"Open hostilities have paralyzvit our commerce and industry; conscription has taken away our best and ablest helpers; and contributions to the war-chest have exhausted our meagre treasury. Deprivation of our means of living is worse than Jdeath itself while the devastation of our homes hastens our journey to the grave, On the débrie of our crumbled trade, foreign imports are sowing their ' seeds of greater Jeconomie invasion. The efflux of millions of dollars to foreign countries to cover our unbalanced i ternational trade is draining our means of subsistence. Thus, we are drifting closer and closer tower's the state of self-extermination.
"On opening the chapter China's intercourse with foreign Powers' it is pathetic to see our diplomatic intelligence being tmrs-Judiced by unending internal die~ order, The Central Government at Peking cannot command confidence outside its city walls while our envoys aprond are hopeless in thet diplomatic duties for want of prom yocking. The Tariff and Extratey ritoriality Conferences at—Pekir have been postponed indefinitely, "Blsewhere at Home our warlords are fiercely fighting for their selfish ends and we wonder when the wheat of selfish chance will come end.
"This Chamber, being for th" people and by the people, cannot but voice the peace-loving sentiments the people.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.