Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-19
McLAURlN AN EXPANSlONIST
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR'S AID
DRESS AT A BANQUET.
Tie Indirectly Takessa slap at Bryan
Observation-Disclosures WIS
Remarks.

Mr. Wa Ting Fang, the Chinese minister,
Ind Senator John l.. McLaurin of South
Carolina, were guests and the chief speak
ers at dinner given by the Southern Man
ifacturers' Club at Charlotte, N c.. last
night.
Senator McLaurin read a paper on Our
Present Conditions in the South and Our
DUTY for the Future
He said: THE time IS past for the dis
nuss!on as to whether this government is
To be one consolidated in its structure or a
loose aggregation of (so-called) sovereign
states The civil war settled that.
at Is useless to discuss the question
whether there is to be a purely theoretical
democratic government or an expanding
md giant republic. The Spanish war set
tied that Why not then accept condi-
lions as they are and make the most of
them?
The triumphant reelection of Mr. Nc
Hinley in the last campaign is full of
significance. 1t is a stubborn fact con-
fronting the democratic party today, sug-
gestiye of reproachful rememhrances and
fearful nenaCes- What a reflection that
this new democracy did not carry a state
where the issues were discussed and judg-
ment passed by the people upon them on
their merits" Opposition to expansion. he
said. is folly. ''Our people understand that
At is not actual territory or dominion over
people that We seek. but the expansion of
American thought, ideas of government,
commerce and civilization"
In his address Mr.. wv gave a general
review of the trade conditions between the
south and the orient, and of China's i'm
p0rtanca as a market for southern goods.
After quoting from advance sheets of the
consular reports for February, 1901, he
said:
Large as is the amount of American
cotton goods which China imports every
year. # forms only One-sixth of the quaint
cfe hTYr frs.yT l'1Nr T1,Te f,.,ty-
the outskirts of The country have been
entered. 1t is well known that the bulk
o. the American goods is shipped to Man
Churia and the province of Chilli. Now.
Manchuria has a population of 100000
and Chill a population of 5000 600.
These are by no means the most thiCkly
populated parts of the empire. There are
seventeen other provinces of China proper,
many Of which have q denser population
than either Chilli or ManChuria. There
IS no reason why American cotton goods
cannot find as ready d market in the
provinces Of central and southern China
as in the north.
'"The only thing the American manufac-
tUrer has to keep in mind is that he should
make goods suitable for the Chinese mar
ketS- If properly placed before the Chi
rese. American cotton goods will obtain the
same foothoId IN southern China that they
have In northern. The present impOrta-
tions are not nearly sufficient to meet the
requirements.
1T must be borne in mind that the Chi
rese never wear wOCl-nOt even in the
depth of winter: that generally speaking
the entire population Clothe themselves in
cotton all the year round.
The recent troubles in north China have
undoubtedly injured the American cotton
trade in that country. for the market for
such goods has become a vast camp for
armed hosts. In the midst of warlike Op-
eTatipns. trade and commerce cannot con-
tlnCe L. flourish. The restoration of
peace and order to that distracted region
VIII be a boon not only to the inhabitants
OF north China. who have already suffered
Untold losses and hardshps but also to
southern planters. manufacturers and la
& boring men Of all classes in this country
who depend upon the return of the normal
trade conditions in the Chinese empire for
TIER continued prosperity. and | sincerely
hope and trust that this win not be long
delayed
The other speakers We're Mr. Ellison A.
Smythe. DR.. Charles W. Dabney and Sena-
tor PritChard.