Western Kansas world., 1886-03-27

be now and then some travellers who take
trips abroad, but these are necessarily
limited in their number. Hence, some
means must be adopted in order to place
international friendship on firm founda-
ton. And that by means is to encourage
international commerce. We're commerce
carried on to great extent, the people ol
both countries would have many oppor-
tunities to visit each others country, and
thus secure more intimate friendship
The direct benefit derived from ex-
change of mutual products need not be
stated here Now, turning our eye to
the present commercial relations of Japan
with the United States. we find that the
aggregate sum of the import and the ex-
ports reaches the average Of $15, 100000
year. This is not very small amount,
and, moreover, it is increasing every
year. We believe, however, that if a lit
tie more effort were made in the right di-
rection it would not be very difficult
work, even at the present stage of our
commerce, to double the amount OF
the $15, 600, 900 above mentioned, our ex-
ports to the United States amount to $13,-
100000, nine -tenths of which is tea ard
silk, and the United States imports to
Japan amount to $2,5OOO,O00, seven
tenths of which is petroleum. So, we
may say that the trade between America
and Japan, as it is now, is limited to the
exchange of only three different kinds of
products. 1t is also to be noticed that
for every S13 worth of goods which we
send to the United States, she sends lis
only $3.50 worth in return. There is no
reason why our exports to the United
States should be limited to tea and silk
only; we have many other products in
Japan, either raw or manufactured,
which may find large demand in the
American market. 1t requires only lit
tie extra effort on the part of our mer-
chants and manufacturers to open the
way for their expectation. Besidss, of
late, our countrymen are slowly over
coming their stay -at-home habit; and
now good many of them go to Ameri-
ca to work. Thus the tendency at pres
ent is that our commercial relations with
the United States will become much
closer hereafter; and we entertain not
little hope as to the future increase of
our exports. On the other hand, we are
sorry that the Americans seem to be per-
fectly contented with their present ex-
ports of only $2,5OO,OOO. Among all our
goods, that which represents
most money is cotton goods, of which the
chief source is England. We have heard
that the cotton manufacture in the United
States has shown great improvement
lately, and that in the South American
markets it has entered into competition
with the English manufacture, and is
likely to supersede it completely. In the
face of such news we are puzzled to know
why it is that no American manufacturer
has yet made an attempt to open new
field Of competition in Japan. Again, it
is universally admitted that the con-
venience and economy of the American
railroad make its adoption by such a |
country as Japan especially advisable.
Yet we have not heard of any American
enterprise regarding the construction of
railroads in Japan. In fact, there are
number of similar topics in which the
Americans may find very profitable bust
ness by paying little more attention to
he matter. Being very desirous that
perfect and permanent friendship should
Exist between the United States and
Japan, we can not at all be satisfied with
he present aspect of the commerce be-
;ween the two countries, and venture to
all the serious attention of both people
o this point