The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-31

Franc,sco cor tho Orient. the Toxic
a government has withdrawn It's objec
\! fiona Ia tho construction OF the Fakr
men Railroad. s..
NJ Bit secretary Taft did not stop Will
nero reiterntiop OF the Hay policy
HI went much farther whom he said
"Thc American trade In China y
ii sufffcicntly great To require tile gov
.rrpn,cnt OF tile United states to tnks
Il VI very Legitimate mcnna TO protect 4
nrninst diminution or injury by thu
6at nolitical preference OF my OF Its com
DetltOrs.v
This sentence was pregnant With sig.
3nificarce to the Chinese for tho rea-
sor, that the only country possessing
6 shadow OF political preference II
China Is Japan, and Japan is the clief
rival OF the United states In Chinese
trade. Secretary Taft continued:
ut (the unitedp statesl cannot. OF
course. complain OF loss of trade eff
VI footed BY use of greater enterprisc
greater ingenuity. greater attention 70
the demands OF the Chinese market, and
ere,iter business ncumen. by It's com.
petitors: but II would have the right
10 protest against exclusion from
Chinese trade by departure from the
policy Of the open door. The acauies-
cence in this policy by all Interested
nations was so unhes.tating and em-
piatic that 1t Is hardly worth while to
speculate ms to the probable attitude
OF the United states were It's mer-
chants, interests injured By a violation
OF 1t.
How far the United states would
go In the protection OF It's Chinese
trade no one, OF course, can say"
The Chinese Trade.
Notwithstanding this disavowal OF
ability to forecast the American atti-
tude, Secretary Taft proceeded with
this prediction:
This much is clear however: that
the merchants OF the United States are
being aroused to the Importance of
their Chinese export trade: that they
would view political obstacles to its
expansion with deep concern, and that
Hhis feeling of theirs would be likely
TO find expression in the attitude of
THE American government.
Domestic business In the United
States has expanded so enormously and
has resulted In such great profits as to
5 prevent American business men from
Ssiving to the foreign trade that at
Sention which 1t deserves. and which
they certainly would give, but for more
!, profitable business at home. AS the
population of the United States in |
creases, as it fills and itss vast manu-
featuring and agricultural interests
become greater. its interest In foreigni
trade is certain to increase.
"yvhile we have been slow In rousing
4 ourselves to the fnportnnce of II trnde
which has grown without government
encouragement and almost without
business effort, to it's present import
ant proportions, I feel sure That in
future there VIII be no reason to COM
plain of seeming government milf |
ference to IT..
Back Merchants with Guns.
TO the Chinese merchants assembled
Mt the banquet board. to whom the
speech VAS being interpreted. SEN
tence by sentence. this came as d.
rect message of assurance from WASH |
sngton that the United states. as
1 world power. intends in future to back
I its merchants with its guns.
These same Chinese merchants and
their compatriots in official life at that
time were worried over the policy of /
Japan in placing obstacles In the way
of railroad. river and harbor. mining
and other physical developments of
Chinese resources. Secretary Taft knew
what was in their minds wen he said
to them:
1.-THE United States and others who
are for the opcn-d door policy, sincerely I
will. if they are wise. not only well |
come but Will encourage this great
Chinese empire to take long steps in
administrative and governmental re-
FORM and In the development of her
natural resources and in the improve
nlent OF the welfare of her people"
1t was not without knowledge of the /
fact that Japan objected to the Faku- |
man Railway because II would be a |
competitor OF a railway in Chinese ter
ritory, owned by the Japanese govern
ment, that Secretary Taft continued:
SIN this way China will add great
strength to her position rs a selfre-
specttng government may resist all
possible foreign aggression seeking I'M
due, exclusive or proprietary privileges
in her territory, and without foreign
aid. and enforce an open-door policy I
OF taual opportunity to all
~ am not one OF those who view
with alarm the effect OF the growth
of China, with her teeming millions,
into great industrial empire. be
lieYe that this, instead of injuring
foreign trade with China, would great
ly increase it, and while 1t might
change its chasacter in some respects,
it would NOT .dfn1!.:ish its profits. A
trade which depends for It's profit on
the backwardness OF people in de-
reioring their own resources and upon
their inability to value at the proper
relative prices that which they have
to sell and that which they have to /
buy. is not one which can be counted
upon as stable or permanent
China for the Chinese.
Not content with this encouragement
70 the Chinese reformers, who are the
Chinese business men, Secretary Taft
took long step in advance of all
pther foreigners Of authority who have
discussed the Chinese problem. and putt
himself. and. inferentially. the Ameri-
Fan government. squarely on record in
Favor of China for the Chinese. He
said:
For the reasons have given It'll
does not seem to me that the cry OF
China for the Chinese should brighten
any one, All that is meant by it is
1hat China should devote her energies |
TO the development Of her immense |
& resources, TO the elevation of her an