The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-03
THE CHINESE MINISTER'S PAR
ABLE.


ABLE.
The Chinese Minister to the United
States expresses great surprise tnat
other people than those of China should
talk about or concern themselves ABOUT
the open door business without consult
ing China He thinks as it is the coun-
try of the Chinese that is to be the
patient it ought to be advised with as
to the treatment He likens the open
door proposition to practically the case
of a body of people resolving that they
| will administer mans household al
! fairs without consulting his wishes. The
neighbors Of "B" get together ana
agree that "a" shall take the front
parlor, "C'' the kitchen, 3D. the lawn,
"E'' the living room, and then the lot
| of them will proceed to run the home OF
'B" to suit their profit and pleasure.
Is that the modern idea Of justice? he
asks. in effect.
That is an ingenious way Ct putting
it to be sure. But state it in another
form. Suppose that "a" &c" and d.
have already taken possession Of parts
of IBIS" home, are in actual occupancy
of the front door approaches, the rear
door access and some portion of the
interior, and propose to overrun the
whole house and quarter themselves
upon the household. What would be
thought of "E'' and "F"' living next
door, If they failed to protest and come
to the aid Of ''B?"
The simple truth is that what Eng
land asks Of America to-day is TO lend
her moral influence to the protest
! against the dismemberment Of China
It Is asked that all nations with treaty
compacts with China shall have equal
| rights to trade in Chinese ports
and that China shall not, under duress,
be driven to consent to accord greater
privileges commercially to one than to
others. From our seat in the Philip
pines we will be admirably situated to
exercise a commanding influence. We
are asked from that vantage to stand
for the integrity of China as nation,
until, at least, she is able to adjust
her affairs so as to prevent her DISCO
luton as an Oriental Power.
1t happens that many of the more
enlightened men Of China, and some
Of her foremost statesmen take this
view of the matter. and believe that
| to the Anglo Saxons the Chinese must
look for such protecting moral, and
possibly physical influence, as will pre-
vent China from being parcelled out
among European Powers, and by such
action save the commerce of the far
Pacific from monopolization.
Of course there are two sides to the
open door policy question, but assur-
eddy the moral and better side is that
which stands for the preservation OF
what remains of Chinese independence,
and still further opportunity for her to
Join the procession of the age in pro-
gress, enlightenment and modern civil
ization.
The fact is that the Chinese central
Government is now, as it has been for
half a century, ineffective over the ma
ton. 1t is a Government by the toler-
ance of the provinces in several cases
ungraciously given. Real sovereign
ty it has not. The result is that it
never yields save to threats, because
the rulers in what may be termed the
States, hold the imperial Government
in such disregard If not contempt, that
1t dare not make DEGREES concerning
j foreign States. 1t yields, therefore, to
threatened employment Of force where
redress of grievances is asked, where
other Governments would not withhold
justice until threatened with force.
China is practically governed by pow
erful cabals, societies and secret broth
erhoods, by ambitious and Jealous Man
darins, and by Viceroys who not in
frequently usurp imperial power. IL
is this weakness of the central Gov
eminent that has made China the mere
puppet of aggressive and coveteous ma
tions. If matters go on as they have
the past few years China as nation
will cease to exist and in her place Will
be the established lesser State, which
will be speedily overcome and re-
duued to the will of European Powers.
The chief hope for Chinese intitutions
and for her cohesion as a nation, lies
in the hands of those who propose to
enter an effective protest to the total
destruction of Chinese independence.
To properly decide the case OF Con
gresham Roberts of Utah account
, should be taken of the status OF poly
gamy in Utah at the present time. II
: as is asserted by men on the ground
: the Mormon Church is promoting piu
/ raj marriage, is secretly intoxicating 9
/ doctrine it is pledged not to forward
and is thus upbuilding sentiment IN de
: fiance Of the act of admission, then thu
Roberts case becomes the more I'M
5 portant and of wider meaning. II. OK
J. the other hand, his defiance is persona
only. then the House can deal with hin