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October 25, 1909.]
standard, which all respectable nations (with its solitary exception) have now adopted. This, of course, Mr. TAFT sees correctly, would enable China to take a vastly increased amount of American goods. Now this, as may be said of all heresies, whether of religion or statecraft, contains a vast amount, perhaps the greater part, of truth. Nearly all heresies, says an able writer, have arisen from over-valuation of a single aspect of the facts to be explained, and this is especially true of the heresy beloved of all pious Americans of the Balance of Trade." Seen from an orthodox point of view profitable trade must always have an, apparently, adverse balance: the balance," only imaginary indeed, really represents the profits of the trade; for otherwise and this is perfectly in accord with logic-there would be no profit left for either exporter or importer. This is the great financial truth that really lies at the bottom of the decline of the foreign com- merce of the States. Of its very nature international trade must be mutual, and the nation that seeks deliberately to shut out imports from abroad must by the very necessity of the case raise the exchange against itself to such a degree as to practic- ally arrest the entire flux of commerce. This is practically what the United States in their mistaken policy of Protection run wild have been doing for the commerce of the world. The question is not one of Protection in the abstract, nor yet of Free Trade; both may have their peculiar fields where they advantage the country adoping them. But both when misapplied may be found to do irreparable damage to the country that makes a fetish of either. We spoke last week of the injury done to Great Britain by the ignorant worship of a false Free Trade, so we may be accepted as im- partial when we discuss the similar damage done to the United States by the equally senseless worship of the demon of Protection,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE PORTOLA FESTIVAL,
(Daily Press, October 19th.) For many months past the citizens of San Francisco have been engaged in preparations for the opening to-day, ofthe greatest carnival in history," which is to cost the community two million gold dollars. The announcements tell us that the festival, which will last four days, is being held to celebrate the discovery of San Francisco Bay by GASPAR DE PORTOLA and a little band of warriors in November 1769, but (as out American friends would say) just why this discovery is being celebrated on the 19th day of October, 1909, we do not know, except it be merely an excuse to draw the world's attention to the fact that San Francisco, which suffered so terribly by fire and earth- quake a few years ago, has now been com- pletely rebuilt. Thousands of tourists from all parts of the world are expected to be in San Francisce during the festival. An international fleet of warships will be in the Bay, among them being H.M.S. Bedford, detached from the China Squadron, and the Japanese cruiser Idzumi. The central feature of the carnival will be a representation of DON GASPAR's entry into the city with his soldier hand, and there he will, for the first time, meet his royal consort, "the Queen of Beauty," who has been selected by popular vote from among two thousand ladies.
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the country drove away the Indians and reduced the settlement to ruins. A new city` was founded in 1839, but the population in 1845 did not exceed 150. Numerous settlers from the United States began to flock there, even before California was ceded to that country in 1848. A new era had opened for San Francisco in the previous year with the discovery of gold. The inhabitants deserted the city for the diggings; trade was at an end, and all business seemed to have ceased. But only for a very short time. News of the discovery of gold brought to the district eagar crowds of emigrants, the harbour became thronged with ships, and San Francisco suddenly became a thriving place. Building operations began on a large scale, the value of property rose rapidly, and with- in a year the population had risen to more than 15,000, and five years later it had risen to 60,000. Gold was exported from San Francisco in the Fifties at the rate of ten million pounds sterling annually, but in a few years San Francisco began to rise above the condition of a mere landing place for gold diggers; the surplus population of the mining camps began to turn their attention to the agricultural wealth of California, with the result that the trade in gold soon began to form a smaller proportion of the whole trade of the place. What has chiefly made San Francisco, says an American writer is the fact that California is an empire in The expedition which led to the dis- itself. Its resources are incredibly varied covery of San Francisco Bay was and abundant. It is pre-eminent in fruits organised in Lower California in 1768 by and wines of many sorts. It is twelfth in Don JosE DE CALVEZ, Visitador General wheat production. In gold it is second only of Spain, at the request of Don CARLOS to Colorado, with $16,000,000 a year, and in FRANCISCO DE CROIX, Viceroy of New Spain. silver, third among the States, with Its object was the fortification of and $18,000,000. Over 125,000,000 gallons of establishment of missions at the ports of petroleum were shipped from San Francisco San Diego and Monterey. Don GASPAR DE last year. It also has tremendous outputs PORTOLA, captain of dragoons in the regi- of lumber, fish, wool, live stock and produce. ment of Spain, was given command of the Its inhabitants in 1900 were about equal to expedition and appointed political and the combined population of Oregon, Wash- military Governor of California. The ex-ington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New pedition was broken up into two land and Mexico. A few years. hence our Pacific We have more especially spoken of China two sea divisions. The plan of the expedition Coast will include at least four cities of the in this connection, but China is not the only was for all four divisions to start at different first class. At San Francisco, let us say, country that teaches the same lesson. Mr. times for San Diego and then make that will be the New York of the Pacific Coast, TAFT finds that the American trade with place a base of supplies, from which the at Seattle its Boston; at Portland its the South American people shows precisely expedition would go north to Monterey, Philadephia, and at Los Angeles its similar signs, and his proposed panacea is to The sea divisions started first, the San Carlos Baltimore." That the people of San Fran- largely subsidise a line or lines of steam-leaving La Paz January 9, 1769, and the cisco have a stong faith in the destiny of the rapid boats to carry American goods to the River
their city is evidenced in Plate. As GLENDOWER'S scheme of calling
re-building of the city after the terrible spirits from the vasty deep was met by Hors-
earthquake and one of the main objects PUR's rejoinder But will they come when
of the Portola festival which opens to- you call them?
We may well ask Mr. TAFT:
day is doubtless to innoculate with that Will his American goods go on board
faith the thousands of people who will when his steamers are ready to receive them?"
be visiting the city this week, not only from It seems far more likely, if the subsidy be
the other States of the Union but from all large enough to afford cheap freights, that
parts of the world. the holds will be found full, not of American, but of English and German goods. The reason does not require the wisdom of a SOLON or a SOLOMON to unfold. England and Germany take enormous quantities of South American produce, and the goods are in payment for this. The United States, which take no man's produce willingly, find the foreigner has given nothing that requires payment. She has blocked, in fact, the outlet for her own commerce; and this, and not any dislike to her goods, is the sole reason why he refuses to deal with the
when raised to the level of a cult.
American merchant, hustle he never charmingly.
80
Colonel Seely stated in the House of Common, last month that out of the 5,361 Chinese who according to the Chamber of Mines figures,
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San Antonio starting out February 15. The first land division, on horseback and in mule teams, left Velicata, March 24, and the second division, also on horseback and in mule teams, followed under Don GASPAR in person. Father JUNIPERO SERRA, one of the noblest characters in California's history, was with the second division. All four divisions arrived in San Diego as planned, but many of the men on the ships were suffering from scurvy, of which some died. The second land division, under Don Gaspar, arrived in San Diego June 29. Then one of the ships sailed for Monterey with supplies, while. the hardiest members of the land forces joined in one band under the leader of the expedition and started north for Monterey in mule teams and on horseback. By some mischance they passed Monterey, and in October 31 came within sight of Point Reyes, when they realized their mis- take. Instead of turning back Dox GASPAR decided to explore Drake's Bay, which was just below them as they were encamped in San Pedro Valley. The band with their intrepid leader passed over the mountains to the right of San Pedro Vailey, looking north into the Canada de San Andres, and saw
ANARCHIST PROPAGANDA.
(Daily Press, October 20th.) Anarchy, whether as a very abstract, ideal or as a terrible reality, represents a state of society which in Britain, despite its freedom- loving instincts, has always been parti cularly abhorred, and it has been an accepted axiom that anarchism could not flourish in a country where so much personal and political liberty was enjoyed. The Con- tinental countries not blessed with the same free institutions which are the proud heritages. of the sons and daughters of Britain were regarded as the only places in Europe where anarchism could be expected to develop under favouring conditions, but it must make us pause when we read that an
remained on August 31, 2.164 sailed from from there the bay of San Francisco, to anarchist demonstration, attended by about
Durban on September 21, and a further ship- ment of about 1,300 will take place on or about December 9. The Secretary of State is not
aware that any delay has occurred in the ship. ment of Chinese on expiration of the contract period.
which they journeyed.
ten thousand people, has just been held in From that period till 1881 the settlement London. And pausing, we reflect that that continued to flourish under the Spanish, and meeting was not composed of the proletariat, latterly under the Mexican Government; the howling mob who are always eager but the disturbances which then agitated' to take advantage of any occasion to