At the close of the Japanese Wer Germany held the balance of power in the Orient. Notwithstanding her efforts since, she is likely soon to be superseded in that capacity by America for the Cuban War and the Chinese Crisis have compelled the United States to overstep the limitations of the Monroe doctrine and take a considerable part in Eastern questions. Already the Stars and Stripes float over Manila. American troops fought for the possession of the Chinese capital and shed their blood for the capture of the Imperial City. The end of the war is but the beginning of her enterprise in the east. The new President, despite his speech, believes in the imperialism of the Spreading Eagle. Secretary Hay supports the policy of the open door. But all this expansion and progress are to be effected not by "guns and grab" but by sending goods and securing goodwill. As one American the other night: " We seek trade not territory: we do not mean to fight but to foster friendliness. We mean to conquer China by mercantile not by military means. Our merchandise will exploit her markets and without an army we shall win." America wishes to be regarded as the Friend of China and her policy so far may be summed up in a sentence: Comity by Commerce and Goodwill by Charity. "This is an unusual programme. There are certainly some facts that seem destined to become strong factors in support of this American policy.
1, There is the increase of her trade with China, Although the flag does not fly from the masts of an extensive mercantile fleet her commerce is extending. It is the boast of the Yankee trader that he uses the men and merchant vessels of other nations to make his money. Others do the trading and the transport while he sits at home to boss the show and coin the dollar. During the last decade there has been an enormous increase in the iron, oil, calico, and flour trade with China. The demand has exceeded the supply. Preparations are now being made for quicker transport, better storage, and more supplies.
2. There is the significant fact that Americans practically control the colleges and so eventually the mind of the Middle Kingdom, The Imperial and Peking Universities in the Capital, the Tientsin University, the St. John's College, the Anglo-Chinese College, The Nan-Fang College—all are under Americans. Although the scholarship used to be on the side of Britons like Morrison and Medhurst, Legge and Giles, it seems to be passing into the hands of Americans like Allen and Martin, Sheffield and Smith. Mind is the greatest of all power; the pen is mightier than the sword. There is no intellect is giving an immense prosti who, Gisruising, the fact that American American policye
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.
