The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-17
Our Duty In China.

Leaving aside for the moment our i'm
mediate duty in relation to the Chinese
situation, which may develop into neces-
sity to join with other powers in an effort
TO save civilization, it is well for the
American people to understand what the
conditions in the Celestial Kingdom may
mean to their industrial and commercial
future.
Among the markets which this country
must depend upon for the disposal of its
constantly increasing surplus productions,
the most important and available is the
Chinese Asiatic mainland. The region in
question has population approximately
of four hundred millions of people. Even
now we have begun to send them wheat.
which, in districts. they prefer to their Old
diet of rice. They have annually incre3se1
their consumption of American cotton
goods for years past. They present the
greatest possibility of our commercial
future, as their civilization and demands
resulting from it, may develop. But we
must have access to the vast region, and
access is something, as far as we are con-
cerned, which may be question of future
doubt.
The situation in China has developed suf-
fciently to satisfy intelligent observers
that the end OF the Empire as an independ-
ent State is in sight and imminent, ard
that the present Chinese outbreak against
civilization will hardly be suppressed sh TT
Of partition of the country. We are un-
happily aware that our dream Of the open
door, to be kindly kept open for US by
our European and japanese l.eighbors,
quite as matter of ethics, is but DIS
ordered vision. The American people have
been assured that the splendid diplomacy"
of Mr.. Mckinley has assured respect for
our treaty rights and trade privileges in
China, no matter what may happen; but
they have learned that no such binding
arrangements have been made with the
powers or any of them. We are COM
PEELED TO fall back, then, upon the general
and incontrovertible proposition that, if We
are to have any share ia the trade OF
China we shall have to join in the inter-
national pacification of the country. and
perhaps to take sides against some greedy
power or coalition Of powers which might
attempt to absorb it, and 20 shut out the
rest of the world.
In the opinion of many people it might
be well for us to return to our old pro-
vincialism and to take the position that
we have neither interests, duties, nor re-
sponsibilities outside of our own continent.
That attitude. no doubt, would accord
with the concepts of backwoods politics of
4 generation ago, but it would lead to con-
gestion, overproduction in comparison with
accessible markets, and ultimately the
very economical conditions that have made
isolated China what she is.
The United States cannot escape from
the fact of its being a world power. Meth
er can it avoid the consequences of such
condition. II cannot stand aside and see
its commercial future destroyed through
being shut out from Asia. 1t can safe
guard that future by participating, ac-
cording to its strength and power, in the
solution OF the Chinese question. 1t must
participate, and, If need be, fight in the
struggle which every lover of peace and
concord deplores, but which every intel
ligent observer of current events sees
must come. Once more it is the oppor-
tunity of William Mckinley to avoid play
ing politics and to produce backbone.