The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-11-29
The Position of Affairs in China.

To the Editor of the North China Daily .Nelrs:
By force of events. Peking. the capital of
China, has become the open field Of diplomatic
rivalry. Affairs in that city have taken the same
tOuTnUre as in ConstantinOple Ii is so to speak
a permanent tournament for the supremacy be-
tween France, England, Russia and Germany
The United States, since the death of their ever
lamented Minister Burlingame, have conducted
their affairs at the Chinese capital in a quiet but
dignifed way, well becoming 10 a Republican
form of Government.
Germany, of all the great Powers, is the last
who has made a treaty with China, but she is to-
day the most exacting. the most menacing. The
German Minister at Picking has taken the lead in
the most important question of the day in
China, viz, to have abolished the hkiR (war taxi
upon merchandise carried from the sea-ports into
the INTERIOR which tax is very detrimental to
foreign trade by 30 doing. Germany has cOnsti-
tuted herself the champion and defender OF the
foreigners and OF foreign interests IN this quarter
Of the world. IL takes g Minister with strong
sentiment of duty and Of grasp of mind, for at
once taking hold Of a good opportunity with the
aim Of bringing his own nation prominently be-
fore the eyes Of the 0rientals.
China is on the eve Of accepting the benefit of
modern innovations, and she gives unmistakable
evidence at the present time, especially in the
North, at Tientsin, the principal seaport of the
metropolitan province, where the problem of
China is agitated, and where 1t will be solved IN
accordance with Northern China ideas under the
sagacious direction Of the two ablest sons of the
Chinese Empire; one, the foremost statesman in
the country by name Ii Hung-chaDg, the
Viceroy of the province; the other, the most en-
terprising man among the Chinese, the Hon. Mr..
Tong King-sing, the promoter and president of
the China Merchants Steamship Navigation
Company.
Already from Kaiping, where exist extensive
mines of coal, Of which Mr.. Tong King-sing is
the president, a railroad and a telegraph line
touching at TientsIn and reaching to Taku, the
outlet Of the river Peiho in the gulf of Petchilli
have been projected, the distance being about
40 miles. These two lines will undoubtedly be
the forerunners Of many pther lines as well as of
other developments through the whole empire.
In all the principal ports oi China, the United
States have as Consuls the right men in the right
places. In HongkOng, Colonel Loring, of Massa-
chusetts in Shanghai, the Honorable d. H.
Bailey, of Ohio and at Tientsin, the centre of
modern Chinese progress, Judge o. N. Denny, of
Oregon, a gentleman like his two colleagues. OF
culture, good address, adrOitness, tact, benevO-
lent and adequate manners, fit for persuading and
winning the confidence, respect and esteem of the
Chinese officials and people. Since his arrival at
Iientsin 1t has been his good fortune To urge the
immediate Development of the mineral wealth of
China in such a way a. To meet with the approx
al OF ii. l.. the NIcerOy, and 1t Is through the Ell
forts and at the suggestion Ot Mr.. Consul Denny,
in concert with the worthy American Nice-COn-
sui and Interpreter, Mr.. w. n. PethIck, OF New
yin thht tut hiC6IOy Ii IiuuS-CudhS Has COu-
tTacred with Mr.. Arnold Hague, of New York, an
able geolOgist and mining expert. for the purpose
OF prospecting the gold, silver and other mines in
the North Of China.
MIR. Hague IL at present in TientsIn, and will
soon take his departure for the mining regions.
Tie progressive Cinnamon have decided to
develOpe tie resources of their iatherland.
hen the different lines of railroads and tele-
graph are Ia course of construction, the mines of
coal, iron and other minerals are open IN different
sections OF China, and the immense traffic of the
interior which - the vital artery of a nation, as
sisted by the means of quick and direct cOmmuni-
cations, quick and direct transpOrtatIOns, has
reached it, full extent, then the emigration of
Cinnamon 10 California and elsewhere will stop.
the wOuld-be emIgrants themselves (tOr every
Cinnamon is a thinker and keen UbSeryer) will
perceive that their native land enjoying the bene-
fit Of modern innovations, has the capacity of CIV
ing work and food to all the. countless millions of
her population.
IL good mines are found to exist in the province
OF Chilli, then the wise course Of the Viceroy
will be seen and approved. and mining will be
carried into all provinces where the precious
metal exists then railroads, telegraphs, postal
system, cart roads, and every kind of public
works will certainly follow. In which event.
China will, for many years to come, be in need Of
skilled labor and machinery, and the United
States will furnish their share Of both, then the
tide of emigration will turn. no more from the
far East to the far West, but rice UerSa. Such
measures will be the best abrogatiOn OF the Bur
lingame Treaty. CELsO CESAR MORENO.
Peking, October, 1873.