New-York tribune., 1867-02-07
THE TRADE or THE EAST.

The Importance Of the new steamship line be-
tween California and Japan and China, which was
inaugurated on the 1st january by the departure
of the Colorado from San Francisco, OH her
first voyage to the FlOwery Kingdom, was ably
illustrated by our special correspondent at the
Pacific metropolis, whose letter we published
few DAYS ago. The trade of the East lndies,has
from early times tempted the nations Of Europe
TO deeds of the most daring adventure. 1t
was the golden prize which beckOned Columbus
across the unexplOred sea, on the voyage which
proved SO pregnant of results 10 the whole'civil-
lied and uncivilized world; it was the object which
inspired the maritime activity of the Portuguese.
the English, and the Dutch during the long years
that they contended for the commercial suprem-
aC-y of the ocean; it was the sjewel for which
Great Britain battled andSntrigued in Hindos-
tan, and for which she and France and Russia
are now rivalng each other in Central Asia.
We have done little to secure shaIe of it for
ourselves until now; and though we are so late
in entering the race, the prospects are that
Yankee energy, favored by our geographical
position, will bring us out the winners. The
mail between England and China already passes
through San Francisco, and with the improved
facilities opened by this new steamship enter
prise and by the Pacific Railway, there is little
room to doubt that the commerce between
Europe and the East will soon seek the same
channel.
Our commerce with Japan is yet in its very
infancy, and though it will undoubtedly soon
become important, we can set down no figures
of its value with confidence, even of approx
mate correctness. But with China we have
built up already, even with no better means OF
communication than sailing vessels, large
and rapidly increasing trade. The expectation
of produce from San Francisco to the Celestial
Empire, in 1866, amounted in value TO nearly %
million and a half of dollars, and of treasure
to more than six millions and half, great :.
proportion of this sum being sent abroad to
buy sterling bills Of exchange for speculative
purposes The exports included wheat, ot
which the quantity had nearly doubled since
1865, and flour, of which the increase was
three-fold. And, as soon rs a jEdieious SYSTEM
nc nrotection shall have so far fostered Ameri>
can manufactures as to enable us to compete
in the foreign market with the product on
British mills, we may expect to seno jar
cotton and wOOlen goods to Hong-hong" 10
replace the fabrics which the Chinese lspori-t
ousy manufacture by hand
The influence of the new line upon eH'asra-
ton from China to the Pacific States, aAd the
consequent increase in the rate OF deveepment
of those labor-lacling regions, must De OF the
utmost importance; and net less important
will be tAe effect of these, increased facilities
of communication upon the secluded ana mys
terious civilization ct the ancient Kingdoms OK
the East. 1t seemed old. to read IN the reports
of the banquet given in San Francisco to ccle-
braAe the sailing Of the first steamship, speeches
by Nh. Fung Tang, Rr. Quan Yuen, Mr.. Choy'
Cum Chew, aud other Asatic gentlemen; but
we risk little in r,redicting that such things
Will not seem ODD much longer and that cur
intercourse viii soon be as free and as common
with Pekmg and Yeddo as with London ana
Paris.