The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-20
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1900.
srarnsMANsnIp NEEDED.

Hon. Charles DENLY, former United
states Minister to China. says that there
is no reason in The world why Great
Britain, Russia, France or Germany
ssaeuli have any greater right to sieze por-
lions of China ihar.. we nave. He contends
that we have equal rights in Asia with
European powers, that we have done as
much, or more TO introduce modern civ
i!ization into Asia as they have, our trade
surpasses theirs, except that OF England
and our people there are next to the Eng
Iish in numbers.
The New York Journal of Commerce in
the same connection says that China is
the centre of the world to-day and that
there never was presented to the states
maaship of the world a more perpiexing
problem than how to administer the trust
which the condition involves. As for the
United states, it says that our place in
the administration OF that trust is beside
the other great powers-ready TO take
vigorous initiative rather than to grope
along. blindly and lamely, waiting for
Others to lead.
IL IS unfortunate llstL i4ilS tilN
have come at the beginning Of a national
campaign in the United States. for we
very much fear that this question will be
dragged into the slum of politics. 1t re-
mains to goe seen whether or not President
Mckinley is statesman enough To handle
the question with that vigor and vet con-
sers,atfsrl which the occasion demands.
This Is no question of pop-gun politics. To
say nothing of our material interests in
China, we must maintain our dignity as a
nation, we must display that courage for
which the American people are famous,
we must make the great powers of the
earth respect our rights and give them
due recognition and consideration.
Some OF the powers Of Europe hold the
United States in more or less contempt,
but We are able TO maintain ourselves
with any nation upon earth. Indeed. we
now have Il grasp upon the foreign situa-
ton that gives us an advantage over every
other power concerned. Europe is de-
pendent upon US largely for her supply
OF raw cotton, largely for her supply OF
3re.dstufs. largely for her supply Of iron,
and is fast coming TO be dependent upon
us for a considerable part OF her fuel. Our
exports during the current fiscal year
amount To something like a billion and a
half dollars in value. We are also lend
ing from year 10 year large sums OF money
10 the European nations, and the balance
of trade in our favor Tor two years is
Sl.7oteoo,09a. In short, we are now credi-
Tor nation instead OF a debtor nation, and
every year Europe is becoming more and
more dependent upon us The creditor al
ways has the advantage of the debtor, and
by yirtnc of our position to-day in the
commercial world Europe dare not treat
as with contempt, however much of con-
tempt she may feel Ter US.
TIE United States is not disposed TO play
a grab game in China. II is 10 our inter-
est hat the Integrity of China be pre-
served, ard the government should do
everything in its power to maintain the
status quo, hut We have our rights and
we dare maintain them. We are not dis
posed TO take advantage of others. but we
should see TO it that Others do not take
advantage of us. AIR. Mckinley has the
opportunity to snow the stuff of which he
is made If he is nothing more than
politician, he will play for political posi-
lion; If he is a statesman, he will act fo-
the honor and welfare of the nation.