The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-10-02

for military and commercial mastery.
When China awakens, to the degree
that. japan is new awake, events pass
Ing the power of the Imagination to
conceive will take place.
AS to the palliative and beneficent
effect this cruise may have on China
and Japan, there can be but one opin-
ion. While Uncle Sam was little con-
cerned about the rumors to the effect
that Japan was about to descend upon
the Philippines. or possibly to make a
demonstration off our Pacific coast, yet
he did desire, and perhaps is In a
position to insist, that the Open Door
policy be maintained In China Japan
has apparently never been quite recon-
ciled to this policy, and is said to have
worked to establish in China the poll
cy Of spheres of influence" To this
America, with European nations, siren
uously objected-and does still object.
This Open Door policy stands as
world monument in diplomacy to the
constructive genius of the Republican
party. William Howard Taft Is In full
sympathy with this constructive policy.
Mr.. Taft on his last trip to the
Orient was given such an enthusiastic
reception at Shanghai, China, as was
never before accorded to any visiting
statesman by officials of the Celestial
Kingdom. On that occasion Mr.. Taft
made a speech which, in spite of its
genial tone and cautious phrasing, was
at once recognized as of the highest
international Importance. Said he:
I'VE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT
TO PROTEST AT BEING EXCLUD-
ED FROM THE TRADE OF CHINA
BY REASON OF OUR INSISTENCE
UPON THE POLICY OF THE OPEN
DOOR. The acquiescence in this poll
cy Of all the nations interested has
been so unhesitating and emphatic that
1t Is hardly worth while to speculate
as to how far the United States would
so in the protection of its Chinese
trade. 4" This feeling is likely to
find expression In the action Of the
American government. 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 administrative and govern
mental reform"
So we have not far to seek for an
other very powerful reason for this
world cruise Of our fleet. Mr.. Taft
sin ply announced in diplomatic Ian
guage that this cruise is intended to
say that the Open Door policy will be
maintained at any price. He is in
thorough sympathy with the alert con-
structive policy OF the Republican
party He is one of its chief expon.
ents.
Perfection Of Discipline.
This world cruise Of the mighty ar
mazda of sixteen ships Of the line has
been. and is being. conducted with a
precision worthy Of the fine traditions
of American eamanship-which speaks
the highest praise Every man, from
officer to common sailor, has felt that
the eyes of the nation at home were
lOIlONlHS Hllli, anu lHdl however HUI
est his situation, he must bear himself
worthily as an American sailor, in the
stoutest squadron that ever flew the
Stars and Stripes.
There is no question but that this
cruise will be noted by all commenta-
tors Of the future as one Of the most |
remarkable happenings of any age.
Even though the American people have |
not fully understood the significance,
when all the facts are known, 1t will |
be found to have been one Of the dis |
tinctive acts of craftsmanship of the |
present Republican administration. Mr.. |
Taft is the man to continue this his
tory-making policy of the Republican
party.