The New York herald., 1868-05-13
China--Its Present and Future Relations
With tho Outside World.

Chiaa--Iss Present and Future Relations
With the Outside World.
The leading commercial nations of the world
are rvalling one another in their efforts to
obtain the largest share, or, at least, an impor-
tant part of the trade with China The full
and interesting letters from our correspondents,
which we published recently, as well as the
news which we are receiving every few days
from other sources, show that this is the great
prize that all are contending for. England
strains all the energies Of her commercial
power, sends her agents and missionaries
to China and bullies and wheedles in turn the
Chinese for this purpose; France, In true
French style, wants to get a military footing
and influence in the empire; Prussia Is anxious
to establish colonies and naval stations al
Chusan, FOrmosa or some other port; Russia
is endeavoring to increase her influence, and Il
pushing her trade in the north and west oA
China; and they are all watching with intense
interest the rapidly growing commerce. trade
and influence of the United States. The growth
of California and our other States and Terrific
ries on the Pacific side of the Continent, the
establishment of regular steamship communal
cation between the Continents Of Asia end
America, and the acquisition of the Russiaa
territory in the North Pacific, bringing us near
to Asia, have given us every advantage over
our rivals in geographical point of view.
These things, together with the peaceful and
liberal manner in which we have conducted
our commercial and international relations
with China, have inspired confidence In the
Chinese and have led them to regard us a.
their best friends and nearest neighbors-
Hence we see the motive for the appointment
of one of our own citizens, Mr.. Burlingame. 40
tho ambassador of the most extraordinary mis-
sion that ever left Asia. But all this Is only the
beginning Of the wonderful developments that
must soon follow in our intercourse with China.
In the course of year or two one Pacific Rail-
or three others, bringing in . few days the
trade and travel of the Pacific coast and
Asia to Now York, and from Now York to
Europe. We shall soon have, too, the
magnetic telegraph across the Pacific.
by the way Of Alaska and The
Aleutian Islands. probably, to bring w
In hourly communication with q part of the
world containing nearly half the Inhabitants Of
the globe. The United States will become
commercially, as they are geographically, tho
centre of the world, and New York and San
Francisco will be the greatest commercial
cities. The Pacific railroads, steamship COM
munication and the telegraph will solve the
~ al s,.<o
tween the populous countries of the East and
the civilized nations of the West and hero
after the isthmus routes Of Panama or Sues
will become of little Importance comparatively.
The bulk of tho trade from Asia TO Europe ~
well as to America will pass over and be
transacted across this Continent.
The appointment Of Mr.. Burlingame a.
Minister from China to the great Powers il one
of the significant signs Of the times and of the
future, and the appointment Of Mr. j. Ross
Browne by our government ~ Minister to
China in the place of Mr.. Burlingame, may be
regarded as another. Mr. Buringamc IL
Western Yankee-that is, he was born In the
West and educated in Boston, and has all the
shrewdness, tact and go-ahead qualities OF
both sections. No man knows better now 20
promote the interests Of China aud hia
native country at tho same time nr.
Browne is an Irish Yankee; born In
Ireland, raised in Kentucky and ina
West, and q citizen Of California from the earit'
est settlement of that State. He is man OF
enlarged and extraordinary experience, has q
practical mind which looks constantly to ma
terial development and progress, and from hs
study of geology, mneralogy and explorations
he can tell the Chinese all about their mineral
wealth and how to develop it. He will show
them the advantages of steam power, of raA-
roads, of the telegraph and of all the Yankee
improvements in labor-saving machinery for
manufacturing, as well as the improved imple-
ments for husbandry and domestic use He ia
now preparing, we understand, to take out uu-
merous models for this purpose In word,
/ n 4. III A.. ts