The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-21


China and Korea for seven
| years. having in the latter country devei-
! oped some large mining interests under
| concessions from the Korean government.
| Mr.. Hunt Is stopping at the Holland
| house, and yesterday gave a representa-
| tive OF the New York Times a review OF
| the existing political and business condi-
| lions in Japan, China and Korea, and par
| ticulary as to the possibility OF conflict
! between the Japanese and Russians
| Touching the general situation, Mr.. Hunt
| said:
"These recent years have marked the be-
l. ginning of a new epoch In the Orient. The
| achievements OF the past year alone have
| been SO startling as to reach far beyond
| the comprehension of the most industrious
| and enlightened students OF human prog
| ress. This new era of civilization, which
| has taken such firm hold upon the ORR
| entail mind, IL not confined to any one
| country, and hence these many and mark
| ed changes are noticeable all along the
| coast, from Singapore to Hakodate.
Japan makes the best show of modern
| methods and improvements and, of course,
| has made wonderful progress during the
| past forty years, especially since the re-
| cent war with China. Japan never has
been noted for her liberality to foreigners.
! but now that she has secured a position
| among the civilized nations of the world
! by her new treaties. which went into eff
| feet last July, 1T IL to be hoped that she
! Will become more liberal, thus justifying
| the craftsmanship which accorded to her
civilized standing.
| "Politics in Japan, as in the United
States. might almost be regarded
| profession. Japan has many political par
| ties, but each and every political creed
| Is at present based on the fundamental
/ principle, Japan for the Japanese. In the
| principal open ports of Japan, namely.
| Yokohama, Kobe. and Nagasaki, there is
| quite sprinkling of foreigners in BUSH
! ness enough to successfully represent and
| promote every modern line of trade, men
| of splendid capacity, men who have been
| and will continue to e.of great benefit to
the country, provided they are treated
| fairly by the japanese and receive justice
! in their courts. There seems to be almost
| u universal fear among the foreign resi-
| dents of Japan that justice for foreigners
| in Japanese courts is too much to expect,
| and to this cause may be attributed the
migration which has set in since the new
order of things, which at present bids fair
| to continue until the Japanese have their
entire trade to themselves. ], however.
| am one of the few who feel confident
| that Japan will pursue IA policy of fair
| ness and growing liberality."
what can you tell us of China?"
81 have spent the better part of five
| years in China. yet l hardly feel compe-
| tent to give you an opinion My first inn
| preston was like that of every other
| man who goes there with the dream OF
| large BUSINESS possibilities, distinctly fa-
| yorable, for 1t certainly is a wonderful
| country almost equal in opportunities to
| our own. AS in Japan. you will find in the
| open ports of China as capable business
| men as there are in the wide world. men
| who are quite able to comprehend and
| take care of the opportunities as they arise.
/, and, in fact, | know of no place In the
| business world where higher code of
business morals prevails than among the
| foreign business men in the. open ports of
| the Orient.
The Business Mans Mistake.
Now, the first impression of business
man upon his arrival in China is that he
| will be able to teach those old-timers how
| to do things on American lines, but like
| every tenderfoot in the Orient, he bases
| his hopes largely upon official promises,
| and the universal result Is that after an
experience of five years he concludes that
! he has it all to learn.
II see there is much discussion in our
home papers over the present and pros
pective internal development of China.
| With all this talk of great enterprise in
| China however. / can assure you that
| UP to the present time they are largely
| on paper so far as foreigners are con-
| cerned, and / doubt If the present gener-
| alton will live to see the time when
| railroad or a mining enterprise shall offer
\ safe investment for capital unless that
| capital is backed up by standing army.
''Thus far the development that has been
! going on in China has been accomplished
| largely with Chinese capital. Convince
| the Chinese that the building of a railroad
| or the opening of a mine affords profit
| able investment, with the assurance of
competent foreign management and the
| Cinnamon themselves are quite able and
| willing to supply the money necessary for
tY,rya rtr 1a,,t far 1l,sp
| that perhaps no country in the world con-
| tains more moderately rich men than
| China does. There are not so many multi
| millionaires as in this country, but surely
| more men who possess from Sl,000000 to
| So 900 900.
'"The Russians are making greater prog
ress in Manchurfa and have more to show
| for their sphere of influence in the shape
| of improvements than the combined for
| eign interests in all the other parts of the
| country, and the reason for this is plain TO
| the most casual observer. The Russians
| have standing army scattered along
! their Manchuria line from Vladivostok to
| Talienwan and Port Arthur and i should
| say 100000 is a very conservative estimate
! of the strength of this army. which is
! quite large enough to make their Man
| churia sphere of influence mean something.
| Hence when they determine to build a
railroad in their part of China they are
quite able to adjust all questions of right
| of-way, etc.
1.-THE English have been remarkably sue
| cessful in building up a trade with the Chi
nese, and as the great bankers of the
| Orient they have done equally WELL but
they have done little beyond this and ii
| remains to be seen whether their sphere
of influence which extends over the Yang
! tie and its tributaries shall be one of ac-
! ton, like that of the Russians in Manchur-
ia, or one which reaches its limitation in
| its ability to keep others out.
1.-The French in the south and the Ger
mans in Shantung are beginning to show
signs of activity which would indicate that
| their spheres of influence might cover a
! broader field than that of mere exclusion
| China Is full of concession hunters, all
| spending money lavlshly and all hopeful.
| Each and every one of them by his own