting
our legation and citizens at Pekin, in
case the threatened attack on foreign
residents occurs. But the present crisis
in China is such that having once inter-
vened in 1t, we are bound 10 stay aud see
it through. Whatever measures are de-
termined upon by the Ministers Of the
various powers, even if they include the
JOINT occupation Of Pekin, will be shared
in by us. In all future developments we
shall play the part that our commercial
interests demand, and the despatch OF
our warships is correctly interpreted in
London as a signal that henceforward we
must be looked upon as an active ele-
ment in the evolution of the Celestial
Empire.
That such is our proper policy admits
OF no question. Our trade with China
has grown during the past ten years at a
prodi0ious rate. 1t is already worth all
but $40, 100000 year. With the open
ing OF the inland waters and the creation
oil new treaty ports it must infallibly
grow still faster in the future. Our geo.
graphical position gives us an advantage
in the race for Chinese commerce over
every other country except japan. In
the PHILIPPINES we have an unrivalled
basis OF operations from which to make
our influence felt from Manchuria to
Cochin China. Every consideration
makes it plain that the fate of the Chin
ese Empire is matter OF direct and vital
interest to our. commercial future.
Ii the Cuban question had not passed
into a critical stage just when it did, it is
probable that our Chinese policy would
have been made patent to the world
months ago. That negotiations were
passing between Washington and Lon
don, and that the President was being
urged to join with England in preserving
the open door was common knowledge
But with the Spanish war on his hands
it was impossible for President McKin-
ley to do more than assure Lord Sails
bury Of his sympathy and moral support.
Now that the war is over firmer note
can be struck and the policy of the
United States made clear.
What that policy should be is obvious
Our interests in China are wholly COM
mercial. We do not want any territory
to administer or any sphere of influence
to keep order in. The sum OF our ambi'
tions in the Celestial Empire is to trade
on equal terms with other nations, q
right which has been guaranteed to us by
three treaties. As matters now stand, il
seems obvious that Manchuria has be.
come practically Russian province, and
that equal commercial opT ortunities can
no longer be looked for there. THE
same applies TO the German possessions
at Kiao Chou and the French possessions
in the south. In these three districts o.
the empire the open door has been def.
initely closed.
There remains the Yang-tse-KianQ
Valley, the central, richest and most
populous division of China, which Eng
land is endeavoring to reserve for the
free competition of the whole world.
Whatever assistance we can give Eng
land in making her control of the
Yangtse an assured thing ought TO be
given. Our interests stand on all fours
with hers and the objects for which the
two countries are striving are identical
The loss Of the Yang-tse-Kiang Valley
would press as heavily upon us as upon
this merchants of Liverpool.