The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-30
The Chinese Problem.


The Democratic party was silent respecting our
relations with China because to declare opinions
upon that subject which the American people
would not receive with contempt and spurn with
disgust would cause the broom.stick ghost OF
imperialism" and "MilitarSm'' to vanish in an
instant. So to speak would annihlste those
paramount issues because it would admit that
even the blind, when told, can perceive, even
il they cannot see it, that the status, the occu.
patton and the sovereignty of the United States
in the Philippines are at this moment and in
this great crisis OF civilization commanding and
absolutely indispensable They vindlcatc the
wisdom Of holding those possessions unless the
United States is to recede to the shores OF the
American continent, become herself little
China, cancel herself as a factor in The great
Civilizing and commercial change in the Asiattc
Orient. an event fully as important the dis
coyory of America by Columbus.
There arc few events in diplomatic and
mlitary history more honorable than the CON
surnmate skill, the wise conservatism, and the
unhinchin6 courage by which the administration
of President Mckinley relieved our legation and
at the same time maintained proper relations
with the Chinese empire. The policy OF the
United States as to China should in my opin-
ion be this: 1t must rescue its citizens. II
must exact indemnity for all injuries to their
person or property. 1t will insist that China
shall observe all treaty sNpulations and that, un'
der any and all conditions OF sovereignty, ces'
sion or foreign ascendancy, the open door shall
remain open. We shall use no military force foT
conquest, and have no concert with any Euro
pean power, except to rescue our citizens and
theirs We covet no Chinese territory, and we
will acouire none We desire no territorial
sphere of influence. We will give no approval
or support physical, moral or sentimental, TO
the dislscmberment Of China. or TO the eStinc
tion of her sovereignty by the acquisition Of
7pheres of influence by any European power
look for regeneration OF China as the result
of the commissions she is now suffering. II viii
come 10 pass not by the partition OF that
mighty and immemorial empire, but by It's full
entry into commercial relations with the other
| nations of the world. The process will not be
| a long one II has beer going on for fifty
| wears, and has become more perfect and exten'
| siye every wear When fully completed the
United states will be the greatest participant
! in that trade OF the Pacific which Humboldt
| predicted more than seventy'hye years ago
would be the greatest commerce that land and
sea have every known. We neeC cross but one
ocean TO grasp the ''wealth OF Ormus and OF
Ind" Europe must traverse four seas to share
! it We can produce everything which that in.
satiable market can absorb, just as now we are
producing and exporting our fabrics textile,
metallic and miscellaneous, TO every market in
| the world as the direct result Of Republican
economic policies put in force during our civil
war and steadily persisted in by THAI party
| ever since.
This is manifest destiny; it is written by an
auspcious astrology upon the sky OF visible
future. 1t will give fifteen millions of people
to our states Of the Pacific coast; it will open
a career 10 the talents Of an aspiring youth ami
in every way carry the United States far along
on that course OF national grandeur for which
| | believe IL was ordained