The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-01
THE sOrTH,s OPPORTUNITY.


week 10 attend the Cotton Convention.
there was Hon. John Barrett Of Portland.
ore Until recently Mr. Barrett was min
lister from this country 10 Siam. When
he went there, he says, he had no idea that
his observations would lead him to feel
a greater interest in the South than IN
other sections of the country, but sucn
was the case because he came to the
conclusion that ia the very near future
Asiatc countries would furnish the best
market Jor line South's greatest product
cotton. While ne was in the Far East
he made a tour of China. Japan. ana Co
rea and he studied thoroughly the mate.
rial conditions existing in Siam.
Mr. Barrett was not able 90 remain in
Atlanta long enough to deliver the adj
dress he had prepared for the Cotton Con-
venton, but he gave the greater part Or
it out for publication. No one can read
what he says without feeling that ne an
derstands thoroughly the subject ne dis
cusses, namely, the South's interest in
the markets of the Far East He points
out that in the countries mentioned there
is a population of more than so, 100000
and though they consume a very cOnsid-
cradle part of the cotton OF the South now
the amount is not fraction of what they
will consume within a very few years.
They will take raw cotton and cotton
goods Mr.. Barrett does not think the
South will be able to produce more cot
ton than the people of the Far East will
want. and will take at price which will
fair profit
The development of China. Japan. Co
rea and Siam is just beginning. When
the work of building railroads has been
fairly begun and the period of develop
ment has been fully entered upon. the In
crease in the demand from these countries
for American cotton and cotton goods will
increase enormously. The increase in the
last few years has been very great, in
dicating what may be expected in the flu
ture
The feeling in the Far East in respect
to the United States is vastly different
now from what it was before the victory
of Admiral Dewey. The change in the
sentiments of the Asiatics has been sim
ply marvellous. Now everywhere the flag
of the United States is highly respected,
and the demand for articles of American
manufacture is very great. American
ministers and consuls have the first place
in the estimation Of the people. If we
maintain the position which we have OBJ
tanned we shall have but comparatively
little trouble in getting the bulk of the
trade of the Orient
But in order to maintain our position we
must. Mr.. Barrett thinks retain our grip
on the Philippines. Manila is a city OF
great commercial and stragetical import
ance. 1t is so situated as to assist in COM
handing the trade of China. Japan, Corea
and Siam. Further, in reference to the
Philippines, Mr.. Barrett says:
IF we haul down the flag in the Philip
pines, we shall not only lose this position
destined for us by geography and history
but come trailing along behind not only
Great Britain, Russia, Germany, France
but Japan, Holland and Italy. We stand
now where we can enlarge, protect ana
control vast growing commercial interests
among 5000O0.000 people and along a coast
line of 1000 miles, just opposite our own
Pacific shores; but if we shirk or quail,
it will be necessary. at some future day.
in order TO regain lost prestige and trade,
that we shall spend ten times as much in
war or exploitation as II will now cost us
to end the insurrection in the Philippines,
and establish peace, order and good gov
ernment. / say this with no political
bearing or bias whatever, but s my hon
est conviction after six years continuous
study of Asatic and Pacific possibilities.
Concluding my remarks, l would add
No section of America has greater inter-
ests at stake in the development of Asiatic
markets than the South. Therefore the
South should be strong in support of such
a policy in the Pacific as win legitimately
enlarge and protect the field of trade ex-
change. 1t is no exaggerauon in my opin-
ion to state thai the time is coming in the
near future when the millions of Eastern
Asia will provide great permanent mar
ket for the manufactured and raw cotton
of The South, making the planters and
manufacturers Independent of the British
and European demand and dictation of
prices"
Mr. Barretts statements are worthy of
the most careful consideration. They are
in harmony with what Senator Morgan of
Alabama, and Senator McLaurin of South
Carolina, have been telling the Southern
people for many months. The South Is
looking for a better market for her cotton
than the European spinners offer. win
the countries of Eastern Asia become such
a market? Is it in the power of the United
States to make them such a market by
wise policies? These are questions in
which the Southern people are deeply in.
terested
4 DISASTER FOR THE BRITISH.
The outlook for the British at Lady