The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-06
SATURDAY. JANUARY 800.
THE OPEN DOOR IN CHINA.

The italian government has responded
10 Secretary Hays overtures looking 10
the maintenance of the open door IN
China and Italy's consent was the only
thing necessary to complete the agree
msnt. Our government will now submit
10 each of the governments in interest
INV of all the communications and viii
p-oceed TO secure a joint agreement. Lie'e
se.ms TO he no doubt that the compact
will soon be signed and sealed ana INC
United States government will 1hus ne
assured OF equal privileges with All other
:. nations IN trading with the Chinese. We
have long had a satisfactory treaty "llh
China. but as the integrity OF the ceses-
,ial Empire was threatened our govern
,nent took time by the forelock and made
inauiry OF the several European powers
as to whether or not, in case of dismem-
bsrrnent. our existing trade relations with
China would be maintained All the great
powers interested have given satisfactory
answers and now the United States gov
,,rnment proposes, in order that there may
he no possible misunderstanding III the
future that the agreement shall be re-
dncad 10 writing and signed by All the
great parties thereto.
This is a most creditabie diIaomaic
achievement, and President Mckinley and
Secretary Hay are TO be commended IN
ihe highest terms for their prompt and
timely ac1ion They deserve the thanks
of the whole country, and especially the
thanks OF the Southern people, as we
shall presently show. We waive the
question of political differences and parti-
san politics, and pay this deserved tri-
butte TO the President OF the nation and
his Secretary OF State.
There was talk of disnembeling the
Chinese Empire and parceling il out
among the several powers OF Europe. in
which event American trade interests
would have suffered. The administration
anticipated this. and has concluded with
the European powers an agreement by
which, IN any event. our interests will
he protected and we shall be upon Il foot
ing In China with the other nations Of
The earth. We have not undertaken to
Interfere in the so-called spheres of in
fluence" in the Chinese Empire, for that
is a matter which does not concern SO
long as we may go in aud out and trade
freely with the people in every sphere.
We have simply insisted that the door OF
commerce shall be kept open. and TO this
England and Germany and Russia and the
rest OF them have consented Cndcr this
compact we have not only secured the
guarantee of an open door, blu; the guar
antee OF certain privileges for American
citizens In the leased territory and
spheres of influence sucn as q. guaranty
against discriminating rates on railways
built and financed under foreign authori-
~: against discriminating tonnage dues:
the right to make contracts with the To-
cal authorities and with Chinese mer-
/chants as freely as the subjects of other
countries; the exploitation of mines upon
the most favorah BILE conditions offered any
one, and an equal opportunity 10 bid for
contracts for public Improvements and TO
use public improvements.
Inc llmeS Was opposed to war r-:.h
Spain, as was many others in the United
States, and If in the beginning We :::e
been asked as 10 whether or not It was
desirable for The United States to control
the Philippine Islands we should have
replied in The language of George WASH
inston.. liat this country did not want 10
get into any fora,g. engagements" hut
the PHILIPPINES lave fallen into our hands,
Ne have through the possession of them
a position of advantage in the Far East,
and there ds every reason 10 believe that
The account which our navy gave of it
self In the war with Spain. and the posi-
lion which We now occupy in the East
y have had much. II not indeed everything
Z TO do with securing for US the agreement
under discussion and the guarantee of
an open door in China.
The ant.-.mpertalist thinks that ali this
i amounts 10 nothing. He thinks that
craftsmanship is the exploitation OF a
a nae.tai IN fheoxy. ana ti1at stra De ~ vulgar