Ts a previous paper, attention was drawn to the fact that it was to the interest of Provincial officials in the south of China, to foster trade at other than the Treaty Ports. Without, perhaps, being altogether responsible for the fact, the effect of the Foreign Customs establishment is the same, The depressing inflaence of the strict collection of Maritime daty and Lekin, on small port which has the misfortune to be "opened," is only too well known by commercial residents, and must be apparent to one who will take the trouble to glance at the chart of a coast, indented with numerous bays, well watered by numerous estuaries, and well protected by numerous towns, bat innocent of a vestige of the pre-cantions necessary elsewhere to enforce the collection of duties at one and the same rate. As has been shown, it need not be wondered at that a differential Ports, is popular among a large proportion of the governed. A further step is also thus taken to the recovery of what they conceive to be their right, wrested from them by the establishment of the Foreign Inspectorate, which is, however, powerless beyond the harbor boundary of bred igre Port, That a brilliant to have been concomitant Feith the ough deceptive prosperity appears
opening ofa Port, need not be denied; but it is equally trae that any scintillation formerly emitted has now died away. - Vitality, however, still re-alns; and the small ports are capable of being raised to a degree of prosperity not yet attained, if only the incubus of a vicious legislation be re-mored.
No reduction of duties, no overthrow of the Foreign Inspectorate, is desired—only assimilation in the total amount of imposts charged and levied. The wonder is that the small ports have lived so long, when it is considered how strictly maritime daties are levied at open Ports—bow loosely at such as foreigners are not permitted to frequent! Slow honest are the tax-gatherers at open Ports—how venal at the others. How heavy is the tariff at open Ports—how light elsewhere Thi to a consideration of the for goods f native constracattracted much attention, ey contion, which has hitherto, perhaps, not nection, however, with the disposition of the Provincial authorities, to encourage the trade of other than open Ports," it becomes an ingredient bearing strongly on their prosperity.
Native tariff. Foreign tariff.
0150 0350 0050 0080 0300 1250 0050 0125 0033 0060 0100 0300 P: jualityO 0 040 ing 335 3288 Raw Sik. 1000 2500 i 0100 0200 0060 o120 0200 2500 Chinaware fine. 0 3 00 o900 medium 0200 0450 Coarse... 100 0450 Against the enormous advantage, ths apparent, of shipping in Chinere cnstracted vessels, Soper be placed their inefficiency to perform the voyage, as compared with vessels of foreign build. Though it may be a question whether a nation acts judiciously in not protecting its trade for the benefit of its nationality, there can only boone opinion on thie point as regards Chins, when the relative efficiency of foreign and native craft is considered. The consequence of the protection at present given, to native versus foreign shipping, is only to benefit the few to the exclusion of the many; to offer a premium to hazardous veutares, and to check steady prosperity. Were the tariffs assimilated, it would possibly be to the disadvantage of the few owners of Chinese constracted craft; but the be-refit to many industries which languish under the risk of shipping by such, on the one hand, and the high tariff, if shipped by efficient vessels, on the other, would -be incalculable.
Such are the main points which tend the development of the ial value of the "open Ports" at the South. With a Government, such as the writer on Transit Dues in the Cycle would wish us to believe exists: in Peking and in the provinces, the remedy would be easy; with the Government as it is, the question assumes graver dimensions. It is urgent, however, to find a solution. Perhaps the Government at Peking dreads the complications that might arise, were the whole coast of China to be thrown open to foreign trade—a measure which would effectually come the diffi culty; though this is a confession of weakness which its supporters deny, when it suits them, But one method of putting a check on the improper still suggeste itself, Though, in the legislation of the Provincial officials eyes of Western Powers, annexation may be thought inopportune, the establishment of a Foreign ce-executive with Chinese executive authority, would deal a Leavy blow at a gigantic evil. If the dual management of the' Customs has been found to work satisfactorily, much more may be expected from a dual executive Government, with interests far vaster to guide, develop, and protect.
[We have given prominence to this paper, because it deals ably with: au important and interesting question, which must gain by discussion: But we cannot allow the suggestion contained in the last paragraph to pass, without saying that. we regard i as visionary. Daal Government in China would be a practical lity, even if the interests of the several Treaty Powers could be con Bat this first step presents insurmotintable difficulti thing of the political wisdom of the measure, or of the: resisting power of the Chinese
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.