Tus foreign interests in China are large, and the influence of China as a political factor in the world's hist day by day.
We are rapidly becoming [aware of the feb that China has to play a very important part in the history of the world, Some would make hee the ally of Russia. An ex-Consul of Shanghai would hand her UT the over Wo Russia altogether. Germany, or race. at least a political writer in a political. military journal, seeks to attach her to that country asa friend and assistant, England regards her in the cold but practical light of a market capable of indefinite extension for Manchester goods. One thing is clear, Europe, Germany, and America have invested vast sums la China trade, and are not likely to acquiesce in any policy which will deprive them of an intelligent and important customer. The world will continue to went tea and silk, and therefore we may be sure China will not be permitted under any circumstances to retire into unhelpful isolation, She has a part in the world and she will have to discharge the part somehow. But yet in spite of the vast sums of money spent in buildings and in all the apparatus of commerce ab the Treaty Ports and especially at Shanghai, the rule of figures proves that the foreign population of China is nob very large. A simple list of the numbers of the citizens and subjects of foreign States in the Middle Kingdom has been lately published in the Times, and, the figures are certainly not imposing or magnificent, The census taken last year proves that the foreign population of the Treaty Ports is estimated at 8,814, The number of firms engaged in commerce is 851, Of these 220 are English, 49 German, and 85 Ameri The Russians come next to the Amer-icaria, and have 17 firms, The French 9. The Dance have 2, The Dutch, Swedes, Spanish and Austrians 1 each. The Belgians and Italians have none. The Japanese have 9, and " sundry uncertain" commercial establishments number 6, There are also 841 indi. viduals described by the same hazy phrase as "uncertain." Wo ara aba loss to attach any idea to this phraseology, and we presume it is not me tended that we should do so. "The first point which the table before us brings out is the small number of-foreigners in China, and the propend. orating prominence of the Bnglish clement is the second noteworthy fact brought to light by these statistics, OF the 3,814 foreigners in this country, 1,953 are English. There are 420 Americans and 884 Germans, It seems fair and reasonable that due consideration should be given to thia Mfact.
We are living in a Treaty Port and enjoy the blessings of a quasi-republican government, but this must not blind our eyes to the truth, which is that the English firms and officials should have the voice potential in the Treaty Ports and that it is only mis. leading to other nations to surrender it. The besetting sin of the British is growing merchants in China during recent years has been apathy, but there are signs of reviving animation and energy, and these statistics are a timely reminder that the nation with the largest in. terests at stake in the country should not allow itself to drop behind in the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.