Had the invitation to address you covered issues involving only and directly the affairs of trade in China, or more specifically the Yangtsze Valley, [should have been prone to demur in view of the extended knowledge and experience of the majority of my hearer. Although as a disciple of the philosophy of commercial expansion in China, Lhave repeatedly travelled up and down the coast line from Singapore and Bangkok to Peking and Viadivostock, and oftentimes into the interior, always_in search of more information, I should feel that my highest attainments in these lines were but kindergarten lessons in comparison with the thorough acquaintance and practic: wisdom of the "Old China Hands," many of whom I see before me this afternoon Of these " Old China Hands" I speak only in terms of profound respect. They will ever stand as pioneers of western trade and civilisation in Far Cathay; they divide honours with the missionaries—whose names are also on the honour roll—in opening to the world the mighty Orient. Before them representatives at Peking have been forced to yield and to them Foreign Ministers have been compelled to listen. If recently their influence and wishes have not met with immediate response at home it is not their fault—and the blame of consequent developments and conditions will not be on their shoulders, Still even now they can be of good cheer. There is light on the horizon, A. gallant Admiral "(Lord Charles Beresford) is speeding home to carry tidings of your and our sorrows and joy: By suggestion of the worthy Amer Consul-General, Me. Goodnow, and the able Minister at Peking, Me, Conger, who are both always thoughtful of their country's interests, supported by iny own humble re~ commendation, he returns through Armerica—may Lot say he directs his way through the camps of friends? As result let us hope that the orders will soon come back from Washington and London supplemented by those of Berlin and Tokio that the line of battle must be offensive not merely defensive, and that a forward movement, shoulder to shoulder and banner to banner, with no such word as retreat in the category of command shall characterise our policy "from Cant to Newchwang and from Shanghai to Chungking!
A DEWEY MovEMese Taking my insp feom my main subject T would say diplomatically, politically, the nations interested in the protect expansion of their commerce and trade in China executed a movement not wu like that of Dewey in Manila Bay. Despite the enemy's tales of forests of torpedoes in channels and Bay and the frowning batteries of Corregidor, El Brail, and Cavite, he sailed ely and safely in, When we show less consideration for imaginary difficulties, hypothetical complications, and dreamy eventualities, and more for the imminent dangers to commerce and trade,' we may accomplish the crying necessities of the hour, first the integrity of the empire and ino further alienation of territory, second, the reform of government, including reorganisation of the army' and essential forces of order, third, the open door for I Chinn as known in the old treaties Unt cannot be fluence to which our merchants will for ever ave freedom of access. At this very moment news from the Yangtze Valley is not cheering. In short it is high time that we were up and doing—that we sailed in regardless of torpedoes that are not now really loaded and batteries that are not now actually manned, but which may some day defy us to enter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.