Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-04-28
COMMERCE OF AMERICA
Asiatic Markets Await Our
Extension Of Trade.
GREATEST PENDING QUESTION
Need Is Lower Duties ON Imports
From the Orient.

St. Paul, Mimi, April 22.-Presi.
dent J. j. Hill. of the Great Northern
railway, is greatly interested in the
Japanese and Oriental trade, and has
in the past and is now trying to bring
about closer relations between the
United States and the Far East. He
is greatly chagrined that congress
should have neglected to foster this
trade. and attributes the indifference
displayed TO the intervention of inter
ests on the Atlantic. Mr.. Hill is
earnest and hard-working in his
efforts to further his cherished scheme
of maintaining and operating line of
Oriental steamships, and his trip to
London now is said to be for the pur.
pose of completing negotiations for
line of British steamers for this trade.
1T ls a shame," he declares, that
British vessels should be loaded with
American cargoes," but il appears to
be the only way at present that com.
neIce with the Orient may be main.
tanned, until such time as congress
shall find it wise to make it possible
for American ships to engage in the
trade.
"My views" said Mr.. Hill, care so
well known on this subject, and they
are at variance with SO many men, that
do not care to talk along this line.
1t would do no good. am in favor Of
low tariff, but the subject is so far
reaching, and, under certain condi-
tions, SO inapplicable, that statement
of my views would be msundel stood"
Few men not deeply interested in
promoting their own welfare can see
in Mr.. Hlll's ideas anything but per-
sonal motives, yet he says that nothing
of SO great moment is now before the
American people as the extension Of
our commercial relations through the
medium of the Pacific. Sentiment
surely does not enter into calculations
which rebound TO our credit in dollars
and cents, and when Mr.. Hill decares
that the import duties on silks, teas and
other Japanese and Chinese products
are so high as to damage trans-Paciic
blobO1 hC DdSOS lllo Ebdl6IlGIlL OIl LIlH It"
suit of his study of the subject.
Mr.. Hill merely views the situation
as hard-headed, shrewd business
man, who sees brilliant and wonder
full era OF progress and prosperity, and
1t appeals and disCourages him to know
that others who have the power to
bring about these conditions should be
so indifferent on a matter of such
great Importance to the people of this
country.
In recent circular inspired by Mr..
Hill, he shows that, while he is a
Democrat who favors low tariff. he is
also an expansionist, for he says:
"Had it not been for the eye-opening
power of Dewey's guns. the Asiatic
trade OF the United States might have
gone the way of her South American
commerce-stolen under her nose by
Germany, France and other European
nations. What America emphatically
needs today is more markets. We
have the raw material, we have the
necessary mills and factories, we have
the skilled labor. Were there a sale
for the goods, the output of agricul.
tuTal products could be immensely in
creased. The benefit that would
accrue to tie whole United States
would be incalculable. Thoughtful
business men are unit on believing
that to the west lies this new field OF
Oriental trade for the possession of
which nations are playing the great
game of diplomacy"