The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-05
AT OUR BACK DOOR.
An EngIishman's View of Our Vast
Opportunities in China.
Irrosa MoptbIv

fIOtn NlOhtuiy.
No longer can the United States be said
merely to face Europe across the Atlantic
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 to the people OF the
United States generally, the Nicaragua ca
nal is a matter of special impor tance to
the Pacific and Southern states. The Pa
cihc territories, with an area of nearly
100000 square miles, dependent on the Pa
cihc ocean for access to the outer world
Imperial in extent" as Blaine called
them are of greater extent than Germany,
France, Italy and Spain combined Their
extraordinary growth need not here be
dwelt on at length Enough that, with
only per cent of the population, they
possess 10 per cent of the entire wealth
of the Union, while the railway mileage
exceeds that of any European country
with the exception of France and Ger
many The three maritime provinces, Cal
ifornia Oregon, and Washington, are the
richest, and they are the most exposed
10 understanding 81 per cent of the
wealth of the Pacific states. The whole
Pacific coast as yet, however, takes but an
Inadequate share-only $50 per cent-of
the total import and export trade of the
United States.
The Southern states win also, by means
of the Nicaragua canal, participate large
ly In the development of the Pacific and
of the far East. In the South are COM
bined the advantages of all the other sec
lions, without their greatest drawbacks,
and the remarkable progress achieved
there in the past dozen years will un-
doubtedly be surpassed in the future.
But this is much more than a sectional
question. The commercial development of
Asia and the future traffic of the Pacific
ocean interest not the Western or South
ern states alone, but the whole Union. AL
ready the East and the West the North
and the South, are tied together by a vast
network of railways without parallel, ana
no such separation of interests as existed
a generation ago can now be recognized
as affecting the federal policy of foreign
affairs The national policy, like the re-
public itself, is one and indivisible, and the
course of events can only tend still
further to consolidate the Union and as
simulate the interests of the great and
growing population.
China and the far East, facing as they
do the Pacific coast, lie practically at the
back door of the United States No de-
velopment of land traffic, either within
the BOUNDARIES or emma itself or between
1t and neighboring territories, can ever
detract from the importance of its oceanic
commerce. Indeed, 1t is obvious that ev-
cry stimulus applied in the interior must
increase the flow of traffic to the sea-
board, whether by means of new railways
or by the great rivers, which all flow
from west to east. Whatever promotes
enterprise In China, or enhances the
wealth and prosperity of the people, must
reach most forcibly on its sea-borne trade,
Of which by means Of the new vantage
ground she is about to enjoy. the United
states stands 10 reap the first fruit.