The Irish standard., 1901-03-30
The Bad Effect Of British Domination the Commerce
Of the United States Of America.
significance Of Friendship of Ii Hung Chang for the
Russian Ambassador at Washington.
England s the Commercial Competitor Of this Country
While the Russian Empire is Not.

workers of America that they were
not to be pitted against the coolie
operatives Of the Orient, which was
certain in the dismemberment of
China. He understands as political
economist that England is seeking a
new store of coal and iron, and a
cheaper scale of labor in order to COM
pete with the United States, and that
these elements prevail in China, but it
will take something more than a cable
gram from London to convince the
American people that he intends to
grant that favor, even though it be
sought under the seductive plea of dual
interest. The United States has no in
terest in common with England in the
Orient or elsewhere.
eff there is to be any foreign domin-
alton of China, every interest Of Ameri-
ca demands that of Russia instead of
England. One is our commercial COM
petitor, the other it not. One seeks
territory in order that few thousand
eXploiters in London of the Cecil
Rhodes type may live in luxury, the
other simply seeks an ocean outlet for
its millions of subjects at home. The
domination Of England means the
utilization of the Suez canal, the suc-
cess of Russia means the utilization
of the Pacific ocean and the Trans
Siberian railroad as new highway to
Europe. One promises much in the
way of trade, the other much in the
way of trouble. Russia, possessing
one-eighth Of the land area of the
globe, with resources equal to the de-
mands OF its people for a thousand
years to come, has no territorial de-
signs on China except such as are
necessary to the protection of its $780,
0OO 900 railroad.
every right and every privilege
now exercised or contemplated by
| Russia in Manchuria existed in un-
questioned treaty form long before the
cause Of the present trouble Russia
Is In China by the full and free con-
sent Of that government, and much as
has been said to the contrary it is
China's friend. 1t would preserve the
integrity of that ancient empire, and
:hus preserve the Industrial autonomy
OF the civilized world. 1t wants neith-
er its people nor its land. Although
it's present occupation of Manchuria
is peaceful, having been effected by a
lease Of ninety-nine years for railway
and terminal purposes, Russia would
not be there now even under these con-
ditions if Turkey, at the Instance of
England, had not denied it an ocean
outlet in the Mediterranean. AS the
result of this compact, Russia was
forced to build railroad nearly 1000
miles in length to reach an ocean out
let, and now that it has secured one
ut Port Arthur England would defeat
It's peaceful occupation. Our chief
commercial competitor sees in the ear
ly completion of the Trans Siberian
railroad new inlet to the markets of
Europe, one which threatens the pres
tige Of the Liverpool gateway, where
American products have been manipu-
lated, and it would defeat it's consum-
nation at any cost. And hence this
talk about open DOORS Russian
treachery,' and the common interests
of a common tongue and such rot as
daily comes from London.
''In proof of the insincerity and the
inconsistency Of England's course in
China, it is only necessary to say that
it holds Hong Kong, taken by seizure
because China objected to the intro
duction and sale Of opium in the en-
pire, while Russia occupies Port Ar
thur by the free consent of the govern
ment for railway terminal purposes.
One power is there by force, the other
by favor. One sought the sale Of the
most baneful drug in the world, the
other sought by the use of the high
seas Ior the transportation of legiti-
mate products.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambas-
sador at Washington, who was fora
number of years minister to China,
and the guiding spirit in the settle
nent Of the Japan Chinese war, is nat
lrally the central figure in the present
hattle of diplomats. It would prob
IDLY be refecting no discredit on
'ther representatives to say that he is
me Of the best informed men on the
;hinese question in the diplomatic
world. This is shown daily by his
lear and concise presentation Of the
ssues involved. II he enjoys the con
'dence of Ii Hung Chang to a create,
extent than Sir Claude Macdonald. the