The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1900-07-20

TIEN-TsIN CUSTOM HOUSE.
ural and manufactured. of Europe and
America. The population OF China is
so vast and its needs are So many ami
complex that the governments turn To
IL as Il natural outlet for their surplus.
The Chinese foreign trade for last year
amounted, In round numbers, TO about
$3lJ, 100000. or this the share OF the
United States was about 10 per cent.
the largest shares going To Great Brit
ain and Japan.
Since four centuries ago, when China
was first revealed To European eyes as
IL promising field for exploration and
trade, its commerce has Increased by
leaps and bounds. Until the fourth
decade OF the century just closing this
Chinese trade was in very confused.
uncertain state ana was carried on
with scarcely Il semblance or regular
ity or order. The exports OF China
were principally tea and silk; its I'M
ports were whatever adventurous
American and European traders would
risk. The commerce Was Of an exceed
ingly picturesque character, masmuch
as much of IL Was done under the con-
slant fear Of piracy, anu ships were
compelled To go armed. Its interest.
too, was heightened b. the fact that
bribery OF Chinese officials played n
most important part. Trade was ham
pcrcd by these things. combined with
the oppressive veXatiOns OF Il multi
pllcity of duties and restrictions on
"A Of
ucts. The ordinary people were III IA
Vur of commerce, since IL afforded
them "A chance To obtain foreign goods,
while the mandarin or ruling class.
fearing the advent Of foreigners, raised
objections and obstacles To IL.
After constant disScnSiOns and fire.
qucnt periods Of open warfare with
the European powers in 1872 the Eng
lish compelled the Chinese government
To open five free ports. At the same
time the island of llongkong. upon
which is situated the city Of Victoria.
the principal port of China, WAS ceded
10 Great Britain. Since then many
more ports. Including several on the
great rivers in the far interior Of Chi
ma. have been declared open for trade.
The customs have long been In the
hands Of tile British. who have cAcr-
CiScd Il wise control over them. Since
about lNl3 commerce has crown with
much greater regularity ami rapidity.
So that now Chinese trade is prize
Well worth. ConIrnding for.
I;ut while asserting ami remember
mg The needs al this vast, i'll assorted
mass If people IL must not be forgot
Ten that for Il long time after the war
il will hv necessary Ia carry un 4 cam
paIgu al education ami exploitation.
The eye ami ear are delighted Ia learn
that The Middle Kingdom has iuoooo.-
Gao prnplc. all Of whom are SuppuS-
eel To hr eager for trade. IL l. fact
that at these four hundred or NOR"
millions mot more than 'nWhNh are
in even the slightest touch with trade
AMI civilization. Outside OF sIns IL IA
dluS around the treaty ports the coun-
Try il in "A state al primrVal h3Tharily
or perhaps of long forgotten CINlllZa-
ton. Ii il difficult To scc how these
hrui.ht,d MASSES are Ia hc penetrated.
but il is hoped that the railroad ana
the telegraph will wake them into sell
ShiIity To external conditions. In pass
ing il il interesting Ia note that the
uun.kung papers still contain almost
daily accounts - piracicS committed III
ChinrS. waters. This will serve as one
instance. of the difficulties 10 Ice over
come.
All accounts agree in assembling tn
the average Chinaman honesty in bust
ness dealings. Indeed honesty is en-
forced OH the Chinese 10y the maXims
OF their great teacher Confucius and