Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-05-27
FROM THE
COMMONER
AMERICA AND CHINA.
MIR. BRYAN'S PAPER


The president in his message urging
the building of four warships attempts
to use China as an argument in favor
of a big navy plan. He says: ut
would be equally foolish to rely upon
each of them possessing at all times
and under all circumstances and prov
ocations an altruistic regard for the
rights of others. Those who hold this
view are blind indeed to all that has
gone on before their eyes in the world
at large. They are blind to what has
happened in China, in Turkey, in the
Spanish possessions, in Central and
South Africa during the last dozen
years.
For centuries China has cultivated
the very spirit which our peace-at-any-
price men wish this country to adopt.
For centuries China has refused to
provide military forces and has treated
the career of the soldier as inferior in
honor and regard to the career of the
merchant or the man of letters. There
never has been so large an empire
which for so long a time has so reso-
ing away with what is called mill
tarism.
I'm external affairs the policy has
resulted in various other nations now
holding large portions of Chinese ter
ritory, while there is a very acute fear
in China lest the empire, because of
its defenselessness, be exposed to alb
solute ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and it's we'll
wishers are able to help it only in
small measure, because no nation can
help any other unless that other can
help itself"
1t is strange that the president
should attempt to make the absurd
mistake of attributing China's posi-
ton to an overweening desire for
peace. 1t is not China's lack of mill
tary enthusiasm that has caused her
misfortunes. 1t is the fact that she
has been the abode of ignorance
and selfishness. A few of her peo-
pie have had a little learning, and have
run the government on the graft sys-
tenn while the masses have dwelt in
ignorance, and have been taught the
philosophy in which each one looks
out for himself and the devil for the
hindmost. But to compare the United
States with China, Turkey. Spain and
South Africa is to ignore essential diff
ferences. Our nation is the most adj
yanced nation in the world; it's people
are intelligent and well-informed. Our
nation has abundant resources and our
people have an enormous productive
"
side to protect us against attack, and
no nation is foolish enough to invite
a conflict If there is any nation that
does not need TO impoverish it's people |
with preparations for imaginary war,
our nation is that nation. Not only do
we need less protection than any other
nation, but or ideals forbid that we
should enter into the mad race for
physical power that has led other ma
tions 60 decay.
The president and other naval en-
thusiasts advocate gigantic navy on
the ground that it promotes peace.
The theory is antagonistic to all that
religion teaches or that history proves.
The very spirit that leads us to rely
upon a big navy will lead us to use it,
Some regard the parade of our ships
around the world as an exhibition of
our strength. 1t is to be hoped that
this is not the real reason for the
trip that they are taking. If this was
the reason. why should not other ma
tions parade their ships. and how long
would these parades continue before
they would result in a conflict? Men
who load themselves down with
weapons and go out to exhibit their
preparedness for any encounter are
very apt to find an excuse for shoot
ing. Our nation is to be congratulated
upon the fact that the president, with
all his influence, was not able to force
his four battle-ships plan through eth
er house. and the Democrats can find
qualification in the fact that their po-
sition on this subject is so sound that
they could secure large Republican
support for it,