The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-02
MITCHELL TALKS CHINESE
 TRADE AND RELATIONS
Continued from Fifth Page,

Continued from Fifth Page)
 
 will cultivate the Chinese trade along sensible lines, but no country ever be- came rich by selling raw material alone.
 From the earliest times trade with China has been profitable, the Venecians found 1t so; the Portugese about the six teenth century found 1t so. Until the opium war in 1S1 all trade was carried on through the Hong Kong merchants and the Compradores had much to do with all mercantile transactions; the Compra- dore appears yet to be a necessary ad- junct to successful trading in China. In 1S42, England, on the termination of the war, was given the island of Hong Kong near the coast in south China, and by treaty five ports were opened to the trade of her people, who were permitted to trade with whom they wished. In 1S44 President Tyler sent Caleb Cushing to China to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with China which was &C., complished, and we then had similar priv ileges to England as to trade.
 "England's great merchant fleet, whose sails whitened the bosom of every port, has been a controlling factor in her com mercial primacy in the orient; the Iron Chancellor of Germany, illustrious Bis marck, once said, and truly No coun- try can become rich without a strong merchant marine and Hinterland.' Ger many has undoubtedly endorsed this idea for her progress in acquiring foreign trade in the past twenty years Is phe- nomenal Her manufactured goods are now in every country and the now fa- nous sign Made In Germany Is fa- miliar to all peoples Germany has pro- gressed because she has studied the for eign markets; studied each by personal examinations of conditions in each mar ket by experts; she has not tried to force her wares on peoples of divergent tastes and different habits of life and thought to those of her own country, but has asked each What do you want and how do you want it? and has then proceeded to make 1t just so
 The Early Beginnings.
 "Our trade relations, however, with China, had their first small beginning in 17S4, and was done entirely through the Hong or warehouse merchants, till after the Cushing treaty. Great impetus was given to the Chinese trade after the Jap anese treaty of Shimoneseki was conelud- ed with the Chinese about ten years ago. while this treaty was in terms with the Japanese yet 1t gave other countries equal privileges through the most favored na- ton clause in the treaties they had with China. All imports into China are reckon ed in the Haikwan or customs Tael which is merely a given weight of silver about 1-3 ounces averdupoise and fluctu- ates with the price of silver bullion The Chinese also have the shoe of Sycee or Sycee silver, generally weighing about one pound Troy; this is not issued by the government, but by individuals. and bears the chop or stamp of the party issuing It; 1t is called by the Chinese wan yin or pure silver, the standard being aFa ap. l. l.. .-... of the people.
 ''The question of a stable currency seems In a way to be a deterrent to the extension of trade in the Orient; the fluct- nations in silver are rapid and often violent not only do these differences be- tween silver and gold hold as between China and other countries. but 1t exists in different places in China, hence forms one of the chief sources of profits to the Chinese banks.
 Although currency reform is arranged for in our treaty with China 1t makes little or no progress on account of the natural opposition of these interested in- fluences. Undoubtedly now that war Is over in the Orient there will be period of unprecedented development in China, which may continue uninterruptedly Tor years: railroads will be built, mines open ed and other development began through this will come better wages. hence the in- creased capacity of the Chinese to buy; better country roads as well as railroads will cheapen transportation and extend and widen the territory demanding our goods This is the bright spot in the fu- ture business with China, and these con- ditions and probabilities should be sup plemented and strengthened by the estab- ment of cordial relations based not on finesse, but on justice In order that in ter-communication can be satisfactory and permanent. Such a thing would not only be right and appeal to every honest man in China, but would rebound great ly to our national interest.
 Modify Our Laws.
 ..Our laws must be modified if we get the trade we should have; the laws are not fair. It Ill becomes a great nation to practice injustice. Public sentiment Is rapidly chrystalizing for better treatment of the Chinese. Railroad building has just begun in China: this will proceed rapidly now, no doubt, since the Russo Japanese war is over, and will create great demand for our manufactures.
 "The industrial development will give better and more remunerative employ ment to labor; better living will follow these changes. This In turn will give to labor in this country more work, in the goods we will make for export to China, so the situation seems bright for both countries.
 ..The profitable China business was no doubt fin view when the fight in 1901 be- tween the Hartman forces on one side and the Hill forces on the other for con- trol of the Northern Pacific ran its stock up to S1000 per share. Mir. Hilrs road, the Great Northern, secured the control and has built two of the largest vessels afioat on the Pacific for the Oriental trade-the Minnesota and the Dakota-each of S,000 tons capacity; they have a capacity to carry 5000 passengers each. The grades on these roads have been changed curves cut out at places. and engines formerly pulling trains of 23O tons each now pull trains of 450 tons each
 "All this preparation is being made by