The record-union., 1898-01-06
A PROPHET OF DOOM.

senator Ieller mas lHIUMH out SuS-
gestions in very plausible and ap-
parently startling statement that TINS
country is vitally interested in the par
tition of China SO much is our inter
est involved, says the Colorado states
man, that if we do not protest against
and prevent the contamination OF what
now seems to be the plan Of the Euro
pean powers regarding the Mongolian
empire, our rank as nation VIII not
only be imperiled, but our decline to
mere nothing in the family Of nations
will be inevitable.
The thought is that with Russia, Ger
many and France and England doml-
mating China, with her hundreds OF
millions of people, her fertile SOIL ana
lirnitless resources, she will beeome with
Chinese peonage a low-priced service
little better than peonage, such a COM
petitor with the United States in all
productive and manufacturing arts that
we will lose not only our position as
great nation, but the progress and up
lifting that makes our civilization
shining mark among the peoples or
earth, will come to a standstill and
turn backward upon their courses, un-
til we will reach a level that will place
us among not only the inconsequentlal'
but the despised of earth
This is a dismal picture, It's true. 1t
boards the law we have hailed as un-
deniable and inevitable. that civilization
cannot go backward with Us, nor our
destiny be completed until the demo-
cratic spirit that inspires the American
people shall have conquered the world
by its peaceful art, and the universal
reign Of the principle that man is OF
right and must be self governing is
attained.
There is, however, another side to
the outlook taken by the Senator. If
we are to be the victims Of the COM
petition OF the Mongols, it will come
whether Europeans take the empire Of
China or not. It viii be slower of ap-
proacn, but just as inevitable. Having
invaighed against the exclusiveness Of
the Chinese. and been one of the forces
that has driven her to open her gates.
it DOES not lie with US to demand that
she shall now stand still. No student
OF political history believes for one mo-
ment that China is to remain unpro-
gressive On the contrary 1t IS accept
ed by all doctors Of history and the
philosophers OF political science that
the Chinese empire is to be, under
modern ideas and influences. the next
great and wondrous field for the de-
velopment and growth Of civilizing pro-
cesses.
We are estopped by the essential doc
trines of our system from contesting
this belief and expectation. 1t Is even
possible to conceive of greater safety
and good for ourselves with China DOM
mated by Europeans than under the
rule of the Tartar dynasty. Into what
ever competition America Is to be
thrown with the territory known as
the Chinese Empire fear Of it cannot
Justify us In adopting an intermeddling
policy OF seeking to divide spoils with
spoilsnen. Any protest we might
make against the dismember1nent of
China would be valueless to us, unless
backed by force to make it respected.
It Is unlikely should the United States
protest-as well 1t may. for the sake Of
pure Justice, and regardless Of self In
terest-that 1t would avail to stay the
action the powers may have resolved
upon. II. on the other hand, we should
as has been suggested by not a few, de-
rnand to be admitted to the feast OF
division of the Chinese Empire among
tss co1uuerers. we would be saddled
with a. new responsibility, without In
anywise warding off the competitive IN
fiuence of Chinese development In pro-
ductive and manufacturing advance. IL
Chinese territory Is to become the
worlds depot of supply, as Senator Tel
Ter fears, dismemberment can only op-
crate 70 hasten 1t, and defeat Of par
tition but to briefly delay it.
But fear should not be borrowed
from the Senator's forecast. 1t has
been our boast that we have an en-
pire within ourselves; that irrespective
of relations with the rest of the world
we can in the bosom Of our own re-
sources grow, a nation, prosperous,
great and powerful We are capable,
and 1t may come to that, of erecting
and maintaining protection barrier so
high and impregnable as to prevent the
degradation Of our industrial people,
and to maintain the character OF our
civilization intact.
However that may be. there are COM
pensations even in the dismal picture
drawn by the Coloradan. China devel-
oped under European civillzing fnfiu-
ences would not remain the China Of to-
day in labor or other conditions II
civilization cheapens in one direction II
broadens in another, by creating new
wants demanding the activity of new
industries and arts. It awakens desires
and cultivates tastes unknown WHARF
II had not trod and demanding conai-
tons level with them. In that equal
izing truth there is satisfactory re-
sponse TO much Of the fear of the Col
orado Senator.
But aside from these considerations
beyond humane protest against the dis
memberment of China and the nuiIil-