The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-03
Chinese Problem
Clearly Defined
Alexander Hume Ford, in Golfers Weekly.

a lNCE the simultaneous conquest OF Mania
y by America and the occupation of Port
~ Arthur by Russia in May, 1895 these
two nations, opposite in methods and
politics, have become the predominant powers in
northern China. and their influence is still
spreading The closing year Of the nineteenth
century finds them for the first time forced
into Il temporary armed alliance for the pro-
lection of their mutual interests in the far
east. The one seeking to maintain and ex-
tend the commercial supremacy so suddenly ac-
quircd chiefly by reason Of the recent territorial
acquisitions of the other; both moving forward
to extend spheres of nfuence-AmeriCa to make
a commercial conquest, Russia to add more ter
tory to her already vast domain. Ostensibly
the protection Of the lives and property OF for
cigncrs in China is the sole object of the naval
and military move upon Pekin, but it is not to
he expected that golden opportunities will be
thrown away when they present themselves, as
they will.
Ever since the ChinaJapancsc war was wagcd
in and about the gulf Of Pcchil that part of
the world has remained the great political CEN
ter Of international danger Here, in spite
Of the opposition Of almost every other nation,
in two years Russia has attained almost COM
plctc territorial control, while America has be-
come commercially the mistress Of these waters,
the vast prcponderance of her Sj000O.OO0 Of ex-
change of trade with China now finding its way
to and coming from RuSsoChinese territory,
where the building of railroads and planting of
peasant colonies from beyond the Urals has
within a few years more than quadrup'c the
demand for our commodities. The jealousy Of
every European nation has been aroused against
us, our commerce with China having risen in
the last decade from go per cent Of the total
to II per cent. of the S230,0O00O0 worth Of
Chinese exports and imports, almost equaling
that of England and ahead Of any other ma
ton. This gain has been at the expense OF our
competitors, among whom the fight is now on
for the control of the trade Of this most popu.
lous and wealthy nation of the world, possessing,
as il does, onc.fourth of the population and one
twelfth Of the habtable surface # our globe.
1t needs hut slight excuse for the nation 10
assure each other that the time has come when
they must agree among themselves upon final
disposition of China; whether it shall be di-
vidcd into spheres of influence, in which each
so.cacd civilized nation shall have exclusive
rights to trade and plumber, or its integrity
maintained by international agreement with an
open door to all and special privileges to none.
America is the one nation above all others
to whom the maintenance of an "open door"
| is most vital; it guarantees to her supremacy
| on the Pacific, and in the far east il is known
as "thc American policy" its active promulra-
| tion having marked our decisive entrance into
! Chinese politics. Fortunately, our providcntial
acquisition Of the Philippines has placed us on
footing Of equality in Asia with the other
| powers, and as Iapan's war for the oppressed
| Corcans worked her salvation so our fight for
Cuba has had farreachng beneficial results
while Brtans conquest OF the African repub.
! lies has worked only to her dctrment and to our
! advantage, her warships in the far east being
| needed elsewhere, leaving America, at a most
critical iuncture, the predominant naval power
in the Pacific
| Pekn is less than 800 miles from Port Ar.
/ thur Scores of transports and Russian war.
shius arc always to he seen lowering about the
| la.'n' 9rrt, while at Tien Tsin, the outpost Of
the Chinese capital, the Russlln faS is the most
co9ron and the commerce Of the port Is ass
ing into the hands Of Russians AID Ame"CaEs
the cars six ocean steamers to bring lumber
from RECON to this port, while shiplolds e ma
| chincry from New York aud our Pacific cities
are constantly arriving at the Russianzcd cities
of the Pcchili gulf, TO say nothing Of some s6,'
100000 worth Of our -four that now goes into
! this section to feed Russian troops, and is being
| introduced through them to the Chinese. OuT
exports Of cotton goods have increased by leap;
and bounds, until now onc.thrd Of our entire
exports Of this fabric find their way into Man
churia and northcr Asia. When it is nnder'
stood that the success Of the Boxers, whose
ayowed object it to drive all foreigners cut Of
China and once more shut its doors 70 thcil
commerce. would cause three'fourths of the re
Gently established cotton mills in our souhterr
states TO close besides costing the manuf lCtIr
ers Of the Pacific and eastern states tie loss
Of s2O.0o0O0O, it can readily he seen that IT il
our policy to join hands with the most powerful
friendly power in the far cast TO avert mis- ca
tastrophc
Japan, II is true, could give us the required
aid, as far as a military force OF occupation Is
concerned, but Japan is our one great rival in
the far east We are rapidly driving English
manufacturers out Of the market they have long
monopoliycd, but Japan threatens to usurp our
recently acquired place in the very near future.