The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-10-29
WILLIAM h. TAFT AND
PACIFIC COMMERCE
The Constructive Genius OF Our
Oriental Trade-Empire.
Carried the Torch Of Civilization to
Antipodes-Made Secure Our
Far Eastern Commercial
Supremacy.

/ During the past ten years, under q
constructive Republican policy, the
(, United States has assumed a position
lii 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.
tions across the Pacific and finally the
transfer of the American fleet of bat.
teships from the Atlantic to the Paci.
&c to modestly remind the Oriental ma.
tions that, having assumed the posi-.
ton OF world power in the Pacific
we are prepared to maintain it against
al 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 powerful and progress
siye nation, whose future sphere OF &C.
ton would of necessity be within the
boundaries of the ocean separating
America from the Orient.
Taft q Constructive Statesman.
The Honorable William H. 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
Of statecraft, which have had for their
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, he 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 that she gets jus
tice from those who would violate her
territorial integrity.
Taft and Oriental Trade.
In his Shanghai speech, addressing
body Of influential merchants, dipIo-
mats and Chinese government officials,
MIR. 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 acqulescence in this
policy OF all the nations interested has
been 80 unhesitating and emphatic
that 1t is hardly worth while to speclI-
late upon the probable action of the
United States in case the interests Of
American merchants are placed In leon
ardy, and how far the United States
would go In the protection of it's 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
Etacles which menace that expansion.
This feeling is likely to find expires.
sion In the action of the American gov
eminent. The United States and the
other powers favor the open door. and
II they are wise they will encourage
the Empire to take long steps in adj
ministrative and governmental reform
the development of the resources Of
China, and the Improvement of the wei.
fare or the people. To do this would
add to China's strength and position
as a 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.
hons we have built up an export trade
with the Far East of something like
Slop0,OOO per year. We have landed
an army on Chinese territory. and have
been drawn wily-nllly into the vortex
or the Far Eastern question. DURING
the period policies have been formulated
which have compelled us to take hand
IN momentous negotiations. We have
definitely enrolled the Far East AMONG
the objects of our commercial and djn,o.
matte solicitude. Things have changad
much during this ten years of Repub,,.
no N r,,In ~'N