The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-23
THE "OPEN DOOR"
The Phrase Itself Means Nothlng without
Commercial Energy.

Commercial Energy.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Tho
phrase Of the .open door" drops 40 gibly
from the tongue and flows 30 freely from
the pen that one In almoRt disposed to ac-
cept II an an expression conveying an idea
Of deep Importance. II In broad, expan-
sive In tone, free and liberal In sentiment.
Yet. after all, what does 1t really mean9
1t is probable that the common definition
Of the term would state that which 1t seems
to mean in its commercial sense and appli-
cation. That would not Of necessity denne
it's real meaning. It might even be said
that commercially, there Ia no such thing
as an open door Nor, conversely. u
there really such thing as a closed door.
The trade channels through which mer-
chandise enters the different markets OF the
world all present their various obstacles
and barriers. In some ports Of entry these
are more numerous and more dificult than
they are in other ports, but none II insur-
gfloantable. No nation -hveth unto ITSELF
and no nation closes its own doors. or ports.
or the doors Of its colonial Possessions to
the entrance Of foreign merchandise. 1t
cannot mean an absolute equality Of en-
trance, for that would prohibit the exercise
Of national right to impose maximum and
minimum tariffs, or to effect mutually
beneficial trade treaties upon q basis OF
special advantages.
The phrase is misleading, and misleading
phrases should be eliminated from our
commercial phraseology. Manchuria Is the
point Of its special application; and, from
its common usage, one would he justified
in belief that the Manchurian door had
been closed and nailed up, and that China
has now, by stroke of pen, thrown 1t broadly
open, with result Of increasing our trade
with that region hundredfold or so.
1t Is true that certain ports in China
are, by Chinese regulations. closed to for
eign trade. To others, England alone has
right of entrance by virtue of treaties ef
feoted with the Chinese Government. Few.
IL any, Of these closed ports are OF COM
mercial Importance to the United States.
and it is quite doubtful il their entire free
dom would materially affect the volume
OF American commerce. Our cultivation
OF the opportunities which now lie open
to us in the Flowery Kingdom is not 80
vigorous and energetic as to justify any
strenuous outcry against the denial to US
of other and almost insignificant opportuni-
ties on any ground other than that Of man's
keen desire for the forbidden, whether it
be Of value or worthless
Our trade with China, exclusive Of Hong
Kong, which is not. though many suppose
it to be, part Of China, represented last
year barely more than per cent Of our
exports. About 10 per cent. of this was
represented by the single item Of cotton
cloth. China's total imports from all coun-
tries for the last year were little less than
the total of those of Canada. We secured
about 10 per cent. of the Chinese trade, and
about 85 per cent. Of the Canadian, not
wthstanding the fact that, geographically.
China is decidedly more within our, sphere
of commercial influence than within that
Of any of our competitors.
1t is entirely natural that we should de-
sire an extension Of our commerce with
China, and it is wholly fit and proper that
due effort should he made to effect and
secure, through International treaty. OPP
portunity for such an extension. But we
should not be misled by phrases Open
doors are useless to those who make no use
Of them and doors the world over are open
to those who will push them open. The
kingdom of trade, like the Kingdom Of
heaven, -suffereth violence. and the violent
take it by force" by energy, by trade
activity, by effort.
An open door" in Manchuria, or any
where else, does not mean that those who
are inside will pitch out TO US their orders
for our wares and merchandise. 1t means
that we oan go through it and make sales
on fairly equal terms with our competitors
if we will make the goods that are wanted,
and by our commercial activity put them
through the door
If that he not done, it concerns US little
whether Manchuria or any other country
opens doors or constructs impenetrable
walls. Our new treaty with China is worth
exactly what we make it worth.
NEW YORK, Oct. 81. FAR EAST.