ude. I desire to throw no blame on any of your officials
for their zeal in enforcing the laws. They simply do their duty. But I
want to point out to you that those laws do not bring about the results
intended by your legislators. Besides, their existence gives the
impression in our country that your people do not like our people. I
personally know that is not so, but I would like to see this disturbing
element removed by a modification of the laws. Once remove that
disturbing element and our people would welcome your Americans to China
with open arms.

As to the character of our people I can refer you only to those who have
been in China. I will refer you to the opinion of a man who for a great
many years was in China at the head of the Hong-Kong and Shanghai Bank.
After twenty-five years' service, he resigned, and on the eve of his
departure he was given a banquet by foreigners, not by Chinese, mind;
and in the course of his speech he went out of his way to speak of his
relations with Chinese merchants. As I remember, the substance of his
speech was that during all those years in China, he had had dealings
with Chinese merchants aggregating hundreds of millions of dollars, and
he said that, large as were those dealings, he had never lost a cent
through any Chinese merchant. That testimony was given unsolicited by a
man long resident in China, and shows indisputably the character of our
merchants.

Now that you have become our neighbor, and if you want to deal with
China, here is the class of people you have to deal with; and if you see
your way clear to modify the only obstacle that now stands in the way of
respectable Chinese coming here, and doing away with the false
impression in the minds of our people, I have no doubt that such a step
would redound to the benefit of both parties. If you look at the returns
furnished by your consuls or by our customs returns, you will find that
your trade in China has increased to a remarkable degree. China is
constructing a railway from north to south, and she is practically an
open door for your trade purposes. There is a great field for you there;
and with all our people favorably disposed toward you, I am sure you
will receive further benefits through the means of still further
increased trade. [Loud applause.]

WALTER WYMAN

SONS OF THE REVOLUTION

[Speech of Surgeon-General Walter Wyman at the banquet given in
Washington, D. C., February 22, 1900, by t