Chances in China.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2031, 16 February 1887, Page 2

Chances in China.

China has all the natural resources for a great and powerful nation—second to none—climate, soil, mineral resources of every kind in rich abundance, copious streams and teeming millions of easily governed people, now cursed from end to end by bigoted conservatism.

Napoleon prophesied sore things for I Europe should China once be taught her real strength. But it is hardly possible in fact or logic that Europe’s thrift is to be based on Asiatic ignorance. If it is, then it were high time that the theory were exploded. China ought to be a nobler, better country than she is. With iron mines and coal—none better in the world — she buys old scraps of every sort from European junk shops, and freights it here to hammer out its nails, bolts and waggon tires and tools, and such other small-way iron needs as must be filled. With mines of gold and silver full of richest ores, it coins no money, save its dirty copper “ cash ’’—one hundred for ten cents—a dollar five pounds weight. With wealth enough and resources of almost every sort, but brains, it totes its coals and goods long stretches upon the backs of brute human animals—degrading men and women to the state of beasts bf burden. With abundant means credit it baß najuahonal banking system and leaves such affairs >5 the hands of foreigners . seaports, or individuals at other points, yet in the St. Petersburg ■ museum you may see a bank note of f the Imperial Bank of China issued, as its date shows 3311 years ago, showing as far as can be shown that China ivas the first country of the world to have a national bank of issue. Not only this antique, but many others you may find hero and there in China and 111 other parts, show that this country has long been sinking from a lofty point of

superiority 10 one ot degradation. In days of old her internal improvements in excellent roads; superior stone and marble and suspension bridges, vast networks of canals, which connected with her many rivers, gave ready ways for easy transportation ; natural defences, yet the wonder of the world ; paper, printing, gunpowder, German silver, sugar, tea and many other things she gave us—even though its prose Jytising priests, no doubt discovered America and people much of its western shores ! Old it surely is; great in light and enterprise it surely, too, has been gait dowa it truly is

to-day —a great and lumbering hulk for all to come and pick at.D. N. Richardson in 'American Rural Home.