Page:The Pacific Monthly vol. 14.djvu/46

 on the west coast of America make a new condition. Absorption of China and Corea by Russia would be the severest possible blow to the commercial progress of the United States. Were China advanced or "westernized," even to the extent that Japan is, the commerce of her hundreds of millions, left free, would be of immense value to us. But in the hands of Russia, or controlled by Russian influence, its benefits to us would be largely lost. This is the interpretation of Secretary Hay's contention for the integrity of the Chinese Empire. It explains, too, the British policy of the "open door." One of the objects of Russian statesmanship has been to keep the two great English-speaking nations apart, allied as they are for free and open commerce. Any approach to cordiality between the United States and England, on a common or similar policy, makes Russia therefore the rival if not the enemy of both.

Long time must elapse before consistent results can come out of this chaos of discordant interests. But the contest can have no interruption. From this point of view Japan is figliting not only hov own battle for her national preservation, but the battle of other nations, including our own, for the free development of Pacific commerce.

Again, the products and exports of Russia are mostly of a nature of which we ourselves have abundance, namely, cereals and other agricultural products, petroleum, timber and other heavy staples. Russia, therefore, in all or nearly all her exports, is one of our chief rivals. Naturally, therefore, if she can obtain the ascendancy she covets in tbe Orient she will close the door to us as far as she can.

But there awaits Pacific commerce a great future. Our rivals in it are many other nations besides Russia; namely. J^ngland, Germany, France, and Japan, and even Holland. It may not mean war. but it will mean, certainly, a strife for couimcrcial and even for political power. The most dangerous thing this country could do would be to allow itself to "drift" on its course of world politics. Under the present administration there is no danger of that. But our situation is such that we must at all times be alert and ready. Pacific Ocean commerce undoubtedly has an iimuense development before it. When

The New York Building — the scene of many notable receptions and banquets.