The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-20

tnink you will agree with me II IA n
policy OF drift. But there is another poll
ICY. can not conceive anything that Is
more mystifying, that Is moro Irritating
than what Is called the sphere OF in
nuence' policy. II is policy which is a
poiicy OF grab. II must be a policy OF
IRRITATION. We have seen II largely lately
N Africa. Everybody wants more than
they have got. But the sphere of influence
policy In my opinion is absolutely certain
70 drift into war and war is the worst thing
mat can happen In the interest OF trade
and commerce.
say with regard to the American trade
u Is your business, Il is not miuc. But
do believe honestly that your tradc-~you
nave not got very much at present; II Is
going on by leaps and bounds-bu, your
trade and our trade must certainly suffer
very materially in the future unless we
nave principle of a Are service TO look
after It when these disturbances do occur,
which are certain to occur You have al
ready seen what the sphere of influence In
minor way Is in peace. The powers land
ed troops There was every sort of irii-
tation because the Russians landed ten
more troops than the British. That Is the
practical way of looking Mt the sphere of
influence. sphere of influence is abso
iutely certain to produce war very soon
after 1t is declared by countries.
Il. Nay, ! point out very respectfully that
the present American trade is almost en-
tirely in the north. A great deal of your
goods go into China under the ownership
of British and Germans. But 81 per cent
of the goods that go into Manchuria are
American and / think that is u very in
teresting detail for those American gentle
men who are Interested in the trade of
China. At Shanghai found that in three
years ending in the year 1897 the increase
in your piece goods was 1,5T2 532. That Is
a nhpppmpnnl M
ton goods have gone up In the last four
years 100 per cent in quantity and 90 per
cent in value. The British cotton goods
have gene down 10 per cent in quantity
and per cent in value. You have II GU
rfous idea of making what people want
and we have a curious idea of making what
we think people ought TO have. l assure
you both with your cotton goods aud with
your engines and your commercial matters
of that sort, the result is that you are
certainly cutting us out at Pekin and |
shall do my level best to try and cut you
out again when we so home. But that is
the healthy competition between coun-
tries.
But there is plenty Of room for both
of us in the country. as well as for all
the other nations in the world We have
not touched the surface of what we may
do in China yet. In my opinion China is
certain to be bankrupt in three Or four
years unless they have new source of
revenue. They have a magnificent source
of revenue there If they would only allow
it to be developed. If we help them with
their army we get our quid pro quo and
something which gives II chance to all
the nations of the world to invest capital
in China and develop her resources. That
is a chance which the two other great
powers would have which they have not
at present. Great Britain does not want
nf m .fN Cpt
tain America wants nothing of Great
Britain. Why should We? We are alb
solutely intermingled in trade, in your
telegraph Offices, in your shops; some
English. some American. Therefore what
benefits England believe, must benefit
America. What benefits America. be-
lieve, must benefit England The total
trade of China. as far as | can make out,
held by foreign countries. is s55,000,o 600 !
OF that Great Britain has 80, America 10
and other countries divided the remain |
ing 30 per cent. | most earnestly hope the !
settlement OF this question will make b.
everlasting friendship between the two |
Englishspeaking nations. We arc of the |
SEINE blood; we have the same language,
we have the samc-may cal. it grand |
honest sentiments with regard to trade |
and commerce, and we have the same |
sentiment with regard to what is good
to the country at large. believe that If |
we keep the door open that we are adopt
ing n policy which is absolutely fair and |
square to all the nations of the earth,
and absolutely good for China itself. !
believe we shall do good not only TO
trade and commerce, but to humanity and
Christianity and the whole world at
large"
His speech was received with frequent
outbursts of applause, and as he resumed
his seat the cheering continued several
minutes This morning Lord Charles paid
visit to the board Of trade where he
was given welcome that exceeded in
noise anything that he has heard since ar
irving in the United States.