The San Francisco call., 1903-09-22

AND TAF ARE
HIS SUBJECTS
Prof. MOSeSDeliVerS
an Important
Speech.
Predicts a Vast In
crease in Trade
With Islands,
Large Gathering at Unita-
rian. Banquet Listens to
Eloquent Address.

Professor Bernard Moses, recently re-
turned from the Philippines, where, as
commissioner he participated in the task
of establishing a new and comprehensive
form of government. was the guest of the
Unitarian Club of California at its thir-
teenth annual banquet. which was held
last evening in the Maple room of the
Palace Hotel. There were present SO)
guests, who listened TO an address by
Professor Moses, which was voted to be
one of the ablest ever delivered before the
club and one that caused much favorable
comment.
Professor Moses speech was a brilliant
review of the work of the Philippine
commission, a defense of the national ad-
ministration against the attacks made
upon it by its political opponents and
contained an eloquent ana graceful trib-
ute to the work done by Governor Taft.
He predicted that as Secretary of War,
position which Governor Taf. is soon to
assume, his vast knowledge Of the con-
ditions in the Philippines and his deep ap-
pISCldllOn Oh luGlI COIillIltIClti lStdNAOAS
with the Pacific Coast will be of great ben
eft to the many important interests of
California.
AS presiding officer of the banquet
President Lisser of the club introduced
Professor Moses to his fellow members,
who accorded the speaker an ovation that
lasted for several minutes. After briefly
acknowledging the welcome given him the
professor proceede with his speech,
which in part was foitows:
VAST TRADE IN PROSPECT.
1.-The trade that is growing UP with
Japan points to a vastly greater trade
that may be developed with China. sup
plemented by the trade of the Philip
pine Islands. But before any very i'm
portant results are reached we shall have
to conclude that we wish the trade of the
East and take such legislative action as
will encourage it, for it is hardly TO be
supposed that the wealth of the Orient
Will be poured into our basket unless we
at least take off the lid.
THE fact that our route to the East is
shorter than that of any other important
European or American city is matter of
some moment, but after all a few thou
sand miles of steaming, more or less. are
not really determinative of. freight
charges. Not many months ago the
freight rate from Hongkong TO Manila,
a distance of coo miles, was as high as the
rate from San Francisco to Manila, a dis
tance of 1000 miles. and even this does
not argue that the San Francisco rate
was~low. And the rate from Manila to
Vigan, few hundred miles up the coast
of Luzon was little, if any, less or
course distance makes a possible lower
limit, but it is not distance in most cases
that makes the actual rate.
THE Europeans are not anxious to have
the products of the East reach us by the
short route of the Pacific They are will
ing we should buy these wares, but only
after they have carried them two-thirds
of the way around the world They are.
therefore, making vigorous efforts to con-
tinue the Oriental trade in it's ancient
channels. Each of the leading nations of
Eurcpe-England, France, Germany. Aus
tria, Holland, Spain and Italy-has at
least one great line of steamers engaged
in the trade of the Far East, and some of
them have more than one line If hap
peHeu 10 pe NY ldle' soIhe months ago,
to be shut up for few days in a quar-
antine station on the bank of the Suez
Canal. Ten or twelve immense ocean
steamers went trooping by every day.
They told most eloquently Of the peace
full war Europe is making for the posses
sions of the East. Some of these ships
carried the products of the Philippines.
and in this case the trade was surely dis
regarding the flag. They furnished, how
ever, an illustration of the familiar facts
that the currents of commerce. like the
currents of wind and water, flow where
there is least obstruction.