The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-11
OPPORTUNITY
ASIA.


The current number of the North
American Review contains an article
by Charles DENLY, jr., secretary of the
United States legation in China, en-
| titled, Americas Opportunity in
Asia The article is well worth read
ing, even if one cannot agree with its
conclusions
MI Denby says that China. may be
conquered and enslaved for years, but
that the great vitality, the great indi-
vidufdity, the exclusive cohesiVeness of
her people, seem to destine her to an
ultimately Independent national exist
ence; that she must eventually emerge
from her position of subsection and in
feriority, and become one of the great
nations Of. the earth. Mr. DENLY says
that Japan's role will be a smaller one,
but that the inherent identity of her
interests with China's must make them
allies against Europe in working out
their common destiny; and that in the
hands oe these. powers lies the future
of the Pacific, and the future of the
Pacific is the future of the world. Fol-
Our country Cannot shut its eyes to
this condition. The people of America,
With q rapidly increasing population
producing more than they can consume,
with an aggressive character that
brooks no opposition, with a coast line
greater than that of any power of
Europe, dotted with flourishing cities,
constitute a factor in the future of the
orient that no apathy, no neglect, can
belittle. Whatever policy we may have
Inherited as to entanglementS with
european powers must be discarded
here. The people of the United States
must not be content to see their neigh
bors to the west with their bopndless
potentialities of trade, handed over, an
unconteSted prize, to the ambitions of
Europe. America may attempt to
evade the responsibility thrust upon
her. She may with short-sighted reso-
luton, turn her face away from her
great future, but she will not succeed
The markets of the orient are the her
ltage OF her merchants. and the time
viii inevitably come when the voice of
the republic will be heard in oriental
courts with the same accent of author
lty as in the commonwealth of. South
America It will be we'll if the certainty
of this destiny could be recognized be-
lore European craftsmanship has
barred the way with vested inter
eStS."
If that is not jingoism, pure and
simple, it is at least very highfalutin
Why is it necessary that this country,
at this pacticular juncture, aban-
don its time-honored policy of nom
interference il the affairs of other ma
tons, policy that has served the
country so wei and saved it from so
many entanglements? And what re-
sponsibility is thrust upon America,
and whence? If America cannot sue
coed in escaping her great future,
through short-sighted resolution or
anything else, America need not worry |
Mr.. DENLY says that the markets of |
the orient are the heritage of Ameri- i
cas- merchants. How did they become
so? The answer would probably be |
that half a century ago American fleets
opened up oriental ports to trade Isn't |
Mr.. DENLY confounding the oriental !
markets with the home market? The /
markets of the orient and of the world
belong 70 those who can capture them
With those goods and wares for which
here is p demand, and at the lowest
price; they are no nations heritage.
Here. f anywhere, the race is not to
he strong alone.
What does Mr.. DENLY mean when
lie says that 'the time will inevitably
,ome whe2 the voice of the republic
will be heard in oriental courts with the
anne accent of authority as in the
ommonwealths Of South American"
That IS pretty strong language, and
means a great deal, or else it is idle
Does Mr.. DENLY hold with
x-Secretary oe State Olney that the
lat of the United States is law on the
Testern hemisphere? He not only seems
o so hold. but also to hold that the
lat OF this. government is to become
o in oriental countries 1t is very
roper to ask if Mr. DENLY isn't talk
lg through his hat?'
Should this country ever attempt to
lay the role of bully that Mr.. DENLY
nd such as he would have it, it would ]
e day of sorrow for American insti- 5
ltions; it would mean Europe against /
ne United States, and with most dis
strous consequences to this country. Z
he mistake that our jingos make, is ,
OF in over estimating the power and /
of our country, but in greatly {
nder- estimating the power and re- {
ources of European countries. Such t
Xix as this of Mr. Denby's does moth I
lg but harm. No doubt he thinks it :
lie very quintessence of patriotism to '
Tx in this manner, but it isn't. 1t is t
lie height of jingoism, which is the
cry opposite of patriotism. 2