The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-03-15

Thinks the United States Is Unjust
In Excluding His COuntrymen.
Discusses Our Relations With Chi
M and the Philippine Question.
Sons Of the south who now have their
habitation in New York and are socially
banded together under the name of the
New York Southern society celebrated
Washington $ birthday and at the same
time their own thirteenth annual festi
val by a dinner at the Savoy hotel
Among the principal guests was WI
Ting Fang the Chinese minister to the
United States In response to toast to
Our Newest Neighbors on our West
ern Borders the minister said in part
Long before came to this country
as the representative of my nation.
when. in fact, was boy and first be
gan to understand the English Ian,
guage, ! heard of Washington and his
achievements and since then whenever
his name is mentioned | have always
felt the greatest respect for his memory
S1ou can understand. therefore with
what pleasure it was that | accepted
your invitation to be here on such an
appropriate day to recall the memory
Of the noble character of George Wash,
ington, his great deeds, his unselfsh-
ness and his entire devotion to those
duties which he felt himself called upon
to perform for his country
w is further interesting in compar-
ing your own times with those of
Washington to note how change not
only the opinions of individuals and
parties, but also the traditional policy
of a nation | understood when | was
young that Washington 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
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
quet 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
cation 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 | 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 OF not Whoever
occupies those islands will be neigh
Dor Of our country, and in my humble
opinion it is better to have a good
nelghbor 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 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 a 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 we'll disposed
toward Americans Now it is unneces-
sary fer me to give you direct answer.
but | will do SO in illustration Do you
know what we cali your nation in Chi
neset We call your nation "a howery
flag nation And do you know what we
call your people2 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 shove +bo+ vrooro f,,rl,,, ILL., AZ