New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-28
" r SEWARD ON CHINA.
" BELIEVED THAT REFORMS MUST COME
FROM wTTHIN-A CoNCILIATORY
POLICY ADVISED.

-, re Editor Of The Tribune
s.. In view OF the interesting situation IN the
.- East II is well bear in mind the wise states
ussrship and TIE penetrating political sagaoity Of
rs ~ the greatest Of Secretaries OF State. who
-.zar could be charged with hostility 10 the inter
-. ~ The Repuhlican party. I refer TO the clearly
s~,-essed ana profoundly suggestive observations
!. William n Seward, who formed his opinions OF
-be Chinese question from impressions made in
y-lins when he made his journey around the world
n 1916 He gave particular attention TO China for
during our civil War and from that time TO the
tine Of his personal observations traveller in
China the latter great international difficulty
r, Interest and Importance 10 all Foreign Offices
The situation in China. as Mr.. Seward viewed IT,
was well characterized IN anecdote he told de-
s-riutive 81 the road 70 Peking which had been
hrflf three hundred years before. an embankment
forty feet wide and twenty feet above the plain
This whole width had been paved with hewn
granite blocks four or FIVE feet long two feet wide
ard eight inches thick. The elements had long
since deranged and dislocated the pavement so
that Il could not be travelled by wheeled vehicles
OF animals with safety
Admiral Rogers said Mr.. Seward as they kept
their chairs side by side on the road did you ever
hear Of the interview OF Mr.. Webster with John
Adams the day before MS death7' No" We'll
NJ Webster said 10 the old statesman: How do
vou Do this morning Mr.. Adams?' Not very well
he replied: am living in very old house Mr.
Webster. and from all that can learn the landlord
Goes not intend TO repair So" continued Mr.
Seward, this road gives & more painful i'm
preston than anything else have seen in China:
& shows that the Government has no intention to
repair"
uoss Of the Oriental and decreptt patient is cor
rect and that there VIII be betterment OF China
BY China what should be the attitude the United
staes7 The reply is given most aptly and forcibly
il Mr. sewards own words. and they come all the
more fttingly they were spoken sitter the former
massacre Of Tien-Tsin. which marked a scene and
condition analogous 10 what obtains at present in
China Says Nj Seward, referring 10 the massacre:
1T IS night, just and wise that all the Christian
nations shall mourn together over the victims, sym
pathize with the survivors and unite IN demanding
such satisfaction from the Chinese Government as
would afford security against the recurrence OF
persecution. But this has been already done as
fully. Il 10 Us. : is possible The Chinese
Government has beheaded eighteen OF the muir
derers. has provided for repairing and restoring
the demolished buildings. and paid indemnity Of
6a5 ero for distribution TO the families Of the
victims Il has. moreover sent one OF the most
eminent statesmen OF China. WHO is fully con-
vsrsznt with the details Of the tragedy. to make
such further explanations and 70 give such further
guarantees as the French Government may reason
ably demand" These words OF Mr.. Seward apply
70 the French Government. It Is true. whose Roman
Catholic citizens had been murdered because they
missionaries but they significant OF inter
national ethics and politics.
But he has something very definite 10 say upon
the proper policy Of the United States toward emma
NJ Drew was our Deputy Chinese Revenue Com
missioner located at Ku-Kieng. and had received
his appointment 10 that place from Mr. Seward as
Secretary Of State. Mr.. Drew had been complain
ing Of the want Of prestige Of the United States in
China as compared to that of Great Britain. France
and Russia there. The following conversation took
Place between him and Mr.. Seward:
M seward-Nost Of the Americans residing in
China are missionaries, are they not:
Mr. seward-Is it your opinion that there would
have 5ssn IN emma tq-GSs any frirzd states had
heretofore either wagea war against Chlna OF
nenaced her in any way
NJ. seward-You have been here many years.
mar the United States have ever complained Of
4r. 2i r5reRHT know Of none
c14fa 80 SefEef in china any political or com
mercis benefit or edvantage which the Cnln est,
q The United States?
NJ. seward-Do you think that the United States
ought 70 provoke china BY any act Of injustice OF
me tnte6 % states Without provoesoh resort
70 any policy OF menace or intin1lda ion. 10 you
Administration IN such policy OF proVocalon or
high taxatioG % discharge the Natlonal oeoI IN
Mr. Drew think they would not
Mr.. seward-Well M Drew think we are are
a I-e6icv Of Justice moderation and friendship is
the only one that We have had choice TO pursue
and that it has been wise as II has been IN
avoidable-
NJ Seward closed the conversation by saying:
THE United States are a republic; an aggregation
Of thirty-seven republics. OF the thirty-nine mill
ions which constitute the American people less
than ten thousand dwell in foreign countries and
& smaller proportion in China than in many other
countries The United States cannot be an ag-
gressfve nation: least Of all they be aggressive
against China
These potent words from the great Secretary Of
State who guided the ship OF National and
tr-erna onaf interests through the profoundly per
picking times OF the Civil War may well suggest
earnest thought 10 the President and his Cabinet
fronting the possible complications OF the Chinese
question. Nj. Seward does not stop with these
pertinent and profound reflections He was NOT
only an American politician. he was also world
poI+ioisn and he'd an accuracy and nicely Of
Judgment on international affairs possessed by
few even IN his exalted position. While In CHINA
the movement OF mind OF this political seer, nat
Uraily and by long habit, was along the lines OF
foreign policies proper for all Interested natohs
He says. Though China would now willingly
leave all the world alone. other nations cannot
afford 10 leave her alone. Great Britain must
sand her cotton fabrics and iron manufactures
the United States must send her steam engines
and agricultural implements and bring away her
coolies TraIv France and Belgium must have her
silks. and all the world must have her teas ana
send her their religions All these operations can
nor 20 or without steam engines. stationary as
well as marine the printing press and the electric
telegraph.
Nov for the question Of the prospects Of China,
Before attempting 70 answer this, II will be oest
10 define inteIligenty the present political eondl-
ton q China. Certainly II IS no longer an aDso-
luteIy sovereign and independent empire. II IS, IN
short. State under the constant and active sur
veIlance q the Western maritime nations II
would be well TO consider what are the possible
alternatives There are only three-drst. absolute
subjugatlon by some foreign State; second. the
establishment Of a Drotectorate by some foreign