The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-01-11

The n. Y. correspondent Of the Phil
adelphia Ledger thus refers to the action
Of the Cabinet meeting on the Sd instant,
which decided 70 open negotiations with
China for modification of the Burlingame
treaty, in accordance with concurrent
resolution Of Congress adopted at its last
session
The reported action Of the Cabinet, under
the instruction Of Congress, in favor of ter
minating or modifying the Burlingame Treaty,
with a view Of restricting or wholly putting
an end to Chinese emigration to the United
States, excites much uniavorable remark
among such Of our merchants as have extern
sIve commercial connections with that coun-
try. The apprehension is that, If we insist
upon any such modification, the Chinese will
nut an end to the treaty entire, retaliate upon
our counirymen in China, and deprive us of
the advantages we already enjoy as traders at
the treaty ports. This apprehension seems
to be founded upon certain observations some
Of the Chinese Embassy let fall in the
course of conversation on the subject with
some Of these merchants, during their recent
soiourn in this city. Any trouble of this
kind, at time when our commercial rivals,
England Germany and France, are straining
every nerve to extend their commerce in that
quarter would be looked upon as great
misfortune.
LISA subject Of very grave doubt wheth-
er our intercourse with China has not
been, on the whole, injurious. Here aud
there merchant engaged in Chinese trade
may have been pro6ted, but hundreds of
American mechanics have been reduced
to poverty, and the very bread taken out
Of their mouths by the Chinese, who work
for mere pittance, and live in squalor
and filth in a condition scarcely above the
brute creation, to say nothing of their
lewdness and idolatry.
The same correspondent makes mention
Of the favorable effects Of resumption which
already begin to manifest themselves in
that city:
There are unmistakable sigus already that
the resumption of specie payments will, ere
long, attract foreign eaplthi 10 tue 0nlteN
States for investment in variety Of CONNER
cial and financial enterprises, that were deem
ed too risky when the finances Of the country
were in such condition as to make timpos-
sible to tell froNi day to day what dollar
was worth. The movement may be said TO
have already commenced in the establishment
here of an agency Of the famous Netherland
Trading Society, which is doing business on
paid up capital Of Sl4,000,0O0 gold. This
society is the agent of the Dutch Government
in the sale and transportation of the produce
OF the Colonies and has been in operation
since the year 1924. The King names the
managers and the stockholders the directors.
Its agencies are to be found not in the Dutch
possessions alone, but in China, Japan, and
the Philippine Islands, Ceylon and British
India, and among the products it handles are
coffee, sugar, rice, tea, indigo, hides, spices,
pepper, gutta percha, india rubber, tin horns,
heeswax, tobacco, sandal wood, &c. Its
commercial operations, therefore, take a very
wide sweep. Its financial operations will in
clude the negotiation of loans, the emission
of bills of credit and other banking opera
tons. This is the first time the Netherlands
Society has established an agency on this side
Of the Atlantic, and the fact is important
(apart from the inspiring influence of specie
payments, as showing the Western tendency
Of European commercial capital and CONNER
eial adventure.