The following timely observations are sent by Mr. T. Rt. Jernigan, formerly U.S. Consul-General at Shanghai, to an Amer: can Journal I read in the "Observer" that the cotton manufacturers of the South have united in a petition to the Secretary of State asking that their interests in China be safeguarded against amy possible unfavourable fiscal regulations which the na-tious having spheres of influence in China may claim the prerogative to impose. It is a business move in the right direction, and is justified by the tendency of events, for it cannot be reasonably supposed that the principal commercial nations of Europe have employed the skill of diplomacy, if not forcible persuasion, in acquiring: spheres of influence in China to share, equally with other nations the advantages thus gained.
But an important question arises in this connection, which American diplomacy should have answered without delay, and the answer returned ought to be of such a plain and direct nature as to clear up all present and future intentions of the nations which have acquired spheres of in luence in China.
Admitting the indelicacy of inquiring to the intentions of a sovereign State, with reference to territory over which it has assumed practically sovereign control, it is nevertheless permissible, under certain contingencies, and the Southern} manufacturers have accurately judged that the contingencies justifying the enquiry do now exist.
Although it is understood that the peti tion directs especial attention to the te ritory over which Russia exercises practi cal control, it should not, therefore, be accepted as due to unfriendly discrimination against Russia and a desire to single her out, but rather asa consequence of the fact that the demand for the product of Southern cotton mills is more valuable in that part of Chinese territory where Russia is the acknowledged and absolute counsellor in all things. And, probably, Because only recently Russia announced that it might be necessary for her to impose some extra tariffs within her sphere of influence to meet the extra war expenses incurred on account of the troubles in China.
Such an announcement has no meaning, unless intended to indicate the right to) impose optional fiscal regulations when-in the October number Mr. Josiah Quincy, of Boston, discusses at length the open-door policy, azd concludes that whatever may be the policy of our goverament or our interest, the United States will not engage in war with any nation because of the Chinese question, and that if forced to choose between the nations having interest in China, we should recognise the dominance of Russia, and act on the theory that friendly of the greatest future importance to our commerce.
In the November mumber of the same Review, Captaia A. T. Mahan, the author of the "Influence of Sea Power upon History," appears to join issue with Mr. Quincy, and expresses the belief that if our country expects commercial advantages from the open-door policy we must be prepared to do our share in holding the door open. Captain Mahan writes: "We cannot count upon respect for the territory of China unless we are ready to throw not only our moral influence but, if necessity arise, our physical weight into the conflict, to resist. an expropriation, the result of which might be to exclude our commerce and neutralise our influence."
So far 2s the experience and observation of this writer have enlightened him on the subject he modestly subscribes to the view presented by ptain Mahan, and has no sympathy with the school of writers and orators who think that the gressive commercial nations of Europe will prove obedient to any moral lecture of the United States. Whatever may be thought of the acquisition of the Philippine Islands, it is the duty of patriotic Americans to recognise that the acquisition was made and has been ratified in accordance with the Constitution, and now it remains to utilise in our interest the advantages that may come to us from our positions in Asiatic seas. Certainly unless we exert ourselves on the lines of commercial progress we may expect to be outstripped by other nations whose restless energy is filling every port and sea with their commercial flags. Steam and the telegraph have made this world seem very snail in comparison with what it seemed before those inventions bridged time and space. I do not believe that it was meant by Washington to impress his countrymen with a ereed which they were to treasure os hereditary, for all such creeds tend to incrust and petrify the mind inst influences addressed to the highest parts of our nature and stand as @ sen-tind to guard mental vacancy, thus causing the individual or nation to decay in the deep slumber of an unchangeable opinion, The greatest pecuniary and phy-"The groat ever deemed necessary, and it is in every} sical nation is dozied the contentment of sense proper that an announcement of! a negative position in the affairs of the such an import should be met with the in. world, and the United States must keep quiry which the manufacturers have peti. awake to what is going on outside their tioned the Secretary of State to make of borders, although not needlesly relying the Russian Government. upon physical power to promote their com-Tu an article that appeared in the "Ob- mercial and other interests, but having it server" some time ago, I endeavour ed to] Well understood that they have the phy-show that it would have been easier for) al power, and that before the interest American diplomacy to have accentuated of an American citizen shall be denied pro-the open-goer policy in the Chancelieries gress on all legitimate lines, every remedy Burope, at the close of the China-Japan afforded by international law will be ex-war, when the subject. of spheres of inhausted. fluence was first engaging the serious at-But a practical reason in support of the ction of the manufacturers will be more tention of those Chancelleries, than at any time since, but it can never be too lat interesting to the business man. for a Government to intervene in behalf} T have before me the report on the of the interest of its citizens, though at this Shanghai Piece Goods Trade, showing the Gate moral influence kas lost' much, and volume of the trade for the last ten years. any policy without the knowledge of a During the year 1895 the war between physical purpose is as puerile as useless.
China and Japan so interfered with the The distinguishing base of the subject! trade that it may be omitted, as may the year 1900, because of the disturbances in now is to what extent the Government of China, and the comparison will be made the United States may be willing to exert physical power to maintain the open-door policy in China, The readers of the "North American Review" have not failed to observe, that between the trade in 1894 and the year 1899, covering a period of five years. "Let it also be borne in mind that I shall give the figures which show only re-exportation from Shanghai, the -distributing (centro,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.