The Washington critic., 1885-06-27
THE HEATHEN CuINEE."

The policy of the United States for some
years past has been to put up as many
bars as possible to the freedom of CONNER
cial intercourse with foreign countries
Especially is this the case with regard to
China. In fact we have patterned q good
deal after the Chinese wall in our legisla-
tion, so as to let nothing out and nothing
in. But more sensible counsels are likely
to prevail in the future, and the time will
ultimately come when the least prosper
ous and least respected of the nations will
be the one that keeps herself most isolated
from the rest of the world.
II may be that China will come to re-
alize this fact as soon as the United States.
If so, all the better for both countries; but
the first practical advances toward the
cultivation of nearer and more profitable
acquaintance Will doubtless have to be
made by the American Government, and
as q step in this direction an admirable
beginning has been made by the selection
of Mr.. DENLY as our representative at
Pckin. Congressman Townshend of Illi-
nois, who knows him well, saysin recent
interview that he is "brainy, progress
i've man." the right kind of minister to
promote friendly feelings on the part of
China and pave the way to an export
trade that would be vastly beneficial to
the United States.
Mr.. Townshend considers the Chinese
mission the most important one we have
China is gradually coming to see theneces-
sity ofinternal improvements and ofprofit-
ing by the outside civilization which she
has hitherto despised. Instead of remain
ing content with the paltry twenty miles
ofrailroad which she now has, she will
want twenty thousand. Who better than
the United States can furnish her with
the necessary material-with rails, rolling
stock and other material, including eng-
neers? Who can better supply her armies
with improved equipments and munitions,
or build her bridges and telegraph lines
and steamboats,? Who better furnish her
with any and all of the foreign manufac-
tured goods of which she is vast consul
mer, but buys comparatively little in this
country? In the interview alluded to, Mr..
Townshend says:
So far as general trade goes, not great deal
can be done until we can sell China the goods
she wants cheaper than England, France and
Germany can. In some directions changes In
our tariff laws will be needed to accomplish
this, but our manufacturers have nothing ia
fear from Chinese competition, or the compe
tition Of the nations south of us on our own
continent, and, SO far as those countries go
therefore, our manufacturing interests may bS
relied on to support such notifications in oul
tariff laws as may be found necessary. With
cut waiting for that, the right kind of al
American minister can do much to prepare the
way for closer commercial relations. We have
always been the friends of China, except, per
haps, In the passage of the immigration act
and the Government Mt Pekin is quite indif
ferent TO that. 1t would much rather keep Its
subjects at home than have them come to this
country.
Much will therefore be expected of Mr.
Denby's mission. He will go, not only
with the olive-branch of peace IN hi:
hands, but with inducements TO trade il
his pocket, and will possibly be able t
convince the Chinese Government, that
notwithstanding radical differences in tn,
religion, traditions, social, educationa
and political ethics Of the two countries
its interests are, after all, inwoven will
our own, and both dependent upoI
greater facilities of international traffic.