The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-10-27

It's influence to see that she gets JUS
tics from those who would violate her
territorial integrity.
Taft ana Oriental Trade.
In his Shanghai speech, addressing
body Of influential merchants, diplo-
mats and Chinese government officials,
Mr.. Taft spoke in part as follows:
.'We 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 60 in the protection of it's Chi
nese trade, L cannot say. It is clear,
however, that our merchants are being
reused to the Importance of the Chi
nese trade and they would view with
deep concern any and all political OBJ
stacles which menace that expansion.
This feeling is likely to find express
sion in the action of the American gov
eminent. The United States and the
other powers favor the open door, and
if they are wise they will encourage
the Empire to take long steps in ad-
ministrative and governmental reform,
the development Of the resources Of
China, and the improvement Of the well
fare Of the people. TO do this would
add to China's strength and position
AZ self-respecting government and aid
her in preparing to resist possible for
eign aggression in the seeking of undue
and exclusive proprietary privileges.
Thus no foreign aid will be required
to enforce the open door and the policy
Of equal opportunity for ALL
History Making Happenings.
During recent Republican administra-
tions we have built up an export trade
with the Far East Of something like
$15O, O0O, 900 per year. We have landed
m army on Chinese territory, and have
been drawn willy-nilly into the vortex
Of the Far Eastern question. During
the period policies have been formulated
which have compelled VI to take hand
in momentous negotiations. We have
definitely enrolled the Far East among
the objects Of our commercial and diplo-
matte solicitude. Things have changed
can rule
The United States has come into pos
session Of the Philippines and all the
political and strategical responsibilities
entailed BY this movement. The particl-
patton in, and suppression Of, the Boxer
rebellion, the expanding recognition Of
the supreme Importance to the future
Of American trade, Of the open door, the
realization that, with the exception of
Japan, no country is so well situated
as the United States, industrially and
geographically, to make the most and
the best Of the development of China.
These and other events have trans
formed American Indifference to the
fortunes Of the Far East into a real,
live, tingling and vigilant concern.
Logical Commercial Events.
It did not need the Chinese boycott
Of American goods, or the outbreak Of
the trouble with Japan over the immi-
grafton question, to convince an Impair
tial onlooker that Americas relations
with the powers Of the Far East would,
before long, be more immediate, Of
greater moment and possibly Of greater
hazard than our relations with the
powers Of Europe. The American feet
has foreshadowed the systematic asser-
ton Of American power in the Pacific.
American interests In that ocean, CON-
mercial, political and territorial, have
been neglected far too long.
Father Of the Philippines.
Mr.. Taft is in a sense the father Of
the Philippines. It has been his kindly,
constructive statesman's hand that
evolved order out Of their original
chaos. In his report submitted to Con-
gress, as a result Of his visit to the
Philippines to be present at the opening
Of their first Assembly, he made four
recommendations. First-action by Con-
gress admitting to tho United States
Philippine products under such condi-
lions that they would not interfere
with American tobacco and sugar in
dustries; second, the removal Of re-
strictions as to acquiring mining claims
and lands; third, further legislation
authorizing the government to carry
on an agricultural bank, which is now
authorized only as private enterprise;
fourth, the repeal Of the law applying
to the Islands the coastwise laws of
the United States.
Philosophy Of Development.
Our nation has grown BY obeying the
instinct Of Development We are today
entitled to be called Greater America,
but that greatness will be lost II we
forget the political philosophy which