Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25


sage from China. a new progressive
China
Mr.. L. replying. said that he was not
a statesman nor an official nor an ennis
sary of any kind; he represented no one
but himself. He was the editor of a
Chinese paper published in Hongkong, a
British colony, the site Of which was
wrested from China after a war. or
rather a raid made on China. to prevent
it from stopping the importation and
sale of opium. drug which brutaii1es
and destroys its victims. The British
house of commons. he added. had re-
Gently acknowledged that this proceeding
was considered indefensible.
Young China required that her ports
should be opened and her trade relations
extended. but she would not break vio-
lently from her ancient customs. China
is wonderful country, inhabited by
strong and intellectually acute and virile
race. China's advance. when 1t comes.
people; it's people are neither predatory.
warl1ke nor aggressive. On the CONTRA
ry. China's advance meant increased de-
sireS among its people for necessaries or
Injuries. and a greater demand for trade.
Americas trade with China was once
great in the days of her sailing ships.
Since the days Of steamships her trade
has dW1ndled TO mere cipher.
China needs friendly guidance and
moral If not material aid. For centuries
she has been at the mercy of the small
est power which had a grievance or 4
desire for territorial aggrandizement.
Thus she had seen her territory invaded
her palaces looted her sacred places de-
filed. Helpless against force. she had
seen her islands. provinces and strong
places go into the hands OF nations fun
damentally weaker but more military.
a few years ago diplomats and publicists
gravely discussed the partition OF China
among great nnUqrG IN
China was creating armies now, not for
conquest, but only for defense China
desired protection while preparing for
her peaceful destiny. For this reason
China and America which would be in
the nature of a business agreement.
Such an alliance could not involve the
United States in trouble.
China has been bullied and robbed by
other nations in defiance Of International
law and common mo-
American rality. In helping China
Er;ond.h;, to move forward to her
proper place in the fam
lily of nations Americans would lay the
foundation of friendship which would
open up to their great manufacturing in
terests the most promising market in the
world.
Prof. Starr said he was surprised and
panied to discover. on going to China,
how very little progress American mer-
chants had made in China and how little
appreciation they seemed to have of the
things needful before they can hope to
compete successfully with other nations.
and especially with Germany. Americans
go over there and try to persuade the
Chinese to buy the things that are manu-
fna in, hfc ..
gard to the peculiar needs of that people.
If Americans hoped to be on basis with
other nations for the Chinese trade they
should first find out what the Chinese
want and then make 1t for them; Ameri-
cans had not followed that policy, and
hence their meager business with the
Chinese, compared with what 1t should be
if they went at it correctly.
Prof. Starr suggested the best means
to attract Chinese trade would be ITO es-
tabish commercial museums in China.
Commercial museums in China! With
great respect for the opinion of Prof
Starr, the writer nevertheless protests
that commercial museums are not only
costly institutions to maintain, but abso-
lutely useless and illusory. They would
prove to be merely schools for our COM
mercial rivals, who would quickly utilize
their lessons to the discontinue and loss
of the distant American manufacturer
AS for the manufacture of things in
America for the Chinese, there are many
obstacles which explain Americas loss
of trade with China. Mr.. Ellis Is an old
and experienced merchant in the far
east. In an article, american Merchan-
dry in the Far East in the Bulletin OF
American Industries for October he says:
Il do not think it necessary for me to
enlarge on the mistakes made by Ameri-
can manufacturers through their lack of
experience and ignorance of export bust
ness. which have cost trouble to exploit
American goods honestly in trade in the
far east.
Il went to the trouble and expense Of a
trip to the United States four years ago
to spend some time at
suggestions several factories in order
to instruct them just how
goods should be packed,
shipments hauled and what charges
should be made to meet requirements.
To my chagrin, on my return to my
territory, l found that few of the sug-
gestions had been carried out.
I'm the far east the manufacturer S
agent is eight to ten thousand miles away
and must arrange to pay for the goods
when they leave New York. and il they
do not come up to the specifications, or
arrive in time, he either has to make an
allowance out of his own pocket or else
the goods are thrown back on his hands
and he has to resell them, sometimes at
loss: very rarely does he get any re-
dress from an American manufactures"
Can these mistakes be corrected? If the
American exporter is the incorrigible bull
head he appears to be, on the testimony
OF Mr.. Ellis, the mistakes will not be
corrected, and our trade with the Chinese
will continue to suffer
There is remedy, however, and one
which will be joyfully welcomed by the
special commissioner The American
merchant and manufacturer should hasten
to establish plants in China, hasten to
enter this wide open door. where no
rival can go for the moment taking
with him capital and machines. Vast
plantations of cotton, ramie. or China
the American capitalist and manu-
facturer. who, with Chinese cheap
and intelligent labor. may successfully
defy all competition from whatever
source. Under such conditions the
American manufacturer may convert
China into a great commercial depot
which may supply all China and Man
churia and even India and Indo-China
The bond Of interest between China and
America is industrial, not political. Long
ago America should have decided to treat
Not from long range, but operating in
China itself. So long as the American
capitalist and manufacturer remain in
America the so-called "open door, will
prove a delusion and snare. American
capital must plant itself In China if IL
would succeed and effectually aid the
commerce of both China and America.
The visit at this moment of Tang-Shao-
VI marks an epoch in the friendly and in
1,,c vfn1 n1oti0 L