Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-02
standing the confident assertion OF treas
ury officials few weeks ago that at last
the revenue would equal expenses.
Our 0pportu

whether or not there has been a secret
treaty between Russia and China, and
whether or not japan, discouraged in
attempts to obtain offensive alliance with
England, is making terms with RusFis,
England has reasons for alarm. II the
above alternatives have not yet been
brought to issue, and there are reasons for
thinking they have there is extreme PROB
ability that England's commercial and
through that a sort OF political control IN
the Orient are menaced- When the ex-
tent Of this British influence is appre-
elated il is easy to understand why Eng
land should be very solicitous to main
tain il. In 1898 the amount of trade
with China participated in by foreign
coYntrics was 254,17s 22S taels. OF this
Great Britain, directly, had 80 s23, 9oI
taels. and through her dependency, Hong
Kong. had 1879, Is 223 taels and through
India 10, l75, 03l taels. The trade con-
trollcd by the United States Is less than
that bet ween India and China, while the
trade between both Russia and her Asiatic |
possessions adjoining China and the
latter country amounted to only IL, 26h |
7i3 tacls. England in 1oil obtained the |
ccssion of Hong Kong, formerly an IN
tegraI part OF China and now pays the
governor, Sir William Robinson, OF this
dependency s32, 900 per annum. Situated
at the mouth of the Canton river, its i'm
portance as q ira de centre for treat
Britain with the Orient can scarcely be
oyerestmated. Its volume of trade dem
onstrates this beyond doubt and the in
crease of 81 039 in its population during |
the past ten years indicates Its growing |
Importance In this respect, while its
value to Great Britain AS base of naval |
operations Is appreciated by all the world. |
England has thus placed herself in posi- |
ton to control the trade with China and |
has made the most of her opportunities in
commercial sense, even to compelling
China to receive the opium of India. No
DeOpit III but WOi bCbbCl hpFiSSiueo WA
resources of China than do the English
They know that the coal fields of China
surpass those of Europe, that her iron
deposits are immense They realize that
the development of these resources and
Chinas ability to produce certain manu-
features requiring only unskilled labor
threaten British industry, would cut off
one of Great Britains best markets and
under the control Of rival nation would
be disastrous to her fondest ambitions.
And yet what right has England to say
what China, an autonomous nation,
shall or shall not do in the way of
treaties that do not threaten British pos
sessions? Surely she has no right to de-
clare that China shall take no steps that
may lessen British trade with her Eng
fish organs have sneercd at the Monroe
doctrine in America, and English
diplomats are threatening it, and yet she
affairs without the shadow of right and
solely for mercenary reasons. By her in
science in tho Venezuelan affair and
through the sneers of the British organs
she has alicnated any sympathy that her
blood relations in the United States
might otherwise have shown her in her
present dilemma. 1t may be that Lord
Salisbury had in mind diplomatic efforts
in South America, when he said in Il
speech Wednesday evening; My mouth
is rather tightly closed upon foreign
affairs, but if you are asked to judge the
foreign policy of the government I exhort
you to remember that we Inherited that
policy We did not originate it, but for
the sake of having a continuity of policy
in the face of foreign nations We expected
to do our best to carry it loyalty to an
issue.
That England is opening her eyes to the
fact that in the grave problem facing her
interests in the east she finds herself with
out au ally, may be surmiscd from this