The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-30

Our correspondence from Annoy, published on
Thursday, shows that the great Chinese empire
is undergoing important changes, both in the
interior and with the outside world. It feels
the progress of the age like every other nation.
Still, the influence of European and American
civilization has only penetrated the outer sur
face; there yet remains vast field to explore.
The first important step toward breaking down
the barriers of Chinese exclusveness was tho
British and French war against the empire and
the treaties that consequently followed. Thus
good has come out Of evil. Tho war; in
strictly moral point of view, was an iniquitous
one. It was a war to force lucrative trade in
an article very injurious and demoralizing
upon an unwilling and Independent govern
ment 1t was the opium trade which took the
British and French forces to China, though
there was behind this undoubtedly the higher
object of bringing the populous and exclusive
empire into closer contact with the civilized
world. However, we will not quarrel with
the British and French about the mo-
rality or justice of their gunpowder
arguments, since they have been the
means Of opening to us and the rest Of the
world several of the most important ports Of
China, and bringing all into closer relations
with both the people and government Of that
country.
Although the Chinese government was not
able to exclude opium from the country, it
appears that it imposes q heavy duty Of
seventy-ave or eighty per cent on the article.
The greater part of this tax, which is called
"lekim duty'-the meaning of which term as
used among the Chinese is aptly "squeezs'-
is ostensibly war tax, imposed for the purpose
Of affording means to crush the rebellion which
IA still formidable, and which seems to be
chronic. 1t Is said this onorous tax is Gripping
trade generally. But this does not appear
to be an excessively heavy duty on an
article Of such character. There are many
foreign articles imported into civilized
countries on which the duty is higher, par
ticularly those of luxury and those which have
something Of demoralizing character. But
the truth is, the export trade Of China is so
large that unless opium be largely imported
that country would drain other countries of
their specie to pay the balance.
This state Of things or condition Of trade
with China may be suggestive to US Americans.
Can we not supply the Chinese with something
silks and other things taken from thems No
country has such q variety of products, and no
people are moro inventive and enterprising,
and we ought to he able to produce or manu-
facture such things as John Chinaman may
need. We are in the best position for doing
this. The Chinese, comparatively speaking,
are our neighbors; for they are much nearer to
us than to any Of the other great commercial
nations The Pacific Ocean il wide, II
is true, wider than Che Atlantic; but
our steamship communication With China
brings that country almost a. near to US ~
Europe And 1t may not be many years before
the magnetic telegraph, either by way Of the
Aleutian Islands or Japan, will bring us IS
near together a. Europe and America have
been brought What we say with reference TO
China IL equally applicable to japan. The
people Of these two Asiatic empires are much
alike, and tho character and wants Of the trade
With both are similar. Not only should the
United Shtos become their best market, but It
should be sble TO furnish them with more and
. greater variety Of articles in return than any
other county. The nearer one nation Is to
another the. greater are the facilities and
advantages ~ trade. We, therefore, should
prepare q elves for acquiring the greatest
amount o1ftrade with these popdlous and rich
countries Of Asia. Both Congress and our enter
prising merchants should turn their attention 10
this important matter. The British and French
opened some Of the ports with their cannon,
but We may open more ports and penetrate
he interior by our enterprise end friendly