The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-21

TWINS - ltS w AQlClS0IGS IN kAO
and the people composing them are the
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 a friendship that I deeply appre-
ciate, has taught me that money is not
everything and that the hearts Of men
and woncn are full Of those Christian
qualities that place honor and fair play
higher than mere s%ordidness. Believ-
ing that the American people, however
much their judgment may have been
warped at times by misconception Of
the truth, will see that there are two
sides to the present unfortunate con-
f1ict in Asia, l do not doubt that they
will ultimately reach the conclusion
that Russian progress is not only not
ly helpful to them.
Let us consider the issue in the far
east from the practical standpoint and
see to what extent it bears On the SEN
timental. 1t is claimed that with Rus
STA out Of Manchuria that great prov
ince would be a lucrative market for
American textile goods, agricultural
implements and notions. But would
there be no competition in this trade?
Immediately the rivalry of Japan sug-
gests itself. There are no people so
quick to learn as the Japanese. They
are intelligent, deft, wonderfully imi-
tative. With the opportunity of COM
mercial success in Manchuria present
ed 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 are
necessary to the Manchurians; Japan
would not be long in learning to fash
ion them. Manchuria, given up to till
ing the soil, requires agricultural i'm
plements; the Japanese would quickly
be turning out plows and harrows,
reapers and scythes. With their cheap
er labor and their nearness to Manchu-
ria no other people could compete with
the japanese.
But let us suppose for arguments
sake that Russia, triumphant in this
war, finds herself dominant in Man
churia. Japan, her enemy, could look
for no favors; she could not expect to
FIND encouragement for the importation
of her manufactures. But Manchuria
would require many things that Russia
could not supply or supply at figures
reasonable enough to create a market.
T., It,,r,so n ,~s - ~, M sr oy,o W. "
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 to use the railway,
with it's high freight tariffs. Contrast
Russia's position commercially toward
Manchuria with that 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 all water route the cost
of transportation would be much lower
than the cost of carrying or the all
land routes to which Russia would be
confined. Should Russia ship by water
to Manchuria from Odessa the dis
lance would still be too great to make
competition with the United States
successful. From Moscow to Port Ar
thur the distance by rail is 5000 miles.
1t is therefore easy to realize the priv
legged position of the United States in
competing owe 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 view? On
the one hand stands Manchuria open
to the commerce of the world; Japan
in competition with the United States
a manufacturing Japan capable OF
making the 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 Manchuria under Russian o.
troll, with a friendly hand extended to
the United States and Japan given nc
encouragement. To my mind the con.
clusion Is obvious. What better evi.
dence of Russian friendship could
America have than such an opening or
to merge the practical with the senti.
mental. what better results could fol.
low for both America and Russia than
mutual cooperation in the stimulation
of American trade with Manchuria?