The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-08

traffic are not ACCESSIBLE but such the
existing statistics are, they show an eN-
port and import trade Of three hundred mill
lions of dollars.
The export trade has been stimulated by
the depreciation Of silver but the import
trade has also increased. 1t IS said that the
american manufacturer, favored by our pro-
tective tariff, has in some cases been en-
abled to sell his goods cheaper in China than
in the United States, and thus he has held
and extended his market
GREAT BRITAIN'S SHARE.
Great Britain has Is per cent. Of China's
foreign trade and two-thirds of the foreign
population. 1t must be said that the policy
of England in the far East is just to other
nations. She asks nothing but equal rights,
and she grants equal rights to all nations.
She opens treaty ports where all flags are
equal. She can readily afford to do this,
because she is sure of holding IS per cent.
OF all the trade that is developed Even IN
Cochin China, a French province, England
does nearly as much trade as France;
Much has been written about our relations
with England in the far East. l am glad
that those relations are friendly, and, on
proper and suitable occasions this country
and England should act together. They
should both protest against the further par
tition of China: 1t must be remembered,
however, that the American merchant finds
IN the East no stronger competitor than the
british merchant. 1t must be remembered
also that we confront our ancient friends.
RUSSIA and france We cannot merge our
nationality in that of any other nation. Our
ministers must not be attaches of the British
legations. We are republicans and cosmo-
polftans. We are a great nation and we
should look to no interests but our own
II we surrender the Philippines, we shall
far East. China is to-day pOWerleSS to pro-
tect herself against encroachments. She has
10 army, no navy, no quartermaSter or COM
missariat department. 1t is idle to say that
China can grant mining or railroad conces-
sions to whom she pleases. That is exactly
what she cannot do. In her unpreparedneSs
for war she must do whatever any other
nation demands of her The inclination of
China has always been to turn to America
in all industrial enterprises. The recon-
mendationS of Sheng Taotai in this regard
could not be carried out because the compe-
titfon of the European powers was too Sc
riouS and influential. 1t so happens, there
fore, that Americans to-day have the con-
cession to build but one railroad in China.
That is the line from Hankow to Canton
eight hundred miles long-which IS to be
built by the China Development Company
of New York. 1t Will run through 2OOOOOOUO
of people, and will pay from the start. in
this country the railroad precedes the set
tlement of population, but in China the pop
ulation is waiting for the road. The road
between Tientsin and Peking-eighty miles
long-runs four trains each way day, ana
already, after about years running, nets
100000 taels a month. tael is about a
cents of our money.
In China, about one-ffth OF the human
race are waiting for our goods. Regard this
intelligent Woodworking, honest people
emerging from their isolation. They are
noted for their love of learning. Their gov
eminent is based on competitive examina-
lions. The student is examined in his dis
trct town. If he passes there, he goes TO |
the provincial capital. If he again passes ne
goes to Picking, where, every three years,
more than ten thousand students assemble. |
If he passes these examinations, he is put |
on the list of eXpectant officials, and as va |
cancieS occur, he receives a nomination TO |
office. These examinations are open to all |
alike. All ages may compete. 1t sometimes |
happens that three generations of one fam !
lily are represented in them at the same |
time.
CHINESE CIVIL SERVICE.
This system of examinations is the fun
damental principle of Chinese polity. To it |
is ascribed the permanence of the Chinese |
government, and it is said that during the
great TAPPING rebellion in which seven |
million people persisted not one single |
graduate was found among the rebels AS |
you travel down the coast of China, you |
are shown towers here and there in the |
towns and villages and you are told that |
these towers represent the fact that clu- |
zen of the village carried off the hrst non
ors at the examination at Peklng. When |
you visit Nankin you will see the temple |
of Confucius. Its main gate is opened only |
to the Emperor and to the student who has |
most distinguished himself at Picking. The |
system creates a democracy of education. |
1t holds to the support of the empire a |
vast number of what are called literatl, |
and all their families and connections.
The Chinese merchants are as honorable |
as any in the world. Mr.. Cameron. the |
head of the Hong-Kong and Shanghai |
Banking Corporation in London, and for
merly its manager at Shanghai, said, In a !
his bank had had dealings of hundreds of |
millions of pounds sterling with the Chi !
nese, and had never lost penny.
On the other hand, l must say that the
Chinese are the worst people to squeeze that
exist anywhere in the world. Your boy, your
cook and your servants squeeZe-that is TO |
say they add on percentage to everything
city of Picking, she is asked whether she in
them
If she does, the price will be as stated, but
II they are to be sent to her house charge
of 10 per cent must be added, because the
gatekeeper will charge 10 per cent. to let
the goods in.
This system runs all through Chinese life.
The members of the Foreign Office receive
one thousand taels year. but it is certain
that the income Of none of these gentlemen
is less than thirty thousand taels year, ana
some have two hundred and fifty thousand.
This money is all paid by officials all over
China. Ii Hung Chang, while he was vice
roy of China had man employed at Picking
whose sole duty was to disburse money to /
about thirty mandarins l do not hesitate
most corrupt government in the world, and
l could, if necessary, give example after ex-
ample to support this charge. But we can
safely leave to the missionary the effort to
convert the Chinese; our business is to deal
with them commercially.
They are rich in mines. in tea, in silk, in
wool, in straw braid and many other things.
They are willing to exchange these goods for
our coal oil, sheeting mining plants, -four,
electrical apparatus, locomotives, rails, tim
Der and hundreds of other articles.
TRADE THAT SHOULD BE OURS.
Naturally and of right, by reason of our
situation with regard to the East, its trade
belongs to us So far, at least we have not
coveted Chinese territory But once did we
fire hostile gun at the Chinese. 1t was
when the forts below Canton fired at one
of our boats, and Farragut, of immortal
fame, led a party ashore and spiked their |
guns. There the incident terminated.
There can be no difference of opinion in
this country that we should neglect no |
means to hold and retain the trade we have |
in the far East, and to increase it. our gov |
eminent must aid the merchant and manu-
facturer in all possible ways, and to do so, !
must reconsider our position inter- |
vention in foreign affairs. Recent events |
have rudely shaken our traditional policy in |
that regard 1t received a severe blow in |
our action towards Cuba 1t is perhaps, too |
early to forecast the final result of our in /
terventon in that unhappy island, but it |
is not too early TO express the hope that in |
good time and with the consent of the peo- |
pie, she will be incorporated in the Ameri- |
can union.
Let US profit by recent history. Japan
demanded of China. as the price of peace, |
the iudeDendence of COrea the oeSSiOD Of