How will it affect other nations? How will it affect the peace of the world? What would be its result upon our own interests. upon our own trade. in Asiatic countries? Would it strengthen the policy that permits us to trade upon the same conditions with other civilized nations in China. Japan. and other Asiatic ports.. or would it tend to close them against American trade and against American commerce? The consequences of any such conduct are too fearful to contemplate. and could result only in untold disaster. Every instinct of humanity. every dictate of duty to the inhabitants of those islands. to civilization. to Christianity. to humanity. and to ourselves. forbid such a course of conduct.