The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-04

Fail to Develop Because of Lack
Of Organic Power.
1.-THE Break-Up Of China" by Lord
Cna;Ies Be- e,ford. Harper x Bros,
New York. Scr sale by the st. Paul
Book ana Stationery company.
BY long odds the most important work
on China for many a day is the report
published by Admiral Berefords on the
conclusion of his recent mission. The
visit was undertaken, SO far as the pub
lie is informed, at the request Of the AS
sociated Chambers of Commerce of Great
Britain. but when it is remembered that
Sir Stafford Northcote is the president of
the chambers, room is left for the inter-
esting suggestion made by London papers
that the real mission of Beresford was of
a secret political nature However, it does
not much matter; British politics are so
buSineSSiike, and British business is so
mixed with politics, that it all comes to
the same thing. At any rate the choice
of the visitor was admirable from every
point Of view. Lord Beresford has a
standing and fame that gave him access
and respect everywhere, and his special
study his questions at first hand And
that he was sailor, rather than a mer-
chant, save breadth and conference to his
views. such as is usually wanting in men
whose Intelligence comes alone through
the avenues of trade.
There are maps of great value. and the
entire discussion is simple, direct and
straightforward. As between the politics
OF acquiring spheres of influence for
the different great powers and the matR
tenance of the Chinese empire with the
'open door," the report argues in favor
of the latter method. We are told that
the interests Of the commercial nations
are identical, and are opposed to those
who seek merely tie acquisition Of ter
ritOry. 1t is the interest of Britain, the
United States and Germany TO join
against the dismemherment of the en-
pire. The Chinese people are honest.
This administration of government is
hopelesSly bad The Chinese merchant
is the soul of honor, whose word is as
good rs his bond. and will steal all that
he can lay his hands or. The state of the
army is shown in detail, and is largely
insufficient and badly organized, but the
money raised for the army would be suf-
fcient under British management to fur
nish adequate defense for the empire
against any possible foe The trade of
the United States with China is only s
per cent of the whole, but all other Ma
lions, Japan included, and Britain left
out. have Is per cent, while the vast re-
mairder is in the hands of the English
But America has more than is apparent,
for the majority of her products ara
bought and owned by British merchants,
carried in British ships and Enauciered
through British banks. American cottGns
have increased in sale very largely dur
ing the last decade. and English cottons
have fallen off. New England seems des-
tined more and more to Guido Lancaster
in this regard. American lour is largely
increasing in importance as an import,
and American machinery is being bought
in large quantities. Eeresford details also
his impressions of the snip building of
San Francisco and this eminent naval
authority shows a wholesome respect for
the works which turned out the Oregon,
and for the transport plan of supplies de-
veloped by the American authorities, by
which an army can be kept afIoat and
made practically Independent.
The chapter on the finances of the EN-
pire is not so satisfactory as some other
parts of the report. The variety of the
coins, the fact that there is no coherent
administration, the fiuctuation in the rela-
ton of copper and silver are clearly
shown But the most important sugges-
ton, and one that economists have not
always recognized, is the essential rela-
ton between governmental ability and
sound finances. Unless contracts can he
easily enforced, insurance must be high.
But insurance IS an element of price and
also of rates of interest. Public finance
Is even in worse way than private con-
Germs The only security that China can
offer to get loans is the customs, but
those al roo w
hope. The only means of escape is a re-
form in administration, and the distin-
gutShed author states that the revenues
might be quadrupled without increasing
IN the least the rate of taxation If this
be true. it indicates an unheard of de-
generacy in the public service. He thinks
that England ought to furnish some one
to reorSanize the finances, in view of her
Preponderating interests of a commercial
character. With British soldiers ready
TO fix up the army, British ffnanciers
waiting to organize the treasury and
with British merchants eager to do all
the business, the open door, seems to
be term that is slightly misleading.
One of the greatest obstacles to intelli-
gent present judgment and wise future
action is the complete lack of a bureau of
statistics, and anything like adequate and
accurate knowledge of the resources of
the empire. 1t would seem that here
must be applied a remedy before future
progress can be assured
The problem outlined to us appeals with
force TO the imagination. An empire of
approximately 4O0,000,600 people, with fer
tile lands and still largely undeyeloDed
possibilities, with the oldest persistent
civilization of the globe, a people that in
many respects is highly cultivated. waits
Tor the mere lack of organic power. while
hungry nations OF recent growth and far
mferior IN numbers, decide upon the dis
position OF patrimony of 1000 wears
Lord Beresford prints his book. but at
the same time that he is calling alolId
for the open door" in. the name of Great
Britain and the United States. the world
Oh oip4omacy IS given to understand that
secret treaty has been concluded ba
tween England and Russia. which Dc
limits their respective Spheres Of in
1uence' and probably postpones tbe fms;
settlement for half decade at least In
the meantime Americans must rood tho
report with mingled emotions. Our nolicx-
OF isolation for 100 years. very sueeestiI,e
OF the Chinese, has so atrophied o,,r
power or initiative that we consent r.
let Enghsh ships, merchants and hanks
transact the most of our business in A.
Orient. What is most needed i, ~ ne me
country IS a vigorous and coherent COZ,
mercial policy Lord Beresford's hooi,
proves 1t, without seeing such a result
"5uStice to the jew"
Justice TO the Jew" bv Madison r, D.
ters. L. Tennyson NeeIv M, Y VI e
For sale by the St. Paul Book and Sts.
tlonery company. y TO-
1t is tribute to the better spirit of
the age when the Jew is vindicated nv
Christian clergyman, who dedicates his
work to a Hebrew IA hhi ar, 90