Year: 1869

to this all-absorbing stream. What an enor-
NOUS accumulation of specie there must be in
China! Where is it lodged? How is 1t used
Can it ever be reached and thrown into the
of vast importance to the commercial nations
Of Europe and America, and particularly to
the United States, for our commerce with China
will soon attain gigantic proportions. Four or
i've hundred millions of people can absorb,
doubtless, vast amount Of specie, even for
their interior commerce; still the mass of the
Chinese use comparatively little Of the precious
metal. Allowing that great deal is used in
art and for ornaments, there must be still
large accumulations in private hands or with
the government. There are probably colossal
and solid fortunes among the merchant princes
and chiefs Of China that eclipse those Of our
Astors, Stewards, or Vanderbilts, or rival that
Of Rothschild.


But the question with us is, how can this
continual drain of specie from the western
commercial nations to China be stopped9 Or,
how can we bring out and utilize in the COM
merce Of the world the enormous accumulated
specie in China? England has long felt the
necessity of doing something to this end,
and made efforts for that purpose. The
export of tea, silks and other products
from China has always been much greater than
the imports; consequently the balance Of trade
against the English and other commercial
nations had to be paid in the precious metals.
To prevent this drain of specie in Q measure
England stimulated the opium trade. Opium
Is an article, from its Intoxicating and peculiar
effects, which suited the Chinese and has been
extensively used. Indeed, 1t was used to such
an extent that the government Of China be-
came alarmed, and on the pretext that it was
demoralizing to the people laid an embargo
upon it. The principal object in prohibiting
the trade was, probably, to prevent the reaux
Of specie from China and to maintain the
balance of trade in favor of that country.
The opium war, as it was called, between
England and China was the result of the
effort to force the trade on one hand and to
prevent it on the other. But If greater
latitude were given to the opium trade even
that would not prevent specie balance in
favor of China, for her exports are enormous
and increasing. To say nothing Of the objec-
tions to such trade, which is really calculated
to greatly demoralize the Chinese, it is one in
which we have little interest. As far as our
commerce and interests are concerned we
must find other means Of balancing the trade
with China-other articles Of export-by an
extended Intercourse, by the creation of new
wants among the Chinese and by preparing to
supply such wants.


We have no doubt that quality of Ameri-
can tobacco could be grown and prepared to
suit the Chinese; then our Pacific coast and
Alaska fisheries and furs would find . market
in China. But there are hundreds of articles
which we manufacture, from steamboats,,
steam engines and locomotives to implements
of husbandry, things Of household conve-
nience, down to cunning Yankee gimcracks,
that the Chinese may be taught to use and
purchase. All that is wanted is free, extended
and friendly intercourse with the people.
Already there are numbers of American steam
boats running on the interior waters Of the
empire. The Chinese are particularly friendly
to Americans. Mr.. Burlingame, through his
for freer Intercourse and an extended trade.
The steamship line from San Francisco to
China, and the large immigration of Chinese to
California, are preparing the way for q more
intimate connection between the empire and
The United States. The Pacific railroads will
contribute greatly in bringing the trade with
China to and across the American Continent and
In enlarging our commerce. In fact, this country
occupies the most favorable position every
way for reaching and distributing the wealth
of China and for controlling its foreign trade.
But we are not without rivals. England and
the other commercial nations Of Europe are
pushing their telegraph communications to-
ward that vast empire, and are making great
efforts to secure the prize. It will not do to
fold our arms and be idle; for, with all our su-
perior advantages, action is necessary. We
must have the Pacific telegraph and the tele-
graph in China, and Europe must be led to
communicate with that part of the world by
way Of the American Continent instead of by
India, Central Asia or Russia. A people that
are in the best position to use these modern
agents Of progress and civilization, the tele-
graph and steam power, to the development
of the trade Of China, and win use them, must
become first in the race for commercial suprem-
acy. We occupy that position. Shall we profit
by il? Shall we establish such trade with
China as to unlock her vast accumulations Of
specie and turn the current Of commerce to
and across the American Continentp
Protection Needed for American Citizens


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