The Washington herald., 1908-04-12
THE YELLOW PERIL

from the breaking of the leash that has
held the yellow hordes Ia bondage.
A more practical class do not appre-
bend a war OF conquest nor the erection
of an Asiatie empire. but they are gen.
timely alarmed because they consider
that the commerce of Western nations IS
threatened. China is the greatest Of the
worlds markets, and Is becoming more
important every day. When Russia at
tempted to monopolize the trade OF Man
cburia, and to that end occupied Chinese
territory. the world was largely on Ja-
pans side when It forced Russia to aban-
don its programme. But now II is re-
peatediy charged that Japan is closing
the door OF Manchuria 10 all but Japa-
nese; that il is using every method Of
unfair discrimination TO mOnopOlize the
markets for its own commerce; and at
the same time is slipping in the back
way TO extend its trade into China
proper, thereby becoming even a greater
offender than Russia ever was
China is rich and Japan is poor. X Ja-
pan could possess the control Of that
great country over which European ma
lions have been snarling at each other
for fifty years. then the commercial eapi-
tai Of the world would be Tokyo. Chinas
immense resources OF mineral wealth.
practically untouched and greater in ex-
tent than those Of any other country, ara
closed to Occidental development because
Of the Chinese jealousy Of the white man.
II the japanese can persuade China 10
admit them. as brother OTienta!s, TO teach
the Celestials how TO do things, then will
he Of 81,
Of China which will result in a develop
ment OF home resources, a constantly les
sening demand for foreign goods. and III
timately the loss Of Asiatic trade 10 Eu-
rope and America
China's wealth Is so great that Il can
not be estimated. Take but one exam
pie. 1T Hankow. a thousand miles inland
on the great Yangtse River, Is a port
which the great ocean vessels may reach
with water 10 spare for the greater part
OF the year. II is at the junction of two
large rivers, and, with It's sister cities
from which It is divided only by imagi-
nary lines has a population 0f 3010 00J
persons. Within few hours Of Hankow
is the greatest anthracite coal field in the
world. In another direction and almost
as close. is a field OF soft coal the extent
OF which may be only guessed at. Here
too. Is iron ore In abundance. and the
Chinese themselves are already making
steel rails. Let the spirit Of Western en-
terprise touch that store OF wealth, even
il the impetus comes secondhand through
Japan. and Hankow viii become a new
and greater Pittsburg. which win control
the steel business Of the world. This is
but an instance Of the possibilities Of the
development OF china's wonderful store
Of untouched raw resources.
Therefore, say those who are frightened
by the ghost Of a commercial yellow peril,
Il. behooyes the powers to take steps 10
insure that Japan does not go too far in
It's policy Of excluding the other nations
from a chance at-free competition IN
China. Il Is all right for Japan to IN
crease its commerce as much as il can,
but it should be impressed upon Tokyo
statesmen that they must extend the
trade of their nation by fair and open
competition IN the eastern marts. and
not by attempting to establish a market
closed to all others, nor by instituting q
trade campaign to be enforced az the
point of the bayonet
The possession of the trade Of China IS
q stake worth playing for. because his
tory shows that il has always carried with
| It the commercial supremacy Of the
world. Ancient Egypt. oldest OF Western
civilizations, maintained q fleet in the
Red Sea, which brought the wealth OF
China into relation with that Of the
Nile. Babylon opened trade road across
Central Asia to China. and became the
ruler Of the globe. Macedonia knew the
value Of the Chinese market. and IN fact.
the trade roads across Asia were never
closed until superior communication By
sea gave the maritime nations the con-
troll. In the palmy days Of the Arabic
empire, bungalows from the Red Sea net
the Chinese junks az Ceylon.
Coming 10 the days Of modern history,
the Pope once divided the world between
Portugal and Spain, the Iberisn PENN
sula holding the scepter of world-pOwer
by virtue Of its Asiatic trade. Later came
the Dutch, and then the English. since
which time Britannia has ruled the
waves, the secret of Great Britain's su-
premacy, like that Of all its predecessors.
being its commerce with rich old China
and the East. Now there are signs that
England Is beginning 10 lose its prestige.
Who. then, will take its place? Shall It
be America, that vigorous young giant
which sprang from the Iolns OF John
Bull? Or shall the orb OF empire pass
from the white man TO the Oriental as
pirant-Japan?
Copyright Isos. By Frederic J Hsskin.l
To-morrOw-Japan on the Yellow
Peril.