The morning call., 1894-03-30
THE COMMERCIAL ILLUSION.

There is an intimation from Washington
| that a commercial treaty with China is now
under consideration. 1t IS TO follow the
! one-sided arrangement in relation TO Chi
eSe immigration now before the public.
The expectation probably is that It will in
some way bolster up the last mentioned
proposed compact. 1t is reported that
some of the foreign diplomats at Wash
ington make no secret of their opinions In
relation To Secretary Gresham's chef
d'euvre. They hold that we have been
badly overreacDed in il. We know that
TO be the fact on this coast. They will
probably break out into loud outlaws when
the mpaniop-piece is published.
There is nothing that catches the uHre-
flectng more completely han prospect of
increased commerce. No doubt that is
good thing in its way, but if there really
was any prospect for ii, 1t would not
justify the sacrifice of the Pacific States TO
get it. But any notions that may be pro-
pagated in that connection are wholly and
absolutely delusive. China cannot grant
US any exceptional advantages. Her
treaties with other nations under what is
called the favored nation" clause provide
that any concession of this kind made TO
any nation must inure to their benefit also
There is, therefore. nothing for us in any
scheme on that line which may be pro-
posed.
But Chinese officials know well enough
that keeping that sort of thing dangling
before us will blind the eyes of many of
our people to the real character of their
intrigues for their own advancement at
our expense. There was a treaty of COM
merce negotiated with China at the same
time as the treaty at Peking of 1880. which
gave the consent of China to the restriction
OF the Chinese invasion of the United
States. We never reaped any benefit from
it. and. in the nature OF things, could not
1t provided that we should prevent onr
citizens from engaging in the opium trade
in China, while China obligated herself to
do the same by her subjects in this coun-
try.
The outcome was that our citizens went
out of the opium battle In China, which at
once fell into the hands of Chinese ring.
Their retirement did not mean the export
of the drug to China by single ounce.
We all know how we'll the Chinese in this
country have abded by he compact We
are not aware that the Chinese Govern
ment ever took any Steps whatever to
make them relinquish H. Everybody,
however. knows that they are in regard TO
this commodity the most expert smugglers
the Cusiom-house authorities have to
watch. There is one chance only for a
commercial concession to the United
States, but it would not be OF such univer-
sal value as to justify any material sacri-
fee. 1t would greatly enrich some of our
milionaires. and the Pacific States and
the laboring element of the country will
naturally object in no very calm tones to
be traded of for their benefit
The possibility of a concession of this
kind arises from the fact that the article
is produced 10 no other nation but Russia.
a more favorable negotiation on the sub
Ject OF petroleum would greatly increase
The wealth of Mr.. Rockefeller, who does
not appear to be in need of much more
money, Senator Payne of Ohio and other
rich men. The Standard Oil COMPANY
has been at the bottom already of some of
our proposed treaties. The treaty of reci-
procity with Mexico. which bat for the
investigation made would have been con-
cuded. had no other object in view but
getting petroleum into that country free
at the expense of many of the most impor-
tant interests of California
If any new commercial treaty is nego-
tiated with China petroleum Will be sure to
crop out in it somewhere. The concession
that may be made in its favor will have
been the price which the Chinese man |
dealers are willing to pay for the chance |
which the treaty now in the hands of the |
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations |
gives them to secure their unholy traffic. |
now greatly restricted by our laws. 1t !
may turn out also if the scheme should be |
coDsummated that the oil trust, which, to |
advance its own interest. is likely to be as |
cheerfully willing TO DISPOSE of the Pacific |
States as Artemas Ward was of his wife's |
relatives. will in the end be taken In. |
Some catch will be found. for the nut
oil ring of China, an equally powerful |
organization, will not easily succumb.