The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-11-01

SOUTH (. S' s { URER
WAN s., 4 INA.
A N, 5. ill mer
have s. 81 Ito Sen
ators q +. 81 nd tbt
Repre "a =, in thu
HonseeAlA.S2 q 5, :. bn 6
government pOlIN the
freest access of thy $uth.
ern cotton manufaG s, d. & )nar.
kets of China. |,rers
hold that the Chine IS N far
the most important rhey
view with alarm th z{nt of
spheres Of influenc Ger
many and other pc S. Il the
South Carolina Rel o do
all they can for th s Ge Of
the open door pole ~ guar
anteed by treaties, ~ Nc
Laurin was the first le let.
ter and his reply is s.
BENNETTSvILLE{ - q }12.
Messrs. j. b. Clevel s + = rs Mont
gomery and 9th hburg,
sc. :.
Dear Sirs: You been
received. fully every
thing you say about 1ance of
the retention of the he South
with China. The COP bolcy'' is
what we need and rhls has
hitherto been sect "treaty
rights" which have fpected by
other nations only exte1t to
which it conduced ITO jrade inter-
est. While ostens kecognizinp
these "treaty rights Yer nations,
in violation Of then I've acquired
territory and exclude }erefYom our
legitimate commerce. NKssla has grad
ually absorbed ManchuNA and is build
ing railroad across 3beria to com.
mand the trade of CHINA. Germany
has been active and waiting in ex-
pectancy to obtain DE Philippines.
Japan has given Russia all the fruits
of her victory of 1892. France has
been the willing to- of Russia, and
to assail her.
This was the status in the East when
the battle of Manila occurred. This
Russia for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of |
China, and rendered its absorption and |
partition impossible. If you want the |
"open door," the United States now
holds the key. The archipelago of the
philippines lies along the coast of Asia
for S( miles and commands It, Ma
Mia the point in tho East which is
the elAptre of ocean traffic. 1t is the
only Hint where foreign nations could
have obtalned commercial stations
without struggle.
In the vicissitude and good fortune
of war with Spain, and without any
intention of doing so, the United
States has acquired the possession of
the Philippines, which gives to her
paramount political and commercial
advantages.
My judgment is that the control of
them, or al least of some portions, is
the only safeguard for our trade inter-
ests in the East. The abandonment of |
them means the dismembermen of |
China, its partition among the Euro
pean Bowels, and the inevitable loss of
our Chinese trade.
note you say in your letter, "that
the Question of our rights IN China
does n9t include an attempt to bring
other nations under the influence of |
our flag ; that this is not a question of
empire, but simply question of trade, !
etc."
Tt seems to me that the question of
trade is not alone involved. The ucn,-
merclal and political aspects of the
great problem of the hour in this
country are insoparable, and it is USE
less to close our eyes to this fact.
Would it not be folly for us to sacrifice
our commercial interests for purely |
political considerations 2 The main |
tenance of our trade IN the East does |
not.necessarlly mean the for&ibe annex
alton of the Philippines, OF the denial |
Of the right of local self-government,
but when the war is ended by treaty
or otherwise for Congress Ito settle all |
questions in just and c$n stltutlonal
way.
do not favor the abolition by the |
country of colonial policy because of |
the vexed and threatening problems
growing out of it I; but LILO think that,
If possible, the Unltedj States should
maintain sufficient ;aherests IN the
islands to commando equal trade rights
with other nations iIh China. This will
prevent for long time the dismember.
ment of this vast emNre. England
and Japan favor the Integrity Of the
empire but they alone Icaunot guaran-
tee it against the otherjEuropean pow-
ers. With the. weight .of the influence
of the United States thrown against
dismemberment, it Would be rendered
impossible.
At present, Hong Kong, under
British influence, is the great distrib-
uting centre of the orient. Manila,
under American Influence, will occupy
Il better strategic )and geographic posi-
ti6n, and should become commercial
centre OF that ortion OF the world.
Com&orcial sl remacy is the goal of
every Iciviitnad @ @lation--lt is only at
tanned through commercial progress
and conmerc expansion. In this
great battle abng the nations, with
out desigF W3our own, while they
were bagglin mong themselves, Dew
ey sails into anila bay, we find foot
hoht within 10 days. journey Of this
iooI of HJrnara mhars half iho