The record-union., 1899-09-26

our exports we must not forget the
question Of imports from Asia to the
United States. Unless our ships have
something to bring back as well as to
carry they cannot grant cheap freight
rates for our exports. Unless Asiatic
peoples get money from selling they
will be limited in the amount they can
buy.
1 have given this point a great deal
Of careful consideration. While 1 am
not yet satisfied with the extent OF
these imports, there are many staples
which should come to our country IN
much greater quantity than they do
now, by the way of our Pacific Coast.
It must be remembered that a consid-
erable portion of Asiatic products
which reach the United States now
come by the way of Europe. This we
must turn into the channels of the
Pacific trade.
Looking over the list of what Asia
has to sell to us, I find that our ships
should be able to bring back mucn
larger quantities than now of the teas
and silks of Japan, the tea and silk
and the mats, mating, straw braid,
hides, chinaware, earthenware, cur1os,
essential oils, ordinary oils of bean,
ground nut, and wood, skins and furs.
spices, valuable woods and other pro-
ducts of China and Asiatic lands. In
addition to these, the Philippines
should help to fill the holds of our
vessels with hemp, sugar, valuable
woods, coffee, tobacco, rice, spices and
miscellaneous products, which should
be developed under American control.
INFLUENCES TO ADVANCE TRADE
If we are to hold our present trade
and extend it not only in China and the
Philippines, but in all other countries
bordering on the Pacific, there are a
few, but most important, considerations
which should receive our attention
First, the Nicaragua Canal should be
built without further delay. Second, a
cable should be laid across the Pacific,
touching at Hawaii and the Philippines,
as we'll as having branches to China,
Japan and Australia. Third, better.
larger and faster steamers should be
placed on the Pacific, and reasonable
subsidies for carrying the mails should
be given to the lines making the best
time and providing the best ships.
Fourth, American banks, or connec-
tions of great American banks, should
be Immediately established in such rep
resentative places as Yokohama,
Shanghai, Hongkong and Manila
Fifth, at some central point like Shang-
hal, permanent firSt-class exhibit of
American products should be main
tanned Sixth, business firms in Amer
lea wishing to do business in the Far
East should send thoroughly compe-
tent and capable men to represent them
in the Orient, and not trust to second
rate men and catalogues. Seventh,
our diplomatic and consular service as
far as possible should be placed under
the civil service. Eighth, branches OF
the American Asiatic Association,
which is doing such good work in
Shanghai, should be organized in all
other Asiatic cities Ninth, and finally,
our manufacturers and exporters
should find out just what the Orient
wants and make it, and not expect the
Orient to- take what we make but what
they do not want! There are numerous
other considerations, but time forbids
their enumeration.
A POPULAR POLICY.
Any policy which appeals to the in
terests of every section of the country
should be popular one. For that rea-
son there should be an unanimous
feeling in America towards a strong
policy in dealing with China in partic-
ular and the entire Far East in general.
These Trans-Pacific lands want the