Washington sentinel., 1900-09-29
Will Chinese De=
pelopment Bene-
tit tbe Dest.

oiChina by
foreign capital, ,Bradstreet's trade journal
sounds the following warning note 1.-THE
supply Of labor is undoubtedly a vast
one, and 1t needs but little prophetic
acumen .to point out tina. some day
China will figure as a great competitor
in many lines Of industries in the
markets Of the world"
Analysing this statement, John P
Young managing editor of the San
Francisco Chronicle, has a thoughtful
article in the Forum for November. His
special training and favorable location
makes him an authority on the subject.
The article is peculiarly timely IN view
of the "glittering generalities" being
scattered broa dcast TO catch the unwary,
both politically and financially as the
great advantages to be derived from the
exploitation Of China. The impression
IS sought to be conveyed that "when
railways are constructed and communi.
cation with all points ofthe vast empire
is made easy continuous stream OF raw
materials desired by the Western
World will flow out of China, for which
western manufacturers will give in
exchange the finished products of their
workshops"
But it must not be forgotten that trade
is "the exchange OF surpluses" The
overwhelming Surplus" of China is
labor. at is the product of the energy
OF this surplus. and not raw materials
that China will seek an outlet for when
she acquires our habits" To appreciate
the extent Of this possible surplus it may
be stated that while agricultural devel-
opment IN the United States has only
reached the capacity of supporting as
persons to the square mile, there are
found in rural China as many as STA to
the square mile. If the ability of these
people to purchase IS to be increased,
they must resort to some occupation
other than agriculture or mining. In a
word they must be employed 10 fash.
ioning the goods themselves 1t is only
IN the utilization Of surplus labor IN this
way that railroads could be made
profitable.
mo railroad could hope to thrive in
a country where the masses are contin.
uallY forced to the limit of subsistence"
and "the standard OF living cannot be
raised in any denselV populated coun-
try, il the workers have no other resort
than to till the soil and to produce the
raw materials Of manufacture" Under
present economic conditions the Chin
ese can spin and weave with their hand
looms a strong cloth which suits them
better than any that can be offered them
at an equal price. 1t would be absurd
to presume that II Western habits be
adopted the Chinese will long remain
consumers OF manufactured goods.
But will the Chinese adopt Western
habits? What progress has been made
m this direction? The imports into
the Mongolian Empire during the year
1893 Swere valued at only SI7o, 1000, 600.
This was an increase over 1897 of only
So, 600 900, and was mainly in opium,
coal, raw cotton, kerosene oil, flour and
sugar, and the imports Of cotton goods
have remained stationary for years."
4 hNo~ AAAAk kcAA9 ANPAN9~AA VIC AdhlukN
from all foreign nations, and embrace a
large proportion OF products OF which
the West has no surplus Wea forced
to conclude that Chinese are not eager
to consume Western manufactures. In
halfa century Europeans and Americans
have not succeeded in securing as large
a market for their manufactured goods
among the millions living near the
treaty ports, where there have been few
obstacles, as they have in sparsely
settled Argentine IN half that time.
IL Is a mistake to suppose that the.
fsilure Of the Chinese to adopt Western
habits IS the result OF ignorance. II so,
it is the ignorance of the "fancied
superiority" which has enabled colonies
OF them living side by side with the
Americans for years to preserve ada
mautine wall OF resistance to Western
Innovations. They are of a mind with
Iohn Stuart Mill, who said that sit Is
questionable if all the mechanical
inventions yet made have lightened the
days toll ofa human being" and
therefore averse to disturb the existing