The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-09-03
From the Ne1o York Herald.
The Suez cana!-The Future Of the East,


The completion of the suez Canal, which
will soon be at hand, will undoubtedly
mark new era for the prominent Asiatic
countries. Besides furnishing them with
increased commercial facilities it will give
them the benefit of intercourse with the
higher types of Western civilization.
They will acquire new methods of thought,
new means and manners of living; and,
although the change may he apparently
slow, it will be none the less radical and i'm
portant. Themain field Depreciation as to
the probable results of the canal has been
hitherto confined to China and India. In
the last named region the change will not
be so apparent; for, beyond increasing
the amount of business, it will probably
do little, as the country is so thoroughly
under English control. In China the effect
will be greater, and the changes that it
will work will be more apparent; for the
Chinese are now for the first time disposed
to reap the benefit of Western experience.
A great movement is taking place in the
Flowery Empire, and its surplus popula-
ton is eagerly seeking an outlet. A liber-
al policy has been inaugurated by its gov
eminent in its intercourse with foreign
Powers; and they, in their turn, following
the lead of the United States, have at last
commenced to treat China in manner
that her size and importance demand. We
have seen the last of "opium wars and of
the old "gunboat policy" The Chinese
are ready to accept the teachings of modern
science, and machinery in that fruitful
land will work wonders in the way of
production, and will save the large cost
which the world has so far been paying
for the transportation of her raw material.
The Suez Canal will, however, work
wonders in the hitherto partially unknown
and comparatively undeveloped Malay
Archipelago. The immense islands of Ii
NOR and Bomeo and the rich fields OF ia
va will feel the impetus that largely in
creased trade cannot fail of giving them.
The Celebes, the Philippines, all the islands
that compose this immense group, are
thickly populated, and the large revenues
that the Dutch draw from those that are
under their control show that the Malays
if properly treated, can and will become
useful citizens. The Sea Dyaks in Suma-
ira and some of the other islands arc given
to piracy, it is true; but this can be sup.
pressed and their energies turned to the
development of the valuable fisheries that
are found in that region. The Land
Dyaks, although formerly addicted to head
hunting to an unpleasant degree, can and
have been utilized, and in many places
cultivate the soil, which in this favored
cline is wonderfully productive Large
coal fields exist throughout the group, tin
and other valuable minerals abound,
and gold, which is found throughout the
neighboring Australasian group, can GER
tainly be found among these islands. We
have seen the success that Sir James Brooke
had in this part of the world, and there is
no doubt that under wise management and
with market within reach these hitherto
only partially developed regions can be
the most wonderful manner.
If the example of the Dutch be followed,
as shown in their management of Java, the
happiest results may be looked for with