West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-06-16

looks 10 his own Interests. and nations
and the people composing them are tho
same IN that respect. l know that In
Europe there Is a disposition TO credit
America with the Worship OF the
mighty dollar above all else. but my
experience In this great land. many OF
whose distinguished citizens have Civ
en- me frlcnGship that I deeply appre-
ciate, has taught me that money Is not
everything aud that the hearts OF men
and women urc fun OF those Christian
qualities that place honor and fair play
higher than mere ncrillncss. Believ-
Ing that the American people, however
much their Judgment may have been
warped az tlmcs by mlsconceptlon OF
the truth. viii a,'e that there are two
sides 10 the present unfortunate con-
fiict in Asia. do not doubt that they
viii ultimately reach the conclusion
that iinSSisn progress is not only not
inimicai @ ihair interests. but distinct
~ helpful u them.
Let ny consider The issue I'm the far
east from the practical standpoint and
see TO what cxtcnt il bears on the SEN
timeutal. u Is claimed that with Rus.
sia out cf Manchuria that great PROV
ince would be a lucrative market for
American textile goods agricultural
implements aud notions. But would
there be no competition IN this trader
Immediately the rivalry Of Japan sug-
gesfs Itself. There are no people so
quick 10 learn as the japanese They
are Intelligent, deft, wonderfully lmI-
tativo. With the opportunity Of com
merclal success I'm Manchurla present
cd how quickly they would appreciate
the value OF learning the art OF max
Ing the goods demanded by the count
less inhabitants OF that territory!
Cheap grades OF cotton fabrics arc
necessary TO the Manchurlans: japan
would not be long IN learning 10 fash.
ion them. Manchuria. given up TO til.
Ing the soil. requires agricultural i'm.
plemcnts; the Japanese would quickly
be turning ont plows and harrows,
reapers and scythes. With their cheap
er labor and their nearncss 90 Manchu-
ria no other people could compete with
the Japanese.
But let US suppose for arguments
sake that Russia. triumphant In this
war, 1nds herself dominant I'm Man
churia. Japan. her enemy. could look
for 20 favors: she could not expect TO
find encouragement for the Importation
OF her manufactures. hut ManchurIa
would require many things that Russia
could not supply or supply at fgures
reasonable enough 10 create a market.
In Russin agriculture is, comparatively
speaking, more important than manu-
featuring. and those goods which are
made In my country are not such as
Manchuria would need. Russia. too.
would be obliged Go use the railway,
with its high freight tariffs Contrast
Russla's position commercially toward
Manchuria with TINT OF the United
States. IN this country are made not
only the very materials that would
find a ready sale among the people OF
the province, but with American goods
shipped by an al water route the cost
of transportation would be much lower
than the cost OF carrying ON the all
land routes to which RUSSIA would be
confined. Should Russia ship by water
to Manchuiia from Odessa the dis
tance would still be too great TO make
competition with the United States
successful From Moscow 10 Port Ar.
thur tie distance by rail Is 5000 miles.
II Is therefore easy to realize the prlyi-
legged position Of the United States In
competing over an all water route
from the Pacific coast with Russia
over an all rail route
What then. taking these matters into
consideration, Is the far eastern ques.
ton viewed IN It's commercial aspect
from the American point Of yiew7 on
the one hand stands Manchurla open
TO the commerce OF the world: japan
in competition with the United states,
manufacturing japan capable OF
making tile goods needed IN Manchu-
ria and OF making them cheaper than
America can make them and having
the additional advantage Of short all
water freight rates. On the other hand
stands Manchurln under Russian con-
troll, with y friendly hand extended TO
the United States and Japan given no
encouragement To my mind the con-
ciusion is obvious What better evil
dence OF Russian friendship could
America have than such an opening or,
TO merge the practical with the aenti-
mental, what better results could fol-
low for both America and Russia than
mliuai cooperation IN the stimulation
or American trade with Manchuria?