The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
OUR INTERESTS IN CHINA.

THILE the Spanish controversy occupies the \AI first place in attention at this time and
 will rightly engage all of our national energles until atonement has been made for the wreck ot the Maine, 1t must not be overlooked that in all proba- bty the larger destines of our people will be more affected in the long run by what is being done in China than by anything likely to occur n the West Indies
 Cuba is but small island, Spain is decadent kingdom and but little can be expected from either of them in the future; but China IS vast kingdom, whose trade is growing by leaps and bounds. whose power of consuming American goods is almost inex- haustible, and whose commerce IS nseparably bound up with the development of the Pacific Coast.
 The American people have been too long negectful of the present value and future possibilities of the Chinese trade The nations of Europe have been wiser They have that the accession Of 400 ooo, GOO of people to the markets of the civilized world means the expansion of commerce enormous scale and several of them are almost at war with another in their eagerness to obtain points o vantage for trade with the great empire There is to fear that if either Germany Russia gains supremacy in the ports of that country restrictions will be placed upon trade with the people and interests seriously compromised
 Our Consuls in China have given fair warning of the danger that threatens we'll of the splendid possibilities for trade if vigilant and energetic in promoting it. Consular Reports for March con- tains report from Consul Fowler of Chefu giving account of our trade with that province of China which is the scene of German occupation, and
 much of it is of particular interest to California The Consul states there is growing demand there for butter, cheese, milk canned vegetables, of all kinds, imitation gold watches, clocks, sewing ma chimes wines. beer, whisky flour, oil and cotton goods. It will be that of this list California could furnish almost all, and for many of them there is now an urgent need for a larger market than the State possesses.
 It s however in the wheat and four trade that the largest field is open. Consul Johnson of Annoy re- ports that with increase in the price of silver American wheat" This is borne by reports from all who have made study of the situation in the Orient. The Chinese becoming a race of wheat eaters, and it will be largely fault if they obtain the wheat from Russia instead of from this country
 In the very nature of things the expansion of Cali forna commerce must be westward rather than east ward. Heavy freight rates impose tax upon trade beyond the mountains, but to the West have the open, unmonopolzed ocean for highway. In the Eastern States have to rivals in all kinds of manufactured goods, and in most kinds of orchard and farm produce, but in China have natural ad vantage all competitors Europe is holding that market by of subsidized ships and m- tary aggression, but 1t be made If the Gov ernment at Washington will take steps to promote American shipping as it does American manufactures and guard interests in the Orient it ought to guard them everywhere