New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-24
OUR EASTERy-WrSTERY NEIGHEoR.

Washlngton's Birthday was celebrated, as
&ual, with much srcech-making There were
addresses in all sorts Of places. by all sorts OF
men, on all sorts of topics. We shall make no
attempt to classify them according to their rcla-
tive Importance. But we shall incur no re
proaCh of invidiousnoss in saying unheSi-
tatincly that in place and personality and theme
not one Of them outrankcd the address made in
this city by the Chinese Minister on the rela-
tons between China and the United States.
We might also give it the first rank in point of
cloQuence for. indeed not often has an Amer
lean audience been privileged TO hear a finer
BIT Of classic English composition than this
offered by our guest from Far Cathay Put
,yhcn We consider that IT was the official voice
of the oldest empire In the world and one Of
the two most populous. an empire that was al
ready ancient when the PharaOhS were born
and the Pyramids were built and that now
comprises more than Onc-ifth Of the entire
human race. and that this empire has now be-
come our neXt-dOor neghbor I'm that Far East
which IS merely the Far West, then the sur
passing interest Of the unique uttcrance APP
pears.
For il Is exactly true, MS Mr. WI reminds US,
that China is our next neighbor She would be
that anyway. seeing that she faces us at the
other side Of the Pacific and is the greatest
nation at that side as we are at this. Still
more Is she since we have annexed Hawaii.
and thus advanced our borders two thousand
miles nearer to her. and placed ourselves in the
way of gaining and holding paramount rank in
Pacific commerce. But most of all Is she our
neighhor since we have acquired the Philip
pines. and thus placed ourselves not six thou
sand. but scarcely four hundred, miles from her
shore Nor is proximity alone 10 be considered.
As Mr. Wa says relations between China and
the Philippines have for centuries been most
intimate: and they cannot now be broken. II
would indeed. be against our own interest 10
break them. For II the Philippines are 10 bc
Of commercial value 10 us. that value will rest
not so much upon their own resources. vast as
these may he. but upon their availability as a
base OF operations for extending our trade I'm
China. Our Chinese trade at a range of six
thousand miles and without telegraphic com
munication. has already become great. surpass-
ing that Of every other nation save two. With
q great American port only n few hundred miles
from some Of the chief ports Of China and from
the mouth ~ the second commercial river Of
that empire, and with direct cable communica-
ton, which we shall presently have. between
the United States and China, the volume Of
that trade must become enormous.
To what extent these changing conditions
VIII modify the treaty relations between tho
two countries remains 10 be seen. Doubtless
there Will be some modification. Mr.. Wa init
mates that II should be In the direction Of re-
moving restrictions upon Chinese immigration
into this country. II may be doubted If such
will be the case. No nation Is under Oblga
lions, legal or moral. 10 open its doors TO all
eomers No nation does thus open them. In