The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1908-10-10
Carried the Torch of Civilization to
Antipodes-Made Secure Our
Far Eastern Commercial
Supremacy.

III the Pacific Ocean which is destined
to give her the bulk of the vast com.
merce OF the countries situated on the
greatest body of water on the globe.
Some of the things accomplished by
the party of enlightened freedom and
patriotism have been: The securing
of the open door in China the preser-
walton OF the integrity of the Chinese
Empire; the acquisition of the Philip.
pines; the establishment of coaling sta.
lions across the Pacific and finally the
transfer of the American feet of bat,
tleships from the Atlantic to the Paci-
fic to modestly remind the Oriental ma,
lions that, having assumed the posi-.
ton of world power in the Pacific.
we are prepared to maintain it against
all Corners
America and Japan In Pacific.
Two wars have caused the whole
world TO realize that the Pacific Ocean
10 to be the scene OF the greatest hu
man activities in the future The wal
of the United States with Spain gave
speaking distance of Asia. and the
japanese war revealed Japan to
the world as a powerful and progress
sive nation. whose future sphere OF &C
ton would of necessity be within the
boundaries of the ocean separating
America from the Orient
Taft Constructive Statesman.
The Honorable William II Taft has
been one of the chief advisers and
strongest advocates of the Republican
administration policy during this for
NATIVE and historic period He has
been pioneer. not only along the lines
object the development OF our western
states. but he has given particular at
tention to the situation in the Orient
with reference to the future commerce
between those far away countries and
the Pacific coast of America
In his own inimitable way and unit
ing unique personality with the high
est authority as diplomat be poured
oil on the troubled waters in Japan
and changed the political storm there
raging, into placid sunshine Of peace
In China he created such enthusiasm
as the Orientals have never shown to
any other visitor and left that empire
with the belief on their part that the
United States is not only ready to en-
ter into commercial reciprocity. but to
still stand as China's friend and lend
its influence to see thai ~he gets JUS
tice from those wb~ -eS4u violate her
territorial integrity
Taft and Oriental Trade.
In his Shanghai speech. addressing
q body of influential merchants. diplo-
mats and Chinese government officials,
Mr.. Taft spoke in part as follows.
I'VE do not complain of loss of trade
that results from the employment of
great enterprise. ingenuity or attention
to the demands of the Chinese market,
or the greater business acumen shown
by our competitors. We would have
the right to protest at being secluded
from the trade of China by reason of
our insistence of the policy of the
Open Door. The acquiescence in this
policy of all the nations interested has
been so unhesitating and emphatic
that 1t is hardly worth while to specu-
late upon the probable action of the
United States in case the interests of
American merchants are placed in jeop-
ardy, and how far the United States
would go in the protection of its Chi
nese trade, cannot say. 1t is clear
however, that our merchants are being
reused to the Importance of the Chi
nese trade and they would view with
deep cenae'r' any and all political oh
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