The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-04-06

parties, but also the traditional policy
of a nation | understood when I was
young that Washington 8 policy was to
confine himself to the country which
he presided over That policy has al
ways been followed by his successors
until the events of last year necessitated
a new departure. You have been driven
to a POSITION which you never dreamed
of before You have entered into the
part of expansion, or, as some call it
Imperialism.
THE president has given wise def
milton of the word imperialism. AS ]
understand his definition. it is to gov
ern wisely and fairly That is not the
first time | have heard of such defni-
ton. A fortnight ago | attended ban
ouet given by the commandery of the
Loyal Legion in Washington, and an
eminent divine in speaking of imperial
ism, defined it as civilization in the
American sense To be more accurate,
he defined imperialism to mean civil
zation and liberty If | may be permit
ted to add another meaning, imperial
ism in your case should be fairness and
Just treatment to all people. without
regard to race or color
You have had, gentlemen, the Phil
ippines coded to you and l see now
that you are hesitating whether you
will keep them or not | express no
opinion as to whether you should or
should not keep them That, Of course,
is matter for you to decide and one
upon which have no right to say
word for or against, but feel confident
that when the question has been thor
oughly thrashed out you will come to
right decision But ] will say this-that
we must have neighbor whether you
take the Philippines or not Whoever
occupies those islands will be neigh
Dor of our country. and in my humble
opinion it is better to have a good
neighbor than an Indifferent one.
Gentlemen. if you should ever de-
eide to keep the Philippines-mind you,
am expressing no opinion-what
would be the consequences? There has
| been a large trade carried on between
those islands and China for centuries.
Our countrymen have gone there for
trade. and they to us In fact, there has
been constant intercourse between the
two places Therefore, if you should
decide to keep the Philippines your
trade would undoubtedly be greatly in
creased. and you would be benefited
thereby
Apart from this the American trade
in China is considerable, and for the
last few years it has steadily increased.
A question | have been often asked is
whether we Chinese are well disposed
toward Americans Now it is unn5ces-
sary fer me to give you direct answer.
| but will do so in illustration. Do you
know what we call your nation in Chi
neseT We call your nation "a fowery
flag nation And do you know what we
call your people? We call them 'the
handsome people do not know who
is responsible for the origin of this last
term. but perhaps it came from seeing
your women.
But. gentlemen. seriously that
clearly shows that we are favorably dis
posed toward you If we did not like
you. we should not give you such nice
sounding descriptions. From this you
will understand that the officials OF
China as well as the people generally
like America, and our relations, both
commercial and political are very cor
dial
! "GentlemsA. am bound 80 say that