The San Francisco call., 1903-12-11
RUSSIA IN KOREA.

4 terTanean, and experiments III nnance ana gov
crnment that yet in in other nations. went
home re-entered its gates and locked them. There
the modern world found China, Korea and Japan The
Western nations attracted by the mystery the inner
side OF the great wall in the Hermit Kingdom and in the
japanese islands concerted in the policy of opening
all those countries to the world.
By policy, part of the time, and by open aggression
in which were incidents discredtabe to the West like
the opium war and the loot of Pekng China opened
TO the world To the United States fell the task OF
opening Japan and to our credit it executed with
the demoralizing which had taken place in
China The Chinese, with keen and trained CONNER
cia instinct took what advantage they could OF the
change Acting upon the keen saying Of Marquis Tseng
that when China was opened the world the world was
opened China merchants located in the Straits
Settlements, Australia, the Philippines and the United
States.
Here we have found the Chinese merchants to be
promoters of trade with their country More than
third Of the tariff paid in the San Francisco
Custom-hous is by the Chinese Their enterprise and
their high of commercial honor make the force
that has expanded our trade with their country The
japanese commercial class while less among
the purpose. The policy of the Western
nations in opening Eastern Asia has proved good and
wise for them, and for the peoples to whom it gave
1t has been in the interest of civilization and
has promoted peaceful commerce, mutually beneficial
This policy has continued unbroken until the advent of
appears there with army and key in hand compel
a reversal OF the open-world policy, insisting upon
closing the door every country but herself Russia
has, therefore, against the wish of both China and Korea
renewed the policy of isolation and restriction, which
the West broke down, and insists upon excusveness
and isolation.
In the quotation from Secretary Cass by the Presi-
dept in his recent message, to which have already
referred Cass used this policy illustration. Speak
ing of the claims of Central American governments to
exclusive control of facilities which belong to the world
Cass said: None of these local governments would be
permitted in a spirit Of Eastern isolation to close the
gates Of intercourse the great highways of the
world That uttered the policy of the Western nations
in opening Eastern Asia 1t is a policy upon which too
much in trial and sacrifice has been spent abandon
it now. even though great Russia lifts against it her
powerful She IS in Korea. armed to resist the
opening of the Korean port of Yongampho to the
worlds commerce. She has right there which the
other nations respect She has treaty with Korea
giving her fleets the entry of Chemulpo such an
errand While Korea is the immediate victim. too weak
to resist. the world is the ultimate sufferer.
Americans may. with benefit to themselves, contrast
the attitude of country the isthmus with that of
Russia in Korea. We appear the champion of the
worlds right of of a great highway of commerce
the trustee of civilization the promoter of all commerce.
to close, but open, opportunities which give
greater value every mans labor and greater profit
every mans enterprise We the trustee of Russia
and of all nations and PROPOSE with vigor and zeal
administer that But Russia appears in the East
in a spirit of sefshness and isolation, close the gates
lock the door, exclude the world from its just
opportunities
1t is amazing spectacle The effect upon the mind
of Eastern Asia be left to the imagination After
several generations of their have dealt with
the West entirely upon the question of opening their
countries to the world, they find Russia with vast
armies navy. forts and all the resources of power
among them to undo ali that has been done
Morally the world owes to China Korea and Japan
every possible support in this crisis The United States
holds high position of moral power at this moment
because of stand for freedom of the isthmus Eng
land intimately involved, by her treaty of a-
with Japan and her understanding with Russia that
Korean independence is be respected Germany, in
view OF her commercial ambitions. be indifferent
and France Notwithstanding her Russian alliance
fail understand that she is affected by abbrc
waiting her expectations of Eastern trade for which she
has sacrificed much in Cochin China. But above and
beyond all these considerations individual to the diff
ferent nations, is the claim of Russia, backed by mill
tary force that the ground by base viola
ton OF her promise to Manchuria the right
to reverse the policy of the world in the East.
Three years ago the Gar indicated his purpose. at
certain date close Russian ports to all but Russian
ships. He shuts other people of Russia as far as
possible by dshonorng passports and by police cspion-
age, and it begins to look though the rest of the
world is approaching the duty of opening Russia as
Eastern Asia opened. If that come many scores
will have TO be settled