Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-10-26

event, our trade with Manchuria
would be seriously handicapped, and
might, conceivably, cease to exist,
as did our trade under like circum-
stances, with madagascar. +.
The effect of this would be far
reaching ono to the cotton mill in
dustry in tho South. Up to this
time, the Federal government has
shown disposition to insist on the
maintenance of its treaty rights with
the Chinese Empire, whenever there
seemed any danger Of their positive
infringement, but as we have indi-
Gated, the process Of substituting for
the authority of the Chinese govern
ment the jurisdiction of q foreign
power, is gradual and insidious
one, and its completion would mark
the disappearance of all pre-existing
treaties. We are, therefore, led to
believe that equality of commercial
opportunity in China can be main
tanned only by decided stand in the
interest of their Grade on the part of
the nations who have most to lose
by the creation of spheres of exclu-
sivc commercial Influence, and that
any effective assertion of treaty
rights must involve the stability of
conditions now existing. When you
consider the vital interest of your
constituency in this question, wo feel
certain that you will deal with it in
the way best fitted to bring about
satisfactory solution. In our opin-
ion, this can be most easily reached
" supporting any line of policy of
the great Federal government, based
upon the strict observance of our
treaty rights in China or which, in
other words, insist that no part of
that Empire should be subject to the
influence Of any government without
giving to the United States equal
commercial rights and privileges
with the most favored nation. AS
we understand the situation, the
question of the expansion policy of
the government is in no way involved.
The maintenance of our rights in
China does not include an attempt to
bring other countries under the in
iluence Of our flag. The open and
declared purpose of those who are
solicltous about these rights is that
in all questions Of trade and COM
merce this country shall be put on
parity with its rivals in the far East.
This is not question Of territory g;
not question of empire, but simply
a question of trade and of the right
that our people now njoy to conduct
a profitable commerce with the Chi
ncsc Empire in any portion of its
territory. All that we demand is
perfect equality with other nations.
We write this letter with the ur-
gent request that you will use your
influence to insist upon policy on
the part of the Federal government
which will secure the results above
outlined, and which are 30 full of
consequence to our people. We be-
liere that the policy of the Federal
government should be such that
while it demands nothing in conccs-
sions, it requires everything in the
equality of trade, and such protec-
ton to our commerce which will not
make it depend upon the whim or
scllishness of any other foreign
power. We recognize the right in
other people to protect their own
interest, but we do not recognize
the right in the dismcmbcrmcnt of
friendly power to shut us out entirely
where, under agreement already
made with such power, we are fully
protected, and have equal rights
with other people. Whether we
should trade or not with friendly
power, should not depend upon the
verdict Of our rivals in trade, but