Eastern Politics

Hou. John W. Foster, who succeeded Blaine as Harrison's secreta) y of staie, lectured in the S. C. A. lecture course n Wednesday evening. The t-x-secretary oame here trom Detroit, where he lectared the nightbefoie upoa the same topic thas he did here, "Asiatic Politics " Tbe ex-secretary is getting along in years but is still well prerved. He might he taken íor a weilto-do Engl shrnau ratherthan an American diploniat of distinction. Aftei Rarrison's term Mr. Foster added to bis reputation by bis services in bringÍDg about the sea treatv between China and Japan. It is stated tbat '! for this diplomatic service he received $100,000. Wben reporters ask bim about it he wiuks his otber eye (which is the eye toward you) and says that jnst exactly yrhat he got for his services shoulrl not concern the public sufficiently for it to have its curiosity gratified. Tbe exfeciffary had a large audience to face at University hall and he held its attention well dnring the delivery of h s lecture. He said tbat the Enropean countries, especially Great Britain, Rusia and Francehadgveat iuflaence upon the political eouditious of Asia. The Turkish empire, he said, was characterized by a governruent the most efficiënt in Asi;. lu refereuce to Turkisb affairs he said : Upon the Britih government musr rest a largt; sbare of the résponsibilty for the existence and continuance of the recent ..outrage? in Asa Minor, ■wliich have so jnstly awakened the indignation and horror of the eivilized woild. But for its interposition the Tnrkish power wonld have been ompletely'brokeu, as the result of the Eussian war of 1877-8. At that time it acoepted the cession of Cyprus as the price cif its guarantee of protección of tbe Otfornan empire against the further encroachments of Rnssia. It was the eontrolling party in the Berlin conference, which exacted frcm Turkey a stip■nlatiou or reform in Armenia, for relig ious liberty in its widest sphere, and protrctiou to the Cbristiaus of its Asiatic provinces ; and it has been the party most onlpable for allowing these stipulations to be practically unrealized. I do not doubt tbac the present government of Gieat Britian, stimulated by the indignaiit sentiment of its Christian onstitueni'y, has been sincerely exerting its nflueuce at tbe porte to stop the fearbari ties in Armenia and to bring bout the long-promised reforms; but its relations with Russia and Frano.e in th levaut and the far east are of snch a strained ani delicate nature it darc B'it pre-s thee reforms to the necessary extreme without the concurrence of th.ise i owers. There is nothing which illusfrar.es moro vividly the couflicting interpsts fturt poliny nf E'igland and Rusgia 'ban the re ent conditions of iffairf at Constanti io e and in As a Mi íor. But for these internattonU j nlousie-ítbe Chr s ïan wo ld might to day h; il tbe expulsión of the Turks from Enrope and the est büphment of autorom ns priucipalitie-; under E jropean protecrion in Aia Minor, Syria and Palestino. Egypt, tiowever, had been improved in ifs condition by Eugland's policy toward it. He thought that the result of the Ch;n t-Japau war, inasmnob as it favored the latter, was a natural reeult, masmnoh as Japan was progresBive wbile China stood still. Th6 war forred the recoguition of Japan as a groit military power. The fature of Ciiiua looks ominous. Tbe statesman who O'iuld bost le.id the empire out of its d mculties, Li Hnng Chang, lost prestige during the war and his service as peace negot'ator added to his unpnpularity. The conservativo part seemed to domínate the covprnment at Pekín aud to have profited lirtle by the late adversities. While no readiness is being shown to construct ralroads, to introduce western methodsinthe aimy, the governrnent and business, still these changos must come iu time.throngh the prfpsure of European powers, the perseverancè of foreign commerce, and the teaching of the ruissionaries. If one judged only by present oonditions he miglit thmk that empire was destined to au early dismemberrnent. But tha Chinese aie a people not only great iu populaMon, but in intelectual capacity aud home geDtry. They have passed through many changes of dynasty, have been over run by foreign foes and torn by civil strife; bnt they have survived all changes and convulsiona. Whatever may be its politioal future, it may safely be predicted that the race will rem im practcally intact and an important factor not only in tbe affairs of Asia, but of the world. The speaker paid Great Briliau a tribute, saying tbat wherever the Britifh flag weut, orrïerly governm nt, honest taxaton and irupartial admininstration follnwed. Of the future extensión of the Uuited States, Mr. Foster said : Wbile I sliould -welcome a peaceful uuion with the neighbors to the north of us, becanse they are kindred in race and institutious, I am not a follower of the school whicb believes onr manifest destiny to be the ab.-orption of all the nations of tbs continent. The annexation of the Hawaiian landa should be made ouly because they are necesar to the defense of our Paoifio coast and in property, ownership and local control are already praotioally Amercan territory. There is for our country a great future and a glorious destiny, but it sould be an English speaking race, developing within our own domain the institutions of oor fathers, with no spirit of aggression or hostility towardg any other nation or peoplo oí th f lob