The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-27
THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE TO pEKIN


to furnish homes for the population that
IS increasing at the rate Of 100000 souls
per annum. The day will come when the
policy will be directed towards finding an
outlet for the manufactures of The Rus
sian population, but at present the popu-
lation is a simple agricultural one, de-
string only a climate and soil where life
can be supported without having to I'M
dergo the rigors OF an Arctic winter and
the fierce heat of a summer in a land
where the air is untempered by any large
Body OF water and where the sun beats
down with a heat that can be rivalled
only by Arizona and New Mexico.
Political prophecy has always been a
tflankless task, but there are certain
principles of growth in population which
are almost fixed certainties. One is that
with no serious check population will
double itself about every thirty years
For this increase Russia is seeking an
outlet in China and to this end she has
built railroads to carry the soldiers and
the peasants, has bought 100000 of flour
annually for their subsistence, and ma
d,inery for the opening and opera ton of
the coal mines and for use in railroad con-
struction. All of these necessares have
been furnished by Americans almost eN-
clusiveiy. who have found great CONNER
cial profit IN the advance OF Russia to the
Pacific
1t is also interesting to note that Ameri-
rect proportion with Russian advance, for
our exports go to the northern part of
China, where they are used ana wanted
by the Russians for their army and for
their emigrants. In addition 10 this,
America has exported millions of dollars
worth of cotton goods TO Southern China.
where our export trade has risen from
21a per cent. to 10 per cent. of the $780,
00o.0G0 in the Chinese import and export
trade
The continued advance of Russia with
its need for new railroads and new equip
ment will mean an extraordinary increase
in the trade Of America with northern
China and will yield rich returns to the
coal and steel industries of our country.
The building of two great ocean steam
ships that has recently been undertaken
by the Northern Pacific Railroad, the lu-
crative field for ocean freight that exists
between the western coast of America
and China. the increasing cheapness Of
the production Of steel in America, all
make it certain that sooner or later
and carry her own -four and machinery
and cotton 20 China, and for them she
will be richly repaid.
But in order TO keep the measure Of
trade with China that We now have, ii is
essential 1iaat China DE not divided up into
spheres of influence like those which the
French and German governments now
have desire to hold
It is part of the German foreign
policy TO exclude all foreign competition
from their colonies by pvohibitive tariffs.
In S:,antung, province over which the
Germans demanded The right of influence
as compensation for the killing of some
missionaries, means will be taken sooner
or later to exclude American products.
We do not doubt that the same will be
true Of France and it is perfectly con-
ceivable that self-preservation may force
this policy on England. Certainly the
English government, whose representa-
tives are liable to be changed at each
parliamentary election, has by no means
been unwayering in its allegiance to either
the sphere of influence or the open door as
the policy most suited to Englands needs.
AS we had occasion to say the other day,
what America needs in China is not a
sphere Of influence requiring troops and
civil officials to police and hold down
foreign race with the scant privilege of
excluding other competitors for trade, but
rather what We need is while being free
of any burden OF governins the Chinese. to
have the right to compete with all the
world for that trade which we should GER
tainiy gain and hold for the next two or
three generations. not only on account of
the natural energy of the America people,
but especially because we have within our
borders the raw materials for making and
supporting life in greater abundance than
anywhere else in the known world. except
China, What we will do when China be-
gins to develop her own resources for her
self Is another thing.