The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-06-30
LORD BEkEsy FORD, BOOK.

. Charles Bercsford, IL one OF the i'm
portant books Of the year. Il treat
Of one Of the largest national move
ments Of the century, and the autho
Is man who has the respect and ad
miration OF all English-speaking peo
pie. The Associated Chamber Of Com
merce OF Great Britain selected hin
for the purpose Of ascertaining and In
forming them about the most peculia
and industrious people with whom tn,
British merchants have dealings, ant
withal a people who seemed to be
from the Teutonic standpoint, politi
cally disintegrated. In other words
Lord Beresford was sent out to OBJ
serve, measure, and mark the drifting
of the most stupendous derelict GU
loose from its bearings and floating
on the unknown political ocean.
Lord Beresford has made his report
and, as might be expected, he pre-.
sents the most reliable and intelligen,
summing up of the matter which has
yet appeared.
He believed with other intelligent
Englishmen, that the one true, perma-
nent, wise and satisfactory policy OF
Great Britain regarding commercial
relations with China, was that Of the
open door" or in other words, free
trade Of all nations with China. The
Government of Great Britain also be-
lieved in this policy, but was opposed
| by Russia, Germany and France. In
order to maintain 1t, the largest prep
aration for naval warfare ever made
by the British, was made last year.
But Great Britain needed the aid of
the United States and Japan, in en-
forcing such a policy. Japan was
ready to aid, but the United States,
committed TO the theory Of the shut
door," or protective policy, was not
ready to assist her. The mass of the
American people, represented in the
Senate of the United States by men
who failed to give two-thirds vote in
favor of the annexation of Hawaii,
were. as they still are. inclined TO
keep their faith in the shut door.
Great Britain, unsupported by the
United States, finally accepted terms
from Russia, which gives to her the
vast basin of the Yangtse. and divides
up the rest of China among the differ
ent spheres of influence" Lord Be-
resford regrets exceedingly that the
United States failed to stand by the
English in this momentous affair. He
does not understand the humors of
democracy. The orators Of the Repub-
lican party mounted the dry goods
boxes on the street corners and fran
tically pointed to the Star Of Empire,
but when the English said, Suppose
you follow the star" they replied, 1T
is impracticable."
Neither the Republicans nor the
Democrats in Congress dared to give
active support to any Open-door poll.
cy in the Orient, and when the Pres
ident asked Congress to strengthen
the navy, In order to enforce our deal
ings with other nations, especially In
the Orient, the naval force was de-
prived OF several thousand men, by a
stingy committee.
On the other hand, 1t must be said
that the foreign policy Of the United
States is the evolution Of a democra-
cy, and 1t cannot be expected that the
average American voters, made up OF
men who live In "dugouts" on the
Arkansas River, of men who swarm in
the tenement houses Of the cities, and
men who have been educated In the
schools and colleges, will or can agree
on a far-reaching foreign policy. 1t
is a matter OF growth.