The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-21

undoubtedly will build great city there
for II will not only be the terminus OF
this great railway. but II VIII be dis
tributIng point for Manchuria and Siberia,
the richest and most promising countries
of the yet undiscovered portions of the
globe. The Russians are spending lO,00O.OU
rubles in the Improvement OF Tailenwan
fore putting their town site on the mar
ket. This city is to be made an open port.
and win doubtless be built up by interests
representing every nationality"
what do you think OF American pros
poets in China?'
II take very hopeful view of the sit
uation, providing our government VIII 40
something to encourage shipping facii-
ties. The policy of the Mckinley admin
istration to insist upon an open door WITH
out any special sphere OF influence, con-
slider wise and far-seeing. 1t means In tne
end that our merchants can deal IN all
the spheres of trade without prejudice.
Thus far our manufacturers have not
seemed to appreciate their opportunities
In that great country, with nearer pi-
lion people than four hundred million, as
our text books teach us. They are gao 10
sell their products when business al nome
Ia rushing as It has been for the past two
years; they naturally prefer to sell IN
protected market rather than go out into
the world and compete.
"'The deep unseen force and influence
which are bearing Us out and beyond our
narrow limitations will in the END tear
down the great wall which makes our
home market a protected one, Tor that
same influence Is bringing the open-uoor
policy nearer and nearer to the hearts OF
each and every civilized nation or the
world
.Tbe impression prevails IN America that
Japan will sooner or later fight for Korea.
What is your view of the situation!
"I know this is the prevailing opinion,
hut when Russia and Japan hight IT VIII Do
over some other bone of contention horea
is truly a buffer state, and as such Is more
useful to Russia than IL 1t belonged TO
her. and the same is equally true OF no
rea's relations to Japan. The Russians
could not allow Japan to move up 10 the
Yalu river, and Japan could not anord 10
do so, even if it were in her power, LOT
If her flag were established over Korea u
would become necessary for her to fortty
1900 miles of coast line, wnich Wouiu
amount to an outlay greater than Japan
is CAPABLE Of and she would get nothins
in return for that outlay, for Korea TO-DAY
as she stands. is more useful 10 japan
than If 1t were Japanese territory Sne
already has the best part OF the traoe
of Korea
afford to come down to Fusan. for If her
flag should be established over Korea.
then IL would become necessary for her
10 fortify three thousand miles or coast
line. and no one who is at all familiar
with Russian shrewdness could expect OF
her such a short-sighted policy.
when / say that Korea is more usefut
10 either Russia or Japan as 1t is govern
ed today / mean no reflection upon the
intrinsic value of products of Korea; 1t
is of it's value politically speaking and
in a strategic sense that We consider 1t
as coveted neither by Russia nor Japan.
DO you not consider the prospects for
Americans in Korea good since they are
not interested in the country politically,
but in business way only?"
BusfnesH Prospects i'm Korea.
Korea is wonderful country, and her
people a splendid people, to my way of
thinking the best of all Oriental races,
with an emperor who rules his people
better than China ever was governed. yet
it Is country with few and simple wants,
making a combined trade small as COM
pared with that of China, and of such a
character. as to afford Americans but lit
tie opportunity"
What is the population of Korea?
Now, when you come at me with a
direct question like that, you put me in
a very awkward position. for | consider
that / speak very conservatively when
tell you there are 15.000,000 people in Ko-
rea, and yet if you turn to the Standard
Reference Atlas of the World. it will tell
you the population is only 100000 Hence.
for the sake of my reputation you had
better exclude such specific questions"
What currency do you use in Korea"
I'VE use what Mr. Bryan calls the poor
mans dollar and as in all silver coun-
tries, the poor man is paid in silver and
the rich profit thereby"
How about your mining operations?
xrslft a.A,. s1,.,
you and Mr.. Fassett are largely engaged
in mining in Korea"
We'll, not largely. We are doing a lit
tie pioneer work. but thus far our ex-
ploitations have not reached such dimen-
sions as to make what might say on this
subject interesting reading. In fact, the
best news bring back from my wander
ings in foreign lands is the change of the
worlds estimate of Americans When |
first went to the Orient an American was
scarcely considered the equal of China
man. We were then looked upon as a ma
ton of adventures, without enough back
ing at home to give our adventure a seri-
GUS cast but today an American is not
handicapped by his nationality. In fact
our flag is now so thoroughly respected
abroad that to be an American is an ad-
vantage. and this feeling reaches further
back into the interior of semi-barbarous
countries than you can easily believe.
Il, like every American with whom [
have come in contact in foreign business
feel great debt of gratitude to our SPLEEN
did president. While we feel that Dewey
deserves all the praise he is receiving, and
we are happy in the thought that he Will
live in song and story, yet 1t does look
To one across the sea that the real hero
of this new epoch is he who has led in
this new order of things: he who took
upon himself the direct responsibility of
ordering the fleet into Manila bay, and
who has fought other battles which the
world knows not of that required even
greater courage and wisdom than did the
sinking of the Spanish fleet While Presi-
dent Mckinley may not receive today the
measure of praise which he deserves, yet
the American public in the end are just.
and will in time give him his reward. Al
any rate, history will, for he is sure to
live with Washington and Lincoln in the
hearts of our people.
Advance Cannot he Checked.