New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-23
MONROE DOCTRINEF ORASIA
SUGGESTED BY MINISTER WI AT UNI
vERsITY OF PENNSYLVANIA DAY.

Philadelphia. Feb. 22-The exercises attend
ing the dedication Of the new Law School of
the University OF Pennsylvania continued
to-day at the Academy of Music in conjunction
with the regular washington's Birthday cere
monies Of the university. The principal guest Of
honor and orator of the day was WI Ting Fang.
the Chinese Minister. who delivered address
on Proper Relations of the United States to the
Orient"
The exercises opened with prayer by Bishop
Oh ". Whitaker and the singing of the National
anthem by the students. The degree of Doctor
of Laws was then conferred on the following
persons by Provost C. c. Harrison: Professor
James Barr Ames dean Of the Law School of
Harvard University; Gerald Brown Finch. A. NJ,
University of Cambridge; Sir Charles Arthur
Roe A NJ. University of oxford; Senior Asso-
ciate Justice John Marshall Harlan of the SUI
preme Court OF the United States; Oscar S,
Straus. United States Minister to Turkey; WI
Ting Fang Chinese Minister and orator of the
Gay, and President Poririo Diaz of Mexico
President Diaz represented by Senior Manuel
de Aspiroz. Mexican Ambassador to the United
States.
President Harrison. in introducing WI Ting
Fang. referred to China having lived her four
thousand years patient. pastoral. immobile,
seeking hitherto no answer TO the question, Who
is my MISUNDERSTANDING indeed. until now.
not TO be asked that question. The United
States restless, inquisitve, impatient, progress
sive. achieving results in century at which
the observer marveIs but OF which ourselves
take not the time to think, seeks admission to
the Celestial Kingdom
WI TING FANG's ADDRESS.
WI Ting Fang. when he arose. enthusiast
tically received by the large audience and the
university men greeted him with their well
known college yell He said in part:
The name of George Washington is by means
modern history his life and achievements are fam-
iar 10 ne ape 10 comone t I'M silaI ~ Ses
ing a long and costly with a powerful coun-
new nation on rm 6asis-a this excites the
history Of the f ned sfgte He was not onlv
great soldier, but great statesman also, for he
lad down sound principles Of government which
for this Republic 1t might seem at first sight para
in higher estimation for what he did not do than for
given innumerable examples of great warriors
eminent statesmen. devoted patriots. whom we re
Cromwell. Napoleon and many others that may be
Of entire subordination of personal ambition the
public welfare? The love of power, which is innate
troled by higher sense Of PUBLIC duty. We know
TO a successful issue accepted the unanimous call
Of grateful Nation to be its Chief Magistrate, and
put the Ship of State II proper and good condi-
Of power without the least regret.
RELATIONS OF UNITED STATES AND CHINA
Though it is not more than one hundred and
twenty-five five years since Washington founded this
SO enlarged her boundaries that the country is
Territories. Through the logical course of recent
eyents she has acquired territory far beyond this
s China, 1t gives me the greatest pleasure to say
most friendly and cordial and venture to express
with confidence the hope that the fact of the
only disturb these amcabe relations but viii
have The effect Of yet eeeniting them more firmly
OF the United States, whose policy. as voiced the
in New-York is not territorial expansion but the
extension Of trade and commerce. the relations of
other nations in Asia, cannot be otherwise than
This being the case it is naturally expected that
should express my views as to how the best rela-
Ing sure that what ! shall say VII be received in
first advice would venture 10 offer is the impor-
lance Of clear understanding Of the situation
is equally essential It should always be borne in
mind that the customs manners language mode
similar TO those in the West. consequently the
frent from theT brethren IN the West under SINH
Astatic bY an american or European standard is
grevous mistake have seen costly htgations
nese and Europeans solely through misunderstand-
ing nave seen DIoGoy wars arse + IRON h 6ne same
been insulted. and considered the incident a
explained and if what each nation imagined to be
insult could have been made clear that such
thing was intended. the matters in dispute could
have been amicably arranged, and no war would
have ensue6. But each nation was tenacious In its
own opinion. each judging the other from its own
One Of the first requisites toward maintaining
proper relations with the Orientas, therefore. is
90 understand their IDEAS and to Judge them, not
by your standard, but by theirs. This is as much
applicable 70 commereia and social intercourse as
TO diplomatic and international affairs. Let me
give a common Illustration: In China when
usual for both TO ask each others and other
personal questions 1t would be a mistake to re-
gard such conduct rude and insulting II
would be the case in this country. The asking OF
sueh questons SHOWS the interest," OF the questioner
IN his new acquaintance, and is done with the best
of intentions: therefore, # should be considered
A perfectly innocent action can be easily misn-
terpreted to be wrongful act. To do Justice to
what YOU would naturally think OF It. but ascer-
tain his motive for the act ard Judge him by his
phaszed In your intercourse with the people in the
Far East, by its OhServances many dsagreeable
contretemps and MISUNDERSTANDING may be
avoided.
TRAINING FOR DIPLOMACY
I must acknowledge that your diplomatic and
consular officers in China have thus far acquitted
themselves well. considering the dsadvantageous
position in which they are placed. Most of the
European governments send young men to the
East TO learn the language and study the customs
OF the country; after residence of two three
years when they prove themselves proficient after
responsible positions student interpreters con-
sular assistants, etc Merit is rewarded by promo
men specially ntted for service IN the Orient. 1t
may not be UnWise for your Government to adopt
hear that this university ever foremost in ali
educational movements, has announced a plan for
training, intended TO qualify students for business
employment or public service in the East This is
future all Americans who go to the East
especially TO my country, whether in commercial