The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-23

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member of the United States industrial
commission is president. He spoke on
the cotton goods trade in China.
Senator ohm l.. McLaurin of South
Carolina. was also a guest of the clue,
and read a paper on Our Present Con-
ditiOns in the South and our Duty for
the Future"
Mr.. Ellison A. Smith, president of the
Pelzer Manufacturing Company, spoke
on The Question of the Hour, or the
Need of an Early an Peaceful Settle
ment Of the Oriental Question from the
Standpoint Of a Southern Manufac-
turer."
DR.. Charles w. Dabney, president of
the University of Tennessee, spoke or
The Possibilities in Cotton"
On his arrival this morning Minister
WI was met at the depot by a commit
tee and escorted to the club rooms,
where breakfast was served. After
that he was given a tour of the cotton
mills OF the city. In the afternoon he
held a reception in the parlors of the
club.
In his address at the diner tonight,
Mr. WI gave a general review of the
trade conditions between the south and
AAIC anu OL SHIIld = Importance
as a market for southern goods. After
quoting from advance sheets of the
reports for February 1901 he
said:
Large as is the amour of American
cotton goods which China imports
every year. it forms only one sixth Of
the quantity she buys from abroad.
Indeed. only the outpOrts of the coun-
try have been entered 1t is we'll Known
that the milk nf tho a mar:ran GOODS -
shipped to Manchuria and the province
of Chi Ii. Now Manchuria has a pop-
uiation of 1000, 900 and Chi Lii a popu-
lation of Is, DOC, 900. These are by 40
means the most thickly populated parts
of h empire. There are n
other provinces of China proper, many
of which have a denser population than
either Chi Ii or Manchuria. There is
no reason why American cotton goods
cannot find as ready market in the pro-
VinceS of central and southern China
as in the north.
1t is manifest hat the cotton grow
ers and manufacturer of these south
ern states have not only gained a foot
hold in Manchuria and north China, but
can. with but little effort. find a large
market for their goods throughout tn
whole of central and south China
THE only thing the American man
ufacturer has to keep in min is that
he should make goods suitable for the
Chinese markets. If properly placed
before the Chinese. American cottol
goods will obtain the same foothold in
southern China that they have in
northern. The present importations
are not nearly sufficient to meet the re-
Quirements.
1t must be borne in mind that the
Chinese never wear wool-not ever liz
the depth of winter; that generally
speaking, the entire population cloIn
themselves in cotton all the year round.
Their bed clothes. umbrellas and, III
few instances. boat sails are made OF
cotton. n the consumption is prac-
tically unlimited if they are made i'll
accordance with native requirements.
The cloth should be a strong, coarse,
unbleached cloth, % inches wide, retail
able at about ; cents in gold a yard or
sc cents in gold per piece of nine yards.
There is also a market for cotton
cloth. which tanned or otherwise treat
ed. would prove rain proof. Ill cotton
goods would have to be put in lengths
to suit the peculiar requirements of the
trade for which they are designed, ana
such details could best be learned after
having made a trial shipment.
The recent troubles in north China
have undoubtedly injured the American
cotton trade in that country. for the
ldTheL TOT SuCn SOOuS mas become u
vast camp for armed hosts. In the
midst of warlike operations trade and
commerce cannot flourish. The
restoration Of peace and order to that
distracted region will be a boon not
only to the inhabitants of north China
who have already suffered untold
losses and hardships. but also to south
ern planters, manufacturers and Labor.
ing men of all classes in this country.
who depend upon the return of the nor
NAL trade conditions in the Chinese EN-
pire for their continued prosperity. and
I sincerely hope and trust that this will
not be long delayed"
In beginning his speech. Senator Nc
Laurin said:
II desire to make a statement o.
somewhat personal nature before pro-
ceeding with the speech, which 1 in
tended to deliver tonight. \ certain
newspaper correspondent in the city of
Washington has persistently spread the
report that I was coming to Charlotte
to make Il speech which would launch
a new party in the south. The report
is absurdly false. If 1 had any such
Intention good taste would prevent me
from taking advantage of an oppor-
tunity of this kind. I am content tC
advocate within democratic line tt'e
policies which l believe to be the beSl
for the south. and when l can no longer
do this. 1 am ready to retire TO private
life"
He said that in the south today We
are realizing some of the dreams OF its
f~ar-seeing statesmen and business mel
of fifty years ago. The name the New
South is a misnomer. He said ina
time is past for the discussion as &c
whether this government is TO be on|
consolidated in its structure or a looss
aggregation of so-called soNerelSi
states. h civil war settled that
1T is useless he said Ito discuss the
question of whether there is TO be a
purely theoretical democratic govern
ment or an expanding and giant re-
public. The Spanish war settled tnaI
Why not then accept conditions as the>
are and make the best of them!
THE triumphal reelection OF M
Mckinley in the last campaign IS Iut
of significance. 1t is a bbo rae
confronting the democratic party 70
day. suggestive Of r~eproachful remem'
hrances and fearful what :