New-York tribune., 1905-04-23

International problems In these days are
largely industrial and commercial in character
The diplomacy OF the days preceding the French
Revolution was usually dynastic The wars and
struggles OF the nations represented (upOn the
surface at all events) little more than the ef-
forts OF different families 90 advance their own
interests. which they identified. more or less
consciously. with the interests OF their people
Since the French Revolution the movement IN
the Western world has been toward the forma-
tion Of nations on either racial OF geographical
lines. This process has gone so far as to leave
little more to be accomplished; and. as one re-
suit, we find that the nations OF the twentieth
century are concerning themselves primarily
with questions affecting their own Industrial
wellbeing. Broadly speaking, most modern na-
tions can produce by their manufactures more
than they can consume. The United States and
Russia produce also by their agriculture more
than they can consume. The profitable disposal
Of this surplus of production, whatever form It
takes, has so profound bearing upon the well
fare OF the nation producing it that every cOun-
try feels constrained to concern itself with the
development Of its foreign trade by every means
in its power. This It is which brings the mod
ern nations not only most closely into contact
with each other. but also most frequently into
collision with each other. more or less serious.
nc present wax HI tHt II ar E4dSt - 1lOl ~
much a struggle to determine whether Russia
or Japan shall be politically dominant in Man
churia as 1t is a war waged for the markets OF
Manchuria and the regions affected thereby.
The war. therefore. concerns deeply not only the
nations actually engaged in it. but in it's out
come and settlement it viii profoundly affect all
the commercial nations of the world. From this
point of view-that is TO say. from the point OF
view of International cOmmerce-the attitude Of
the United States as 20 the settlement of the
war is likely to be very far reaching The
United States stands for the open door in the
Far East with an emphasis that already has
been greatly influential. II is likely TO continue
to stand for that idea as earnestly and per-
sistently may be necessary.
In order 10 appreciate the significance Of this
question of the "Open door to the United
States, must consider it in it's relation to
one of the most powerful and persistent Of the
ideals of the American people. Reference has
been made already to the significant fact that
the American people have welcomed all new
cOmers into the United States except the Chi
nese. From the point of view of all the po-
liticaI theories of the United States. this ex-
ception is indefensible. It has met, however. in
this country with substantially no protest be-
cause of the general recognition on the part Of
the American people that the admission Of the
Chinese in large numbers would involve dis
aster to the American standard Of living. This
reveals in another form. the transition already
traced from political to economic questions as
the dominating questions of the modern world.
No ideal is dearer to the Americans, as a ma
tion. than a high standard of living not merely
for the fortunate few. but, especially. for the
great masses Of the people. The policy OF pro-
lection. which has dominated our tariffs for
half century could not have been maintained