The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-23
Siam, India. China and JaPan-Interest
ing News from the East.

Siam, India. China and Japan-IMterest-
ing News from the East.
The intelligence from the East, which we
published yesterday in the letter of our Bang
kok correspondent and our extracts from
Asiatic papers, was of unusual interest. Our
correspondent shows that vast field for Ameri-
can enterprise is open in Siam. The country
exports rice, sugar, pepper, horns, hides and
other articles, and imports almost all its luxu-
ries and comforts. A good market for all
sorts of muslins, cloths, hardware, machinery,
arms, crockery, jewelry and miscellaneous ar
ticles exists there, and if properly developed
will prove very profitable The imports have
of our war the English have had monopoly
of the trade and its benefits. Before the war
the tonnage of our vessels engaged In COM
merce with Siam was within four thousand tons
of the English tonnage; but the rebellion, en-
couraged by English merchants, drove us out
of the business altogether. AS the time Is
approaching for . revision of the treaty
between this government and the Siamese,
our correspondent calls the attention Of our
commercial Glasses 70 the important interests
involved, and suggests chat an embassy Of
high character should be sent to see that our
commercial intercourse is put upon an equal
footing with that Of England and Of Russia.
His letter is exceedingly valuable TO those con-
cerned in commerce and manufactures, and we
hope that it will lead to SOME practical and
judici0us action in the mattor. -
From India we learn that the convention be-
tween England and Turkey relative to the
overland telegraph has been signed ct Con-
stantinople. Thus, while the Latin race under
the patronage OF the Emperor Napoleon, IL
making unsuccessful efforts TO establish Ger
man prince upon the ruins Of Mexican re.
public, tho Anglo-Saxon race ID pushing those
incstimable blessings-the telegraph and the
railroad-into the remotest parts Of the earth.
In such enterprises the Russians cordially join,
and that government has recently placed war
steamer at the service Of the Collins Com
pany, and has issued special instructions
to the Russian authorities to render
the company every possible assistance
In the same budget comes the intelligence
that Sir Rutherford Alcock, the English Am.
bassador has consented to ask permission
from the Emperor Of China for the laying Of q
railroad from Canton to Pekin. This will en-
tirsly revolutionize the Celestials, and do
more to civilize them than dozen wars or
million missionaries. A railroad is now In
actual operation in Turkey, and our CORES
pondent there recently sent us q graphic de-
scription of its route. More singular still, n
street railroad il being built at Calcutta, and
the cars for II were manufactured In this city,
Of the American pattern, and inscribed In the
Hindostanee language, but in the American
style. Japan sympathizes in these new move
mcnts, though in q very limited degree; but
the opening Of two new ports on the terms
Of the existing tariff, although effected by
the display Of a strong English and French
force, proves that the idea of Oriental exclI-
siveness is being rapidly dissipated. In q
word, all through the East the indications Of
magnificent change for the better ore readily
observable and as this country RECEIVERS from
the natural exhaustion of long and gigantic
war, and takes a more active part In Asiatic
enterprises, the developments will be most ex-
traordinsry. This is another argument If any
be needed, for the immediate pacifcation and
reorganization Of the country upon President
Johnson's plan. We have just lost four years
Of commercial progress by the war, and,
although we have gained compromising advan-
tages, still we cannot now afford 10 waste
valuable time by keeping hs6 Of the nation
out Of the Union TO crafty radical theorists
and fanatical politicians.
Has Our Mercantile Marine Actually