The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-07-25

N'sN NAN - y 'ff''s'sNNf f''"
perity is increased.
How is the United States helping tn
promotion of the trade her merchant
are endeavoripg TO build up. | al
afraid that ii the governments actor
in regard to China be taken as a cri
terion the trade is more likely TO BE- kill
ed than fostered
Before going into what justides tn,
above statement let us compare Amer
lea with England and Germany as re
CARDS trade with China. These three ar,
doubtlessly the principal manufacturing
nations OF the world, but England ant
Germany at present hold the maiorit,
of China's trade; should this be the case
though! think not, for ii an alta,
is consulted it will be seen that Of the
three nations America is so situated rs
to be in closer connection with China
than either of the other two and study.
ing the question from other standpoints
We can not but arrive at the conclusion
that China is naturally the market for
American products.
1t is certain that American merchants
are becoming aware Of this and ara al.
so endeavoring to secure the position,
is clearly shown by the mammoth steam
ships plying across the Pacific ocean aud
the fact that these ships are usually
loaded down with freight for the Ori.
ent shows the merchants are making
great strides toward their object,
Now, instead OF stepping in and as.
sisting the enterprise, the government
OF the United States is on the contrary
doing its utmost to destroy the work
by proving most aggressive to China
and il this policy il continued the mer.
chants will see their efforts nullified.
Take. for example, the manner in
which America behaved in the case OF
the murder of Chinaman at Canton.
This incident reflects no credit on the
nation, on the other hand American
interests have suffered great harm.
The circumstances of the ease are as
follows; A number of sailors off one of
the United States men of war, were
crossing the bridge adjoining the fof9
eign concession with the native city in
the exurberancc Of spirits tossed China
man into the canal. Although the water
was shallow. the unfortunate man was
drowned owing to his landing head first
into the mud.
An inquiry was held, but the Chinese
witnesses failed TO identify the eulprit
and needless to say his companions
shielded him, the case rested and the rel.
atives received no satisfaction in the
matter for nearly year when blood
money was offered to the extent of $500
and even when this was about to be ac.
cepted the American authorities drew
back and endeavored to bargain.
A Chinese Journal commented most
bitterly on the affair and among other
remarks said that If it had been a for.
eign missionary killed, great cry would
have been raised and ten times the
amount demanded. This is perfectly
true. for did not Germany occupy Khan.
chow on a similar excuse? And from a
small beginning increased her influence
until it spreads well over Shantung.
The fact that the sailors wore the uni.
form Of the United States navy made
the case more serious and it is only
natural that If in the future the Chinese
look askance upon the stars and stripes.
The excitement over the foregoing has
hardly subsided, when another case for
friction arises and this will no doubt
prove more serious blow to American
commercial interests. II Is TO the Chin.
pse exclusion law that ] allude. Grant.
ing that the great majority Of the Chin.
ese population is composed of unedu.
,ated people, it must not be lost sight
Of that the Chinese merchant is man
Of high intelligence and integrity. Fur.
thermOre this class must not be con.
founded with the corrupt official element
10 prohibit this class entry Is in no way
fair and is going to prove disastrous to.
the good relationship existing between
the countries and the principal guilds
are prepared to show their antipathy to
this law by boycotting all things Amer
lean. Ask person who knows anything
at all about China from a commercial
standpoint and he will tell You the
power of the Chinese guild; the trade
unions of America are insignificant in
comparison, for the guild is composed
Of both the master and the man, cap.
ital and labor
The principal guild has held large