Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-07-04

In tdu nav udu 4lS INST AAssAt w.
the Chinese; and in Japan and
Corea the United States has also landed
parties to demand satisfaction for IN
juries to American citizens. The chleI
role of the United States in Asia has
been as The sponsor for China, Japan
and Corea as nations. The United
States was the first nation to make
treaty with China by which that coun-
try recognized the principles OF ii4SSrIa-
tional law, and it was followed prompt
Iy by other nations. An American nav
al officer secured the first commerclal
treaty with Japan, forced the Shotgun 10
ADMIT foreigners to trade, and incident
ally brought about the overthrow OF a
usurper and the establishment of the
present liberal government in control
Corea's first treaty was with the United
States. as was that of the king of the
Loo Choo Isles. The United states III
1894 made the first treaty with Japan
that treated the AIikado's empire as a
civilized nation. Within the last year
this country secured the adoption OF an
agreement for the open door in China
by the powers. Some of the most IN
fuential generals, admirals and d!p'n-
mats in the service of the Asiatic pow
ers have been Americans. 1t is on ac-
count of these facts that when the pres
ent trouble arose the suggestion was
made in many foreign countries that
the United States should settle the cri-
sis in China and also because OF the
known disinterestednes of the United
States which has allowed other powers
to reap the territorial advantages that
have Flowed its action. So, too, the
Chinese minister was not without rea-
son for his suggestion that the Monroe
doctrine be applied to China.
First Lesson.
The first experience of the Chinese
with Americans grew out of some
what similar state of affairs to that
in the Mediterranean, where the United
States suppressed the Barbary pirates,
who had been levying tribute on the
ships of the great nations without mn
drance Chinese waters Were also IN
tested with pirates, against whom the
Europeans had made no determined re-
sistance. The United States ship Athu-
alpa, under the command of Capt. Ba-
con, happened along in 1909. The ship
entered the river at Macao and sent
boa. crew in command of the chief of
Gcer ashore to get pilot. The pirate
junks stole quietly up and suddenly
rounded the boat intending to leap
on board and kill the crew. When the
Americans realized what had happened
they turned their loaded cannon on the
Chinese and fought off the boarders
with their Brown Bess muskets and
boarding pixies. The Chinese gave hard
battle, throwing hand grenades on
board. The pirates were beaten off,
and the defeat Of the leader was such
blow to his prestige that he was after
wards betrayed by some of his men.
The mandarins put him to death by
the means known as the Thousand
cuts" slow and prolonged process of
hacking into little bits. Capt. Bacon's
lesson, however, taught the Chinese pi-
rates to respect the American flag, and
American trade grew and prospered.
The opium war, which was declared
against China by Great Britain in 1910,
was responsible Tor the opening Of that
nation to the worlds commerce by
means of the treaty ports which were
afterwards established. That war grew
out of the attempt of China to suppress
the smuggling of opium carried on by
the British to the depletion of the i'm
perial revenues. To suppress the trade
the Chinese had recourse to force.
But after the short. sharp struggle in
1857, which resulted in the capture of
Canton by the allied British and
French, the United States was one Of
the powers that joined with England.
France and Russia in securing treaties
for freedom of trade.
The first foreigner employed by the
Chinese for the reorganization of their
army was an American Frederick
Townsend Ward, a soldier of fortune,
born in Massachusetts He adopted the
Chinese nationality under the name of
Hwa. married the daughter of a
wealthy mandarin, and was made a
mandarin of the highest grade and Adj
miraI General in the service of the EN-
peror. Gen. Ward turned his attention
to the reorganization of the empires
army. but found it difficult task. He
died as the result Of a wound received
in directing an assault on Tsekie The
Chinese paid him the highest possible
honors after his death b. burying him
in the Confucian cemetery at Ningpo.
Wards successor in command OF the
Chinese forces was Major Charles G..
Gordon 49, Chinese" Gordon - who
brought to a high degree of discipline
and efficiency the army whose founda-
tons had been laid by Ward.
The treaty made in 1858 provided for
the application of the rules of interDa-
tional law TO the conduct OF war be-
tween the nations, gave China the right
10 appoint eonsuls to the United States,
provided for the recognition Of free
dom Of religion in China, and permitted
Chinese to embrace Christianity, per
a lifted the Chinese to attend schools
IN America and to have free right Of
travel here. and for all the mutual priv
ileges which are allowed TO the most
favored nation The Chinese exclusion