The evening times., 1900-06-29
SEW ARDS VIEWS ON CHINA.
Conditions ns the Great Statesman
Found Them I'm 1865

mans views on the conditions then are
+ OF especial interest at this time. They
! were based on personal observations made
( while travelling in China IN 1858.
The situation in China. as Mr. Seward
/ viewed it. was well characterized in an
! anecdOte he told descriptive Of the road
/ to Pekin, which had been built 300 years
! before an embankment forty feet wide
and twenty feet above the plain. This
I whole width had been paved with hewn
I granite blocks four or FIVE feet long, two
/ feet wide and eight inches thick The
/ elements had long stree deranged and dis
! located the pavement so that ii could not
! be Travelled by wheeled vehicles or ami
/ mails with safety.
/ Admiral Rogers" said Mr.. Seward
I as they kept their chairs side by side
! on the road. did you ever hear Of the
J interview OF Mr.. Webster with John
I Adams the day before his death?'' No
/ We'll, Mr. Webster said to the old
| statesman: How do you do this morning.
/ Mr.. Adams2' Not very we'll be re-
/ piled; 1 am living in very Old house
/ Mr.. Webster. and from all that / can
/ learn the landlord does not intend to re-
/ pair So" continued Mr.. Seward, this
/ road gives me a more painful impression
I than anything else l have seen in China;
/ IT shows that the government has NO in
/ tentiOn to repair"
/ Referring to a former massacre at Tien-
( tsin. Mr.. Seward said:
| 1t is right. Just, and wise that all the
| Christian nations shall mourn together over
I the victims, sympathiZe with the survivors
and unite in demanding such satisfaction
| from the CL nese Government as would
! afford security against the recurrence of
persecution. But this has been already
I done as fully. it seems to US. as is posi-
bic The Chinese Government has be-
/ headed eighteen OF the murderers. has pro-
vided for repairing and restoring the de-
mOlished buildings. and paid Indemnity
Of 500 coo taels for distribution 20 the fam
lilies Of the victims. IL has, moreover. sent
one of the mos. eminent statesmen Of Chi
na, who is fully cOnversant with the de-
tails OF the tragedy TO make such further
] explanations and 10 give such further
guarantees as the French Government may
reasonably demand" These words Of Mr.
Seward apply most appropriately 10 the
present proposal Of Ii Hung Chang 20 re-
store order il the powers viii keep their
soldiers out Of China
Mr. Stewards views in regard 10 the at
titude Of he United States in dealing with
China is best described in a conversation
he once had with DR.. Drew. the deputy
Chinese Revenue Commissioner, which fol-
lows:
Mr.. seward-Most Of the Americans re-
siding in China are missionaries. are they
not?
Mr.. Drew-Yes
Mr. Seward-Is it your opinion that there
would have been in China today any more
American citizens than there are now il
the United States had heretofore either
waged war against China or menaced her
in any way?
Mr.. DTew-NO.
Mr.. Seward-You have been here many
years. TO you know Of any outrage OF in
jury or wrong that the United States has
ever complained OF that the Chinese Gov
/ eminent has left unredressed?
Dr. Drew know Of none.
Mr.. Seward-Has Great Britain or
/ France secured TO herself in China any po-
/ liticai or commercial benefit or advance
which the Chinese Government has not
/ equally extended by treaty to the United
States2
/ Mr.. Drew-No.
/ Mr.. Seward-Do you think that the
/ United States ought to provoke China by
/ any act OF injustice or wrongs Do you
/ think that Il would be wise for the United
I States without prOvocation. TO resort TO
any policy OF menace or intimidation Do
| you think that the American people would
support an Administration in such q policy
1 Of provocation or menace now. while they
| are submitting TO such high taxation 20
discharge the national debt incurred in a
| civil war2
/ Mr.. Drew--I think they would rot
| Mr. Seward-Weu, Mr.. Drew. 1 think
/ We are obliged 10 conclude from all these
/ premises that a policy % justice mOdera-
/ ton and friendship is the only one that
/ we have had a choice 10 pursue and that
/ il has been as wise as il has been una
/ yoidable.
The following remarks made by Mr.
Z Seward thirty-two years ago. viii be
I found 10 have pertinent application today
/ Though China would now Willingly leave
/ all the world alone. other nations cannot
I afford 10 leave her alone. Great Britain
must send her cotton fabrics and iron
I manufactures. the United States must send
/ her steam engines and agricultural imple-
ments and bring away her coolies. Italy.
I France. and Belgium must have her silks.
/ and all the world must have her teas and
\ send her their religions. All these opera
! uOns cannot go on without steam engines.
/ stationary as well as marine the printing
/ press. and the electric telegraph
! Now for the question Of the prospects
I OF China Before attempting to answer
/ TINS II viii be best to define intelIigently
| the present political condition Of China
] Certainly il is no longer an absolutely
] sovereign and independent empire II IS
/ in short. a state under the constant and
/ acti-s surveillance Of the Western mari
4 tins --.tions- It would be well to consider
/ what ere the possible alternatives. There
/ are cnly three-hrst, absolute subjugation
! by some foreign state: second the estab-
| lishment Of a protectoFate by some foreign
| state; third, q complete popular re yolutiOn.
| overthrowing not only the present dynasty,
/ but the present form OF government and
| establishing one that shall be in harmony
/ with the interests OF China and the spirit
/ Of the age.
The Chinese people, Inflated with na-
/ uonal pride and contempt for Western
! sciences, arts, religions. morals. and man
/ neTs, are not prepared to accept the lat
/ ter alternative. The rivalry Of Western
| nations, with the fluctuations Of the bal
ance OF their political powers. renders II
| dangerous for any foreign state to as
| sumo a prOtectOrate. The second alter
| native is, therefore. out OF the question
| We have already expressed the opinion
that mankind has outIived the theory of
| universal empire, and certainly the ab-
/ Solute subjugatiOn Of China by any west
| ern state would be a nearer approach TO
! universal empire than Greek or Roman.
/ or Corsican, or COssack ever dreamed Of
| The exercise Of sovereignty in China nv
| a national dynasty, under the surveillance
! and protection Of the maritime powers. is
I the condition most favorable to the corn-
| try and most desirable. The maintenance
| OF it seems practicable so far as il de-
| pends on the consent Of the maritime
| surveillant powers. But how long the
| 400 600 OF people within the empire
| will submit TO its continuance is a oues-
| ton which battles all penetration. Lei