New-York tribune., 1900-07-10
VIEWS OF WI TING FANG.
PUBLIC ADDRESSES ON CHINA'S RELA-
TIoNS WITH THE WORLD.


Most people who discussed this proposition took
the ground that IT was utterly impracticable
as to verge on the preposterous. There were
others however, who held that the idea was one
worthy of consideration. The way that they
put it was this:
The Powers will first have to suppress the
Boxers Their next step Will be to put on the
throne one who is in sympathy with advanced
civilization. In that task they will undoubtedly
have the support Of Ii Hung Chang The great
Ii is too old TO take up the reins of empire per
sOnally. but what more likely than that he
should support his protege, WI Ting Fang?
Wu Ting Fang has passed the half century
mark by a few years. During his boyhood he
learned TO speak English He studied law in
England and was admitted to the bar at Lin
coins Inn in 1871 Subsequently he was, sue
cessively. a magistrate in HongKong, legal ad-
wiser to Ii Hung Chang, and official in the
Foreign Office, Peking Early in 1897 he pre-
sented his credentials as Minister to this coun-
Try. Since then the Minister has Won much
popularity and attracted great attention. He
is broad and liberal in his views. is believed to
be Christian at heart. and is noted a witty
and brilliant speaker.
When peace has been restored in China it is
pretty certain that WI Ting Fang will be called
upon TO give his services in some capacity, in
the work of reorganizing and reforming the gov
ernmental system. His ideas upon many of the
his public addresses.
He made his first important public address
at the Southern Society dinner given in this
city February %. 1899 He spoke on the
sentiment Of our Newest Neighbors Our
Western Border" He speaks the English Ian
guage without trace of foreign accent, and his
presence at a public function conveys an i'm
mediate impression of intellectually and force
OF character. In the course of his speech the
Minister said:
II is never too late TO learn, and since have
which has always been known Eastern
country mas now turned TO be Western country.
l do not regret to learn this. because Western
Ini5ed States l wish my country to assume the
be called an Eastern country in the sense that the
term is popularity known.
AS To THE PHILIPPINES.
You have hao gentlemen. the Philippines ceded
10 you, and l see now that you hestating
opinion as to whether You should or should not
Keep them. Ihal. OF course, IS matter for you
say word for or against; but l feel confident
All viii Ssz ~ l ,n. 10 @ LisnI 5L agCi5lon
country, and in my humble opinion il is better to
have a good neighbor than an Indifferent one.
Gentlemen, II you should ever decide 10 keep the
Phpplnes-Inind you, / am expressing no opinion
and China for centuries; our countrymen have gone
there for trade, and they US; in fact there mas
places. Therefore. if you should decide to keep
The philippines your trade would undoubtedly be
greatiy increased, and you would be benefited
Apart from this the American trade in China is
considerable. and Tor the last few years it has
steacliy increased = question have been often
toward Americans. Now. 1t is unnecessary for me
70 give you greet answer but will do so in
l-; 3tlustIaton 40 DO you know what we call your
Natlon IN Chinese? We call your Nation "a how-
your pope? We ca IL them the 9T handsome we peo S
pie l 90 40, not know who is responsible for the
seeing your women.
But, gentlemen. seriously, that clearly shows that
sounding descri ptions From This You will under
stand that the officials Of China well the
people generally like America, and our relations
both commercial and political, are very cordial
Gentlemen am bound 10 say that there is one
question Of unqualified cOrdiality.
That IS the Chinese immigration question. That
people have not been thoroughly understood by
your people; Your people judge OF my country
enacted Those acts have been in force about
fifteen or sixteen years. but l bound to say that
the acts have not been very satisfactory 10 either
country. Those acts were intended TO keep Chinese
laboreTs from this country but since the measures
have been in operation they have been interfering
not only with laborers, but also with respectable
classes Of people to whom they were not intended
70 apply, and TO prohibit them from coming here:
those officials who are engaged in carrying this
They have been doing their duty, perhaps over
ZealOusly, but do not throw any blame them.
But what I would point out to you is that those
laws DO not work satisfactorily and do not bring
about results aimed at by your Legislature. Hence
our people. know that that is not the case but
yet such an impression exists in China, and L
think il is worthy OF your consideration whether
IT Should not be removed Your people have such
high notions OF fairness and business that, once
The true facts brought before you you will see
whether IL is worth while to keep those laws
whether II is worth your while to modify them
once the Objectionable law is modified. then
neon vii an ora Cs
there will be doubt OF our real friendship and
AS to the character Of our people, 1 can refer
you only those who have been in China. I
great many years was in China at the head Of the
Hong-Kong and Shanghai Bank After twenty
mis- departure he given banquet by foreign
ers, not by Chinese, mind and in the Of his
lons with Chinese merchants. AS / remember,
the substance Of his speech that during all
Chinese merchants aggregating hundreds OF mill
- ions Of dollars. and ne said that large
sny Chinese mere 1anr- That testimony was given
unsolicited by a man long resident in China and
chants.
Now that you have become our neighbor and if
you want 70 deal with China, here is the class of
people you have to deal with, and If you see your
way clear 10 modify the only obstacle that
here and doing away with the false impression in
The minds or our people. have no doubt that such
OF both parties. II you look at the returns for
nished 10y your cOnsUls or by customs returns
you wlA ma that your trace IN CHINA has in
creased 70 a remarkable degree. China is con-
strGcting railway from north 70 south. and she
purposes. There is great field for you there, and
with al our people fayors1ly disposed toward you
the means OF still further increased trade.
CHINA AND AMERICA
At the closing session Of third annual meeting