The record-union., 1899-09-26

realize what material strength the
country has. As England and other
small countries of great population
and manufacturing industries have
been enormous buyers from us, SO all
indications point that Japan will be.
RESPECTING COREA.
Next to Japan is the hidden but fas-
cinating land of Corea, with a popula-
ton of 10,000.000. and at the present
time with foreign trade of about ST.
100000. Judging from all precedents
and from the resources of this un-
known kingdom, based upon my own
travels through her domains, ! am con-
vinced that there is no reason why she
should not in the near future build up
business of $50, 100000 to 50,00O,OOo.
Her people have only recently
been brought into contact with the
outer world. She is just beginning TO
buy and to sell. Her area is resource1uI
in mineral wealth and in agricultural
possibilities, and her population, well
directed, is Industrious. True, peSsl-
mists are always talking about the linz
| it of the buying capacity of such coun-
tries, but the best way to develop their
buying capacity is to endeavor to sell
to them, for that brings about the con-
struction of railways, the extension OF
steamship lines and the sending OF men
| through the interior to attend TO bring
| ing such points into contact with the
! open ports and to convey to the coast
| the resources of the country, which
developed, puts money into the pockets
Of the people.
SOMETHING ABOUT SLAM.
Before considering China, let US so to
the South for a moment and look at
the wonderful little Kingdom of Siam.
Few among you probably appreciate
that Siam is to-day the most progress
sve country in Asia after Japan. In
some respects she is progressing even
more than Japan. With an area as
large as California and Oregon COM
bined. and population of 10,000,OO0,
and a foreign trade of $50, 100000, she
is just now starting on the highway of
material, moral and political develop
ment. The King of Siam, in my hum
bic opinion, is the ablest statesman in
all Asia
The high classes of Siamese compare
well with the best Japanese. The
masses are somewhat indolent and
sluggish but good -natured and kindly
the capital has a population of 50O,-
100, and is growing as rapidly as Chi
cago. 1t is no unusual thing for twenty
or thirty steamers to be unloading in
a day at its wharves.
To-day America sells only 5 per cent.
of what Siam consumes. There is no
valid reason why we should not sell her
80 per cent No effort has been made
I1u AYooa fnlyv n
develop this field. The Siamese have
a large buying capacity. The country
is rich They want our cotton goods,
our flour, our canned products, our
farm products, our railway materials,
our kerosene, our electrical supplies,
and a score of miscellaneous exports.
THE CELESTIAL EMPIRE.
Looking now at China we lind the
widest opportunity for the extension of
American trade. China has in her vast
extent an area larger than the United
States, but in all this 100000 square
miles there are only 320 miles of rail-
way. This contrast of figures leads
one away into imagination of what may
come. With China gridironed with
railways it is difficult to tell what will
be both her buying and selling capacity.
We must always bear in mind what a
country has to sell, because it cannot
buy unless it can sell. I look forward
TO the time, not in the very distant fu-
ture, when at least 10000 or 1900
miles of railway will be built in China,
with an investment of S2o0,000. 600 to
$500 900, 900, greater portion Of which
should be American capital.
Along with railway construction,
there always goes, as this country has
witnessed, a tremendous development
Of towns, population, agriculture Ind a
consequent demand and SUPPLY. In all
this the United States should expert
ence direct benefit. That I may i'm
press you with the figures that you
may not forget the splendid potential
tiles of China, I would ask you to re-
member that China's commerce to-day
is only S25O,000,000, with a population
placed at the most conservative esti-
mate of 250000,000. or 81 per head.
In Japan we find a commerce of So
per head Multiplying China's popul..
ton by six, we get a mighty totaf OF
81, 500, 100000. Lest, however, this
possibility (Which can only come in the
progress of many years. seems too large
we will draw the conclusions from the
most conservative comparisons.
Taking the average of other coun-
tries Of Asia, progressive as we'll as
non progressive, or retrogressive-S3
per head-and we have the possible for
eign trade for China of $3.50, 600 Goo.
Dividing that SO as to get the imports
we can safely place them at 1915, ,00O-
600. When we look over the long list
Of China's imports we find that two
thirds of them can be supplied by the
United States if we shall successfully
enter into competition with European
countries.
At the present time our exports to
China do not exceed $20000,000. We
must not be discouraged by the small
ness of the present figures, but rather
encouraged by them. What trade
there is now exists when we have only
! begun to appreciate our opportunity
! in Oriental lands, and when we have
made but little effort to compete for a
fair share of the Oriental demand. Be-
cause all these Asiatic countries buy
little of US now is the very reason why
they offer such opportunities for us in
the future.
There is one important fact in con-
nection with China's development of
trade which must be borne in mini.
The critics and pessimsts endeayor TO
prove that China will not be able TO
buy of us what we have to sell, as her
trade develops.
In my opinion, after six years Of
careful study in which I have travelled
through China, in the interior and up