The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-15
Hugh Craig in Accord
With Them.
OBSTACLES CAN BE0VERCcME
GEORGE A. NEWHALL ADVISES
DUE CAUTION.
Would Have the Chamber of Com
merce Send a Commissioner
to Study Chinese Trade
Conditions.

The address made by Lord Charles
Beresford before the Chamber Of Com
merce of this city on Monday afternoon
made a most profound impression on the
representative merchants and citizens of
this city. There is no denying the fact
that the vast majority of those that heard
his Lordship agree with him, and that
they differ only on immaterial points.
From the expressions that were to be
heard on all sides yesterday it would ap-
pear that the suggested trade alliance Of
the two nations is not so very far off after
all Many of the most prominent gentle
men, who are engaged in business here,
while they may not agree with his Lord
ship in every particular, are neverthe-
less. in hearty accord with him in the
general run of his ideas and in the ad-
vice that he gave.
Hugh Craig, ex-president Of the Cham
Der of Commerce, when seen yesterday
said:
Il heartily agree with everything that
was said by Lord Beresford and see no
difficulty that cannot be overcome by the
good sense and honesty Of the American
people. l am in full accord with the po-
sition taken by Lord Beresford on the
Oriental question, and L hold the same
answering faith in the capabillty and
craftsmanship of the American people,
for meeting in an intelligent and states
manlike way all questions now to the
front in Hawaii, the Philippines. Cuba and
Porto Rico. There is no doubt in my
mind but that the American people will
justly govern the mixed Latin popula-
ton, and that in the end they will so
educate them that they may be intrusted
with all of the details of the municipal
and local inter-island administration.
Il am certain that as responsibility is |
placed on US the same spirit of fairness /
and desire TO do right, which is ever para T
mount in the minds of the American peo- /
pie, will greatly help TO solve any ques-
ton that may arise Tor international con-
siderauon. As Lord Beresford so very !
aptly stated, men Will be found for every /
occasion, as for instance, Dewey was the
man for the battle of Manila Bay. To /
men like myself, familiar with the ad-
minstratiOn of her MaJesty's Government /
in Australia, New Zealand and the South
Ing itself in the Philippines which has not
already been thrashed out by colonial
statesmen to a successful issue.
You ask what | would suggest that the
city of San Francisco or the American
people do to secure the happy operation
OF the suggestions thrown out. TO US by
Lord BerestOrd. Let me here say most |
emphatically that 1 am in favor of leav-
ing II TO the administration. We have
In President Mckinley and his Cabinet the
very best OF material the world has ever
seen, and surely they are eminently
qualified to handle just such questions as
were proposed by Lord Beresford before +
the Chamber of Commerce. The only /
trouble I can see ahead is that which may |
arise from the egousm and impudence OF
the University Pharisees, who, injecting /
themselves as If they were the 'unco /
guild of the nation, make trouble where |
none should arise" !
George A. Newhall, the first vice presi- |
dent Of the Chamber of Commerce. who /
presided at the reception extended to Lord I
Charles Beresford, when asked for mis-
opinion of the situation as presented by /!
the distinguished visitor, said:
10 begin with l may state that the
question is really such a new one to US
as nation, and to myself in particular +
that l rather hesitate to- express an opin- /
lon Since You have asked me what I /
think / must confess that in nv personal /
opinion Lord Beresford has come to us .
as a missionary of England. Now it is (
true that our British cousins cannot see /
a Joke but they are onto the. future I
great international questions before we
have begun TO be aware of their exist (
ence.
For my part I believe that Lord Reres-
ford is perfectly honest in everything that +
he says, but when l express my opinion
as a member of the Chamber of Com
merce it Is then that l am aware that We
should proceed very cautiously and that
every safeguard should be taken to see
that we are secured in everything that we
as nation may do. There is no denying
that the trade of the East is as vet in
its infancy, and that America certainly
controls the major share of 1t. In this
connection l may state that l myself will
next month sail for China and Japan to
look after the interests of my company
there.
when we come to act as a nation If is
then that we have to proceed most care J.
fully. Too much security cannot be had,
and while Lord Beresford is undoubtedly
honest in all that he says, we should do as
England has done in him. send our
own missionaries TO China and the East
TO ascertain for us what is the exact con-
dition of affairs there. [ am in favor OF
the Chamber of CONNIE 'ce of San Fran
cisco alone sending 81 representative to
learn for US what Is the prevailing con-
dition OF trade in that great country. Of
course II might be a good plan for the
United States TO send a member from its
Associated Chambers, Bot for the pres
ent I am speaking for our own city. 1
really have no plan that / can suggest
for dealing with the views presented by
Lord Beresford. I only know that our
most representative merchants agree with +
him, but they only desire, so far as 1
have been able to ascertain, some ma
donal guarantee that what Lord Beres-
ford says is q correct presentation of the
facts in the CASE