The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-03
OUR TRADE
RELATIONS
WITH CHINA
Rev. G. w. Chalfant
Explains.
CAPABLE OF VAST EXPANSION
ALREADY SECOND oNLYTo THAT
OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Much Greater Even Now Than Most
Americans Realize-Probable
Cause of the Emperor's
Death.
CAPABLE OF VAST EXPANSION
ALREADY SECOND ONLYTO THAT
OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Americans do not begin to realize the
extent of their present trade relations
with Northern China and the possibilities
for It's future growth said DR.. G.. w.
Chalfant last evening. DR.. Chalfant and
his wife have just returned from an ex-
tended tour of the Orient, whittier they
went to visit their two sons, who are
laboring in the missionary field there. Dr.
Chalfant is leading Presbyterian divine
Of Pittsburg and will resume his journey
home tomorrow.
"I penetrated the interior of China much
further than the average European trav-
eler does" he continued "and l was sur
prised at the immense quantities of Amer
lean goods that were steadily being car
ried far inland on the backs of donkeys.
Cotton goods and oil are the staple COM
modities. though there is large and con-
stantly increasing demand for American
wire nails, which the natives find are
much superior to the English make.
China must expand or her inevitable
fate will be disruption. In either event
the United States is certain to profit i'm
mensely If proper steps are taken to fos-
ter trade relations Russian aggression
in the north and German greed for terri
torial expansion further south is being
bitterly opposed by England, In which
she has the support of Japan and the
United states. This is true. for our Min
he in full sympathy with England 8
position.
You will see that If the report of the
Emperor's death proves true, the Ameri-
can feet at Manila, large portion of
1t, will be dispatched to Hongkong in
short order. Dewey's victory has made
and instead of regarding the American
navy lightly, as they formerly did, they
now regard it with the greatest respect,
1T is my belief that China Will expand;
the DOwaRpr E1rnDrQSS is Snr9WQ
enough to see that the only way TO pre-
vent the partitioning of the empire
down the barriers that have walled 1t in
from the markets of the world in the
past;
ally ransacking the stores of Picking for
English literature. which he delighted to
to ride bicycle while 1 was in Picking.
Moreover, he was preparing to take a
railway journey some distance away, a
special train of three cars being in course
Of construction for him. AS no sovereign
has left the walled city for centuries 1t
is easily to be seen what stir this has
created.
''1f his Majesty be really dead. think 1t
will be shown that he committed official
suicide. which is the proper course to pur-
sue in China when any high official finds
he has lost the confidence of his people,
1t was due primarily, l believe, to his
decree abolishing the. essay as the test
treatise on chemistry. From time i'm
memorial 1t has been the custom for ap-
plicants for scholarship to prepare an es-
say, taking extracts from the Chinese
classics, not one of which is less than
1900 years old. These extracts were strung
together from memory, and on their ac-
ceptance depends the granting of scholar
ships. These scholarships entitle the
holder TO assume office and, in fact raises
him to highest rank. No wonder, then,
that the Emperors decree doing away
with the essay and substituting a treatise
on chemistry caused trouble. Nobody in
China knows anything about chemistry
and to fulfill the requirements of the de-
cree necessitates first the mastery of Eng
fish and then a course in chemistry.
Even though the Emperor be dead 1t
will not stop the advance of China, and
the United States will profit immeasur-
ably, particularly the Pacific Coast for
with your cheap water transportation you
ought to build up great cotton factories
nail works and other industries to meet
the demand in China"
DR.. Chalfant delivered an address at the
Howard Presbyterian Church yesterday
morning on China, its resources and It's
political future. In the evening he ac-
cepted an invitation from Dr. HemphiIl
to. occupy the pulpit of Calvary Church.
His subject was THE Providential Cow
eminent of the World by Jesus Christ"