The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-02-13
Minister WI Takes Occasion to
l'rge Reciprocity Between
America and China.
WAR NOT ALTOGETHER Bad"
Conflict Between North and South
Declared to Have Been Il Step
Toward Higher National
Life and Development.

i-ncUln'> birthday was widely observed
IN the United States yesterday
Ia several States 1t had been declared Ii
legal holiday. and even where this WAS not
the case the day was marked with special
exercises in cumm.muration of the deeds
of the War President
In public and private. schools throughout
the country the anniversary received at
tenticn. At many banluets ana public gath
tri!lSs IN. public services Of Lincoln We're
related and encomiums w-re pronounced.
Grand Rapids. Mich. Feb. ie.-The Lin
coin Club Of this city celebrated the birth
day Of Ahraha Lincoln tonight with a
banquet. Congressman William Alden Smith
bringing several guests from Washington.
The principal guest was Minister Mu
Ting-faus. The Chinese Minister was
warmly welcomed when he roS- 10 respond
10 toast. lie said IN part:
looking back through the vista Of time
| I'M inclined to think that the civil Var.
coming. as IL did. not altogether bad
thing for this country.
Measured By the amount Of wealth de-
stroyed by fire and sword and the quantity
of blood spilled on the battlefield the war
was undoubtedly an appalling calamity.
But measured by the glorious results
achieved. chief among which was the settie-
ment OF the slavery question, the war was
not an unmiXed evil.
For before the war slavery had been an
incubus, weighing heavily upon the life ana
energy Of the nation. 1t hung like i heavy
shadow over the whole land. Ii had divided
the country into two hostile facti5ns-one
working for its abolition and the other for
its extension.
Under such circumstances the question
D fy St--t h,sIye. f.,.-
country could enter upon the road to pros
perity and peace For as long as that ques-
their time and thought in bitter controversy
snd all the important matters pertaining
TO internal development and foreign COM
merce were relegatsd Il the background.
Country Awakes to a New Life.
The war came. and Lincoln cut the Cor
dian knot by issuing his famous emancipa-
lion proclamation. With the abolition Of
new life
What a change in the condiicn Of things
from what they Were no further back
than two or three decades ago. Then the
industries OF the country required govern
Inent protection for their healthy growth
Now American products and manufactures
can hgld their own. net only in domestic
but also in foreign markets. Then the
United states We're content to keep a'cof
from the rest Of the world Now YOU are
not TO be satisfied with anything less than
a world-power. II Is the irresistible logic
OF events that has brought about the new
sfntT bi
The question now is whether you Amer
leans realize the change. Fortuna teIy. you
have men at the helm of affairs that can
grasp the full mes ming OF the new problems
which confront the nation. President Nc
kiniev sounded the keynote to the present
situation when he said: The period of ex-
clusiveness is past. Reciprocity treaties are
in harmony with the spirit of the times
Matter of Sentiment and business.
Now. cannot this grand principle Of reci-
prOcity be applied 20 the Intercourse ha-
tween China and the United States? II is
not merely matter Of sentiment. but also
e matter os business, that IL should be done
In order TO pave the way for an inter
change of friendly offices-for the profitable
employment of American capital. and
American energy. in the development of
China to the advantage of both-the estab-
Ilshmsnt of good feeling between the people
of the two countries is a primary requisite
There should be perfectly fair dealing.
There should be no inyidicus discrimiIia-
tion of aDy kind whatever.
Then will there be mutual helpfu!ness