The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-07
CHINA AND AMERICA

The Chinese minister in Washington,
WI Iing-Fang, contributes to the cur
rent issue of the North American Review
an interesting paper on Mutual Helpful
ness between China and the United
States" He begins by quoting from Con-
fucius the saying that Reciprocity might
serve as a guiding principle through life,
and applies that term to the relationship
which should exist between the United
States and China. He proceeds to show
that the capacity of the American people
to produce is now greater than their ca
Dacity to consume and that they must
have market for their surplus products.
To make a long story short, he believes
that China is the field which the United
States should above all other fields Guilt
vate. To give an idea of the vast extent
of that country, he points out that China
in extent OF territory and density OF
population exceeds the whole of Europe.
Ito he more exact he says. the prov
ince of Szechnen can muster more able
bodied men than the German Empire
The province of Shantung can boast OF
as many native born sons as France
Scatter all the nhabitants of Costa RIGA
or Nicaragua in Canton and they would
be completely lost in that city's surging
throngs. Transport all the people OF
Chill into China and they would only fill
| d city of the first class
He then tells us what an enormous de-
mand there is in China for cotton goods
and that the supply in America Will never
| exceed the demand in China. He tells US
also that there is a growing demand in
China for other American products and
that as railroads are built, there will be
an increased demand for American loco
motives and cars.
China can do this for the United States.
| Now for reciprocity What can the United
States do for China? In reply to this
! question, he says that we can build them
| railroads, help them to develop their vast
| mineral resources, particularly their
! coal, which. he declares, is enough to
supply the world for three thousand years.
| He asserts that railroads in China Will
| pay handsome dividends. There are at
| present, according to his statement, only
| about four hundred miles OF railroad open
| to traffic throughout the whole country
! and all the lines building and projected
| foot up TO five or six thousand miles
| more. Comparing these with the United
| States, lie says that China proper covers
| about as many square miles as the States
| east of the, Mississippi, ana that these
| States, with a population Of less than So
ooo.Do, require 100000 miles or railroad 10
| do their business.
| He shows that railroading in China
| will pay because there the new railroads
| do not have to so through undeveloped
| sections and wait for their traffic until
| the country is built up. but that every
railroad built would pass through a
thickly settled country and would have
fine traffic from the beginning.
In conclusion Minister WI complains
that while the Chinese have the very
kindest regard for America and Americans,
the United States government has not
been as liberal as il might have been in
dealing with China, and he believes that
our exclusion acts should apply TO other
nations as well as TO China. lie also be-
lieves that il we dealt with China as We
deal with other nations we should never
Zoe overrrun with Chinese cheap labor.
This is an Interesting paper, although
we take it that it was Written some time
before the present outbreak in China be-
gan. But whether or not, it shows that
China is a most inviting field for American
capital ami for American trade, and it IS
the business of our government to see to
il that whatever shall be the outcome of
the present complications the DOOR 10
Chinese trade shall be kept wide open TO
the people of this country.