The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-10-22
The Constructive Genius of Our
Oriental Trade-Empire.
Carried the Torch Of Civilization TO
Antipodes-Made Secure Our
Far Eastern Commercial
Supremacy.

merCe or the countries situated on he
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 coa!ing sta
tiOuS across the Pacific and finally the
transfer of the American fleet OF bat
tleShipS from the Atlantic to the IaCi-
fc to modcstly remind the Oriental Il
lions that, having assumed the posi-
ton Of n 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
is to be the scene Of the greatest hui
man activities in the future. The war
of the United States. with Spain gave
us possessions which bring us within
speaking distance of Asia, and the
Russo-Japanese war revealed Japan to
the world as a powerful and progress
sive nation, whose future sphere o. ac-
ton would OF necessity be within the
boundaries of the ocean separating
America from the Orient.
Taft n Constructive Statesman.
The Honorable William ii. Taft has
been one Of the chief advisers and
strongest advocates of the Republican
administration policy during this Ton
NATIVE and historic period. He has
been a pioneer, not only along the lines
Cf statecraft. which have had for their
object the development of our WeSt,!,
states. but he has given particular al
tcntion to the situation in the Orient
with reference to the future commerce.
between those far away countries AZ!
the Pacific Coast of America.
In his own inimitable way and unit
ing a unique personality with the high.
est authority as a diplomat, he poured
oil on the troubled waters in Japan
and changed the political storm there
raging, into a placid sunshine of peace
In China he created such enthusiasm
as the Orientals have never shown t.
any other visitor and left that empire
United States is not only ready to en-.
ter into commercial reciprocity, but to
still stand as China's friend and lend
it's influence to see that she gets jus
tice from those who would violate her
territorial integrity.
Taft and Oriental Trade.
a body of influential merchants. diplo-
mats and Chinese government officials.
Mr.. Taft spoke in part as follows:
1--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 II 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 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
IL they are wise they will encourage
the Empire to take long steps In adj
ministrative and governmental reform,
the development Of the 81
China, and the improvement OF the well
IdIc VI tbt HtbIht. - wv 'hiS N'ti'
add to China's strength and position
as a se~lf-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-
lions we have built up an export trade
with the Far East of something like
&150.OO0.0OO per year. We have landed
an army on Chinese territory, and have
been drawn willy-nilly into the rortex
OF the Far Eastern question. During
the period policies have been formulated
which have compelled us to take a hand
In momentous negotiations. We have
definitely enrolled the Far East among
the objects Of our commercial and diplo.
matte solicitude. Things have changed
much during this ten years of Republi.
can rule.