The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-26
MINISTER. WI OFFERS ADVICE.


While We are assisting N the grand
carnival Of Christian civilization now in
progress in China; while our missionaries
and our guns are doing their best to
make civilized angels of the inhabitants
of the Celestial empire, WI Ting Fang,
the accredited representatives Of the son
Of heaven, is doing a little missionary
work On his own hook among the upper
classes OF the United States
He does not employ the Chr stan
methods OF deception, war and devesta-
ton, but relies upon the barbarous force
OF ideas to convert the people to his
view. He goes about the country drop
ping remarks which have the peculiar
effect of making people think Indeed,
N1slster WA is the most heathenish
thought gero orator ever on exhibition in
this republic
The public was becoming used to his
philosophy, his religion and his diplomacy
and supposed his mental horizon was
bounded by these lines of thought In
this, however the public was mistaken.
The Chinese, it seems, can give the Amer
loans pointers IN the old and we'll plow-
ed field of commerce.
At meeting Of the Southern Manufac-
turers' club at Charlotte, N. c. few
days ago, Minister WI was called upon
to discuss the possibilities Of China, as
cotton market for the United States. Mr..
WI expressed his surprise at the condi-
ton of the American manufacturers In
the cotton market IN China, only one
sixth of which IS supplied by American
importers. He bIuntly expressed his sur
prise that a nation SO progressive as the
United States should fail to study the
wants Of the foreign markets. For # Is
only by studying the needs, the tastes
and the prejudtces of the Chinese peo-
pie that their trade can be secured"
says this business philosopher This ad-
vice is so simple and so sensible that it
seems that it should be followed before
being given, but it came as news to the
cotton manufacturers of America.
The American way Of securing foreign
trade is to make up a lot of goods for
sold here is taken to foreign parts and
forced upon the market without regard
to the wants Of the people or the cost
price Of the goods. The progressive
American has proceeded upon the theory
that it is easier to create a market by
creating wants than it is to arrange to
supply wants already existent.
WI says that as the Chinese never
wear wool and as the bed clothing, as
well as umbrellas and boat sails, are
made Of cotton the demand for that fab
ric is unlimited, but it must be Of GER
tain texture. That to ship a boatload
Of American prints sto China for sale
would be to invite commercial defeat so
far as that enterprise is concerned. The
cotton goods, says WI, should be a
strong, coarse. unbIeached cloth twenty
two inches wide. retailable at about 8
cents yard or SO cents gold, for a piece
Of nine yards There is a market for
ether kinds Of cotton cloth which tanned
or otherwise treated, would be rain proof
All cotton goods will have to be put in
length to suit the peculiar requirements
Of the trade for which they are designed.
Such details could be learned after MAX
Ing trial shipment" This fs sense
common sense. Too common to be heed
cd. but it is the only way the United
States will ever be successful in the for
eisn market. We are too prone to force
our goods and our styles as well as our
ideas upon foreign people. We are self
complacent, like our British cousins. Our
new clothes of world commerce do not
rs yet fit US. Our manner too is some
times offensive. we swagger and throw
out our chest-while we swell with pride
II the United States wishes to contror tho
commercial situation. the manufacturer