The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-18

We had something to say few days
back regarding the. announcement that
our government had called upon the Eu-
ropean powers that are now establishing
their spheres OF influence" as they call
it, in the Chinese Empire. 10 sign writ
ten statement that such Of our rights as
are secured to us by treaties with China
would be respected in the future notwith-
standing the occupation by these powers
of Chinese territory. A few days ago we
met with the following interview with
a Mr.. J. S. Fearon. in the Washington
Post, I'm regard TO the matter:
"The only ground Of apprehension in
regard to our commercial interests in
China Is I'm the direction OF Russia. The
danger from this source is real and inn
mlnent. Russian absorption OF the chi
nese empire means. beyond a doubt. the
imposition Of such di1erential duties on
imports as will practically exclude Amer
lean goods from those markets Russia
has already gobbled Manchuria. and her
OCCUPATION Of Northern China IS only the
prelude 20 the extension of her domina-
ton of the rest of the country unless the
United States and Great Britain check
mate her ambitious and selfish plans.
81 do not regard this as I'm any sense
political question but strictly a business
proposition The United States does not
want any Chinese territory: neither does
England. but both are DESTROYS of retain
ing their share Of the Oriental trade. The
policy Of Germany, too, is / think. pretty
much In this direction. Russia. however,
in her scheme Of empire building covets
territory. which is also the French idea.
Now If with our eyes wide open Russia is
allowed TO go forward and make whole
sale annexations Of Chinese territory. we
need not be surprised later on TO find our
manufacturers and merchants unable 10
do any business i'm any part Of the en-
pire. All we ask for is the maintenance
of the treaty rights We now enjoy. which
gives us an even break with all other ma
tions as far as trade is concerned. The
trade is what we want and nothing be-
yond that.
"Russia's policy Of commercial eXclu-
eivoness has been amply demonstrated
within recent times Under a late law
only Russian ships can sail from ports
on the Black Sea 10 her seaports on the
Pacific That she would adopt the same
course I'm China with a veiw 10 monopo-
lizing the trade Is reasonable deduc-
ton. In view Of the fact that England
has trouble I'm another part Of the world
e. would not be n surprising thing to see
an increase Of Muscovite aggressiveness
I'm a region where vast tracts Of land have
already been appropriated with impun-
ity."
There is n whole volume Of good sense
In these brief remarks. Russia is narrow
and selfish to the last degree Of her poll
cy. and being an autocracy. and her rul-
ers naturally know nothing but their own
whlms and fancies. any sentiment OF lib
erty or equal rights to other people is as
foreign to a Russian potentate as roses
are to the Arctic regions. She occupies
territory to make 1t Russian and to draw
from IL for herself whatever there is that
is valuable, and she has no idea whatever
Of allowing any part Of the rest OF the
earth to share in anything good that her
territory possesses.
We have rights under our treaties with