The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-30
AT OUR BACK DOOR.
An Englishman's Views of Oar Vast
ODportuniticS in China.

No longer can the United States be said
merely 10 face Europe across the At
lanuc From the Pacific slope she IS
now also IN close communication with the
Asiatic world. and when a trans-isthmus
canal IS made the bonds that unite her
with Asia will be drawn infinitely closer.
OF great value 70 the people OF the
United States generally, the Nicaragua
canal is a matter Of special Importance
20 the Pacific and Southern States. The
Pacific territories. with an area Of nearly
$4,000 square miles. dependent on the
Pacific ocean for access 20 the outer
world. Imperial On extent rs Blaine
called them. are OF greater extent than
Germany France. Italy and Spain com
hiued Their extraordinary growth need
not here be dwelt on al length. Enough
that with only per cent of the pop
ulation. they possess 10 per cent of the
entire wealth Of the Union while the
railway mileage exceeds that OF any Eu-
ropean country with the exception ot
France and Germany The three mari
time provinces. California. oregon, and
Washington. are the richest and they
are the most exposed o attack-contaln-
ing RI per cent Of the wealth NJ the
Pacific states The whole Pacific coast
as yet. however. takes but an inadequate
share-oulv $50 per cent-of the total inn
port and export trade Of the United
States.
The southern states viii also. by MEANS
of the Nicaragua canal participate llrFe-
iv fin the development Of The Pacific and
of the far East. In the South ore COM
bined the advantages of an the ether
sections without their greatest draw
backs. and the remarkable progress
achieved there in the past dozen years
will undoubtedly be surpassed in the iu-
ture.
But this s. much more than sectional
question. Tie commercial development
of Asia and the future traffic Of the Pac-
Tie ocean interest not the Western or
Southern States alone. but the whole
Union. Already the East aud the Wes..
the North and the South. are tied to-
ecther bv n vast network of railways
without parallel and no such separation
al interests as existed generation ago
can now zoe recognized as affecting the
Federal policy of foreign aCairs. The
national u0u-v. Ike the republic ITSELF.
D. one and ndy.slbie. and the course
of events can only tend still further 10
consolidate TIE Union and assimilate .he
interests Of the great and growing pop
ulatlon
China and the FAR East. facing rs they
10 the Pacific coast lie practically az
the back door Of the United states. 10
development OF land traffic. either with
in the boundaries Of China itself or be-
tween Fl and neishporing territories, can
ever detract from the importance OF its
oceanic commerce. Indeed it is obvious
that every stimulus applied In the in
terror must increase the flow Of traffic
10 the sedboard whether by means Of
new railways or by the great rivers
which an flow from west 10 east. What
ever promotes enterprise in China. or en-
hancos the wealth and prosperity or the
people. must react most forcibiy on rs
sea-borne trade. of which. BY means Of
the new vantage-ground she IS about 20
enjoy the United States stands to reap
the frst fruit.-Archibald r. ColquhouR
I'm Harper's Monthly.