The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-02
steamers to China-Prospects of the Chimes
Trade.


Steamers to Chlna-Prospects of the Chinese
Trade.
Mr.. Kennedy's report on the establishment of
line of mail steamers to China is q step in
the right direction. He warmly advocates the
measure, and, without venturing to suggest the
particular mode in which government aid should
be applied, points out the paramount necessity
of developing and expanding our trade with
China by some such enterprise. One hint of
his has, we think, the merit of both originality
and justice. He argues that the introduction
Of American tobacco would be welcomed rs
boon by the Chinese among whom it might
supersede that terrible scourge of the lower
classes-opium. Recent travellers bear out this
supposition; native Chinese tobacco is very
weak, poor stuff and it is not unreasonable to
presume that it would be gladly exchanged for
the fragrant produce of our Southern States
! Our readers are aware that the imports of
opium into China are exclusively in the hands
| Of the English, who sell the poison to the
traders at the seaports in defiance of every law
of morality and fair dealing. Besides the enor-
nous profit arising from the Illicit traffic, the
! opium is valuable to Great Britain in another
/ point of view, viz: by countcrbaancing the
large export Of tea from China. Without It the
British would be compelled to export specie.
/ as we are doing at the present time. What
is required for the extension of our Chinese
trade, is some. article of import which would
answer the purposes that opium does for the
British, and operate to diminish the balance
of trade now against US. Tobacco seems
as likely to meet ready demand as any
other of our domestic exports. We could
rely unhesitatingly On the encouragement
Of the Chinese authorities whose weak
ness alone induces them to submit to the
systematic infractions of the laws of the EN-
pire by the British vessels; and, once intro
duced to the notice of the people, the consump-
ton would probably be enormous-so great
indeed, that nothing but our inexhaustible re-
sources for producing the weed could be ex-
pected to supply it, We're a steady export
trade in this one commodity fairly established.
other produce and manufactures would speedily
follow. 1t is on the demand to arise in China
for our manufactured cottons. hardware. and
our calculations of the future magnitude of
our Pacific trade. These must, ultimately. be-
come the staples of our Western EXPORTS TO
these, if we are not widely mistaken. will be
due tie rise and greatness Of cur Pacific States.
But much remains to be done before they can
be introduced to any considerable extent
One notable step, as we have said, would be
4tan Iful..a mi g e. g.
San Francisco to China. By thus attaining
speed. safety and regularity, great additional
inducements would be held out to merchants
to ship to The Asiatic PORTS and many articles
which cannot risk q three months voyage
could then be safely sent forward on a
venture. The British monopoly Of the Asia
tic trade-for We may call it uch, our
sixteen millions or thereabouts per annum
bearing no proportion to the vast imports from
China to Great Britain--is as much due to the SUI
periority of their means of communication with
the East as to the effect oftberAsatic conquests
Wealthy companies, strongly supported by the
government. have established lines Of first class
steamers on the route, and. as matter o.
course, the bulk Of the traffic has followed them
Why should not we follow their example? Our
port Of San Francisco is about four thousand
miles nearer to Shanghai than London. and the
route is more direct and less liable to Interrupt
ton; yet. New DIRK merchants invariably cor
respond with their agents in China via England
am Marseilles.
If six or more American steamers Of 3 800
tong G. 'ch were placed on the line, the case
would be exactly reversed Even in allowing
twenty-five days for crossing the Pacidc-which
is, we think, five days too much-letters from
Shanghai would reach London via San Fran
cisco in from ten to fifteen days less time than
is averaged by the British overland mail route.
The ultimate effect Of the establishment Of such
Line would w 70 make the UGted States