The age-herald., 1899-11-05
The south's Opportunity

From the Savannah Morning News.
 Among those who were at Atlanta last week to attend the cotton convention, there was Hon. John Barrett, of Portland, Ore Until recently MT. Barrett was minister from this country to Siam. When he went there, he said, he had no idea that his ob- servatfons would lead him to feel greater interest in the south than in fother sec tions of the country, but such was the case' because he came to the conclusion that in the very near future Asiatic countries would furnish the best market for the south's greatest product-cotton. While ne was in the far east he made a tour Of China. Japan and Corea, and he studied thoroughly the material conditions existing in Siam.
 MT. Barrett was not able to remain an Atlanta long enough to deliver the address he had prepared for the cotton convention. but he gave the greater part of 1t out Tor publication. No one can read what he says without feeling that he understands thoroughly the subject that he discusses, namely the south's interest in the markets of the far east. He points out that in the countries mentioned there is popuiatlon of more than 900, and though they consume a very considerable part or the
  a fraction of what they will consume with In a very few years. They will take raw cotton and cotton goods. MT Barrett does not think the south will be able to produce more cotton than the people Of the Tar east will want and will take at a price which will afford the southern coltoh piaht- CTS a fair profit.
 The develoment of China, Japan, Cored and Siam is just beginning. When the work of building railroads has been tairly begun and the period of development mas been fully entered upon, the increase In the demand and cotton goods will increase enormously The increase in the last few years has been very great, indicating what may be expected in the future.
 The feeling in the far eas tin respect to the United States Is vastly dinerent now from what it was before the victory or Ad- miral Dewey. The change in the senti- ments of the Asiatics has been sfmly mar velous. Now everywhere the flag of the United States is highly respected, ana the demand for articles of American manulac- ture is very great. American lniIislels anu consuls have the first place in the estma- tion of the people. If we maintain the DO, sition which we have obtained we snaii have but comparatively little trouble Tn getting the bulk of the trade Of the Orl- ent,.
 must. MT Barrett thinks, retain our grip on the Philippines Manila is a city of great commercial and stragetcal importance It is so situated as to assist in commanding the trade of China, Japan, Corea and Siam Further in reference to the Philippines, MT. Barrett says:
 "If we haul down the flag in the Philip pines, we shal 1not only lose this position destined for us by geography and history but come trailing along behind not only Great Britain, Russia, Germany and France but Japan, Holland and Italy. We cto opd Ip1he enlarge. protect and control vast growing commercial in- terests among 300 000,0 GOO people and along coast of 4000 miles, just opposite our own Pacific shores; but if we shirk or quail, it will be necessary, at some future day, m order to regain lost prestige and trade, that we shall spend ten times as much in war or exploitation as it will now cost us to end the insurrection in the Philippines, and establish peace, order and good govern ment I say this with no political bearing or bias whatever, but as my honest con- victon after six years continuous study of Asiatic and Pacific possibilities.
 "Coneluding my remarks, I would ada No section of America has greater inter ests at stake in the development of Asiatic markets than the south. Therefore, the south should be strong in support of such a policy in the Pacific as will legftimately enlarge and protect the field of trade ex- change It is no exaggeration In my opin- ion to state that the time is coming in the near future when the millions of eastern Asia will provide a great permanent mar ket for the manufacture and raw cotton of the south, making the plantations and manufacturers independent of the British and European demand and dictation of prces."
 MT. Barrett's statements are worthy of the most careful consideration. They are in harmony with what Senator Morgan Of Alabama, and Senator McLaurin of South Carolina have been telling the southern people for many months. The south is looking for a better market for her cotton than the European spinners offer Will the countries of eastern Asia become such market? It is In the power of the United States to make them such a market by wise policies. These are questions in which the southern people are deeply inter-