The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-13
THE GROWTH OF ASIA-CHINA
En- Minister Barrett Lectures at
the Columbia Theatre.
The Speaker Declares the Future
of Mnncburin Concerns the United
stnte.-BeIieNes in the Adoption
of "a Policy of Ftrmness-

states-BcIieNes in the Adoption
of n Policy of Firmness-
John Barrett. eN-Minister to SIAM lee
tured yesterday afternoon at the Column
bia Theatre under the auspices Of the Ma
tional Geographic Society. There were
over a thousand people present. Mr.. Bar
rctt's subject was The Growth of Asia
China" The subject matter was compiled
from personal observations of Mr.. Bar
rett while he was United States Minister
at Bangkok. In closing, Mr.. Barrett said:
Finally. we note that study of Chi
nese history and character enables MS to
understand better the mighty influences
now at work in China. It forces us to
draw certain remark able conclusions that
throw light upon the present crisis at
PelIin. but which are not generally re
membered in popular discussion of the
problem before us.
There is danger of misunderstanding
and undertaking the people and POSSIBLE
ties of China in and in peace. be
cause the wonderful past of the Empire
is not commonly known.
"First-It may seem surprising. but
it is a truthful statement in the light of
history that the Chinese are Il wariike
people. They are born warriors They
inherit a capacity and tendency to fight
from a longer period of lighting ances-
tors than is the heritage of any or all of
the Powers now arrayed against them at
Pekin. The soldier may he unpopular in
the social and political life of the Empire
from the teachings of the classics, but
the salient fact remains that wars and
soldiers have engaged the attention of
the Empire and people more than peace
and scholars during her fifty centuries of
sway. The lack of organized army is
a mere passing incident of the times
.'Second-The recent Boxer uprising and
seizure of the legations while they right
" appear in the Judgment of the hour to
be fraught with great possible results
both to China and the foreign world. are
secondary events when compared to
scores of uprisings and difficulties in Chi
mas seventy cycles and twenty-five dy-
nasties The massacres. men engaged and
killed, area of disturbance. and vexations
of settlement and Indemnity are, after
ALL trivial when we balance against them
the events of centuries that are gone.
.'Third-The end of China is not yet.
If she is divided ii will in history be only
a temporary division-but one sugg astive
of revenge and consequent dangers to the
white and Christian races. If she is not
divided new and grander period of prog
ress and civilization will surely follow the
troubles and haze of the past sixty years
just as has been the almost invariable cX-
perience of the great past Men and
means will be forthcoming to build up
this newer China. Whether this era is
inspired from within or without; whether
it comes with new dynasty. new EN-
peror, with the present Emperor, sup
ported by foreign hands, the world Will
yet see greater things in China than it
mas ever viewed in America or Europe.
As Chinas 4O0,0eo.00O people must. by law
of nature. increase TO countless more mill
lions, and as her 4gD0,O00 square miles,
with their vast unsurpassed resources,
must inevitably respond to material de
Velopmeut. so her 400 years Of history
a nation and people with their rich
experience. their reserve energy, their
conservations. their recuperative capacity,
their homOgeneity compel us TO believe
that China will survive successfully the
present crisis.
rs not therefore. the policy of our
Government-that of mingled firmuess and
charity-a wise one If we protect our
treaty rights. demand just punishment
without revenge, respect China's inaliea-
able prerOgatlVes, and show dignitied
generosity in the evolution of the new
States we shall have China's 100000 zoo
people. with all that that means, as our
lasting friends rather than our everlasting
enemies.
"Our commercial opportunity in China
is the greatest in pOtentialities of any
beyond our shores. Today our trade ex-
change with China. including H1ngkong,
is valued at l5, 600 per annum, and yet
IT is in the infancy OF its development.
Making a conservative estimate on the
basis that the open door is preserved in
China, that the interior of the Empire is
made accessible with railways, and that
the Government becomes progressive,
there is no valid reason why com
merce with Cathay in 1925 should not have
grown tenfold and be valued at $780,
OO1OO0.
The future of Manchuria directly con-
Germs the United States. In one way we
have more at stake than any other ma
ton. More American products are sold
there than in any other portion of China.
American imports to Manchuria exceeded
those Of any other foreign nation. The
outlook in ordinary conditions for the in
crease of American trade in Manchuria Is
better than elsewhere in Asia, and hence |
the situation appeals to American export
interests.
Il am making no comment on the diplo- |
matte issue at stake. nor on the policy |
of Russia or the United States. but 1 am |
telling the simple truth about Manchuria's |
importance. Having crossed it from Nieu- |
Chwang to Nladiyostock by way of kirin |
and Moukden. / can say that 1t is pros
peCtiVely one Of the best sections of |
China, capable Of supporting large popu- |
ldtiOn ana providing an extended market. |
When | first visited Nieu-C hWang some |
eight years ago, American imports were |
barely worth - per cent Of the total; |
when l went there last in 1898 they were 80 |
per cent Of the total. and still growing.
II Is the Manchurian demand for instance, |
that has caused The wonderful increase |
10 Sl9VpOD of the value of our manu-
factured cotton goods sold in China The
demand for flour. oil. manufactured iron
and steel bids fair to increase in like |
proportion IL the door of trade j. nor |
closed against us.
II ! should summarize public Opinion
in regard TO China and our policy as n
has been my privilege to test It in adj
dressing commercial and missionary or
CARNATIONS In all parts of the United
States from San Francisco to New York |
] should state, first, that public senti-
ment. regardless Of party. is undoubt-
edly heartily in sympathy with our Gov
eminent policy: and second, that il this !
opinion were crystalliZed into specific ex-
pectations ii would name the following
provisions: First-Every legitimate effort |
should be made to preserve the integrity
Of the Chinese Empire and the freed ON !
Of trade throughout it's extent as orig
inally outlined in tn" old treaties while |
in administration Of government and for
eign intercourse. Second-Not one cent |
of indemnity should be demanded by mis- |
sonaries or merchants beyond that OF I
actual loss Of property, and the entire |
question Of indemnities and kindred is |
sues should be referred to an interna- |
tional tribunal of arbitration as provided !
by The Hague Peace Treaty. Third-New /
treaties of commerce and amitV should 1