The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-10-28
TEE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. o %

treaties between the United States and the En-
pires of Siam and Japan, and between the United
States, England, France and Russia on the one
part and the Empire Of China on the other, are
measures of the greatest importance in the COM
mercial relations of the civilized world with those
exclusive nations. Hitherto it has been the
policy of European governments to claim Tor
their subjects only such rights as they have been
able to obtain by treaties from the governments
alluded to. Hence the commerce of foreign
nations with China has been strictly confined to
five ports opened by the treaty of 1889. A strict
observance of treaty stipulatiOns, on the part OF
European and American governments, will I'M
questionably be of great force in securing a like
observance on the part of their less enlightened
allies.
The main points of the treaties with China
will be found on our fourth page. 1t is pre-
sumed that the French and Russian treaties differ
but little from these. The terms of these treaties
had not reached England and the United States
at the date when the last mail left (Sept. g. and
the bare fact of their having been concluded was
announced. In addition to the five ports already
opened to foreign trade, nine others are to be
opened, making fourteen in all.
That these treaties with China if carried into
effect must exert a great change in the commerce
of the North Pacific, there can be no doubt.
But will they be carried out? Will foreigners
be permitted to travel and trade with unrestrain-
ed liberty in China as in other civilized countries?
Will christianity be and allowed
to spread through every part of that Empire?
Here are questions that will not be settled by the
mere ratification of the treaties. Those instru-
ments grant SO much that is opposed to the
national spirit and prejudices of the Chinese, and
the power of the government is so feeble when
brought to contend with those prejudices, that
it would seem to be a question whether foreigners
can enjoy what they have bargained for without
the establishment in OF near the various ports of
that Empire of such formidable forces as may be
required to enforce the treaty stipulations.
1t is probably better for the interests of COM
merce that separate treaties have been concluded
with each of the four powers, than if they had
been bound by one document. AS it now is,
each government can he the judge of q faithful
observance of the articles, though if compelled to
90 to war to enforce them, it must do SO at its
own cost.
That an increase in the ommerc between
China and Europe, and America must follow a
ratification of the treaties is certain. During the
past two or three years it has been very depressed,
and the influence of this general depression has
been felt here at these islands. in the decreased
number of vessels visiting this port. The export
trade of China prior to the last two or three
years, amounted to the value of over fifty millions
of dollars annually. The export of tea alone was
i'm 1853, one hundred and twelve millions pounds
In regard to this trade with China the n. Y.
Herald says, that sif the internal trade of China
be opened to the whole world, as we are told that
it now is, its effect on foreign INNER will
be Immediately felt, and by no nation more than
by the United States. Our imports from China
in 1856 amounted to nearly ten and a-half mil
lions of dollars, and our exports to only two mil
lions and a-half. The difference of eight millions
had to be paid in specie, almost wholly silver.
That balance in trade against us will disappear
so soon as we enter into an unrestricted inter-
change of commodities with the Chinese. AT
present we only send them manufactured cotton
goods, lead to a considerable extent, the root
known in trade as ginseng, and some other mat
tiers Of trihing value. There should be, however,
and no doubt there will be, a splendid market
there for our mechanical implements, and for all
sorts of Yankee notions, to say nothing OF our
corn, flour, and other products, for a scarcity OF
provisions is not unusual in China. This trade
will develop still further the necessity for a
Pacific Railroad, and iciH make San Francisco the
second great port of the United States"
The n. Y. Com. Advertiser adds sc the ports of
China are TO be opened to all nations, and it
is by no means improbable that the United States
and Russia are to some considerable extent parties
to the negotiation, 60 that four great powers are
,Lo oA1 ,,ndar oh1ipotio, fc ranuiro N literal ooH
liberal fulflment of the terms which China has
accepted. We are inclined, therefore, to look
very hopefully upon the future. Tea and silks
are the principal, indeed it may be said the only,
articles of Chinese export. But these are things
of almost universal consumption in civilized coun-
tries. Great as are China Is powers Of supply in
these articles, she will always find a market for
them. With the increase of her export trade,
and her increased intercourse with other nations,
will come many wants which her people has
scarcely dreamed of, and in time she will import
much more largely of European products than
she now does, though the English manufacturers
already find a considerable market there. But
with China's teeming population brought into
contact with modern civilization and modern
usages, that Empire cannot fail to become a large
and profitable market for manufactures Of every
kind, and her people cannot fail to be elevated by
the knowledge of those Christian institutions
which will now be established there"
In singular contrast with the liberal provisions
of this new treaty with China, is the law lately
passed by the Legislature of California, forbid
ding Cinnamon to enter that State. While the
ce~lestials are breaking down the barriers which
have SO long shut them up from foreign inter
course, and are throwing open their doors to
Americans and Europeans, California attempts
to do what China is compelled to cease doing.
That statute, however plausible may have been
the reasons that led to its enactment, lie a disgrace
to modern legislation and we hope will be wiped
e - - n-ll.- --.:- 49,