Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 32, Number 4919, 3 January 1867 — THE CHINA MAIL LINE. [ARTICLE]

THE CHINA MAIL LINE.

In San Francisco, on the evening of December 31st, some 250 merchants, military, naval, State, county and city civil officers, and foreign representatives sat down to a banquet at the Occidental Hotel to celebrate the departure of the Colorado — the pioneer steamship in the San Francisco, China and Japan Mail Steamship Line. His Excellency Governor Low presided. Speeches were made by the Governor, General McDowell, ex-Governor Stanford, Governor McCormick of Arizona, R. G. Sneath, S. M. Wilson, Rev. Mr. Stebbins, Rev. A. L. Stone, R. B. Swain, Captain Eldridge, Hall McAllister, A. B. Bates, C. L. Bulkley, E. A. Rockwell, Samuel Williams and others. We append the following speeches: GOVERNOR F. F. LOW. Gentlemen: It has been the custom in all ages, and in all arts of the civilized world, to celebrate by appropriate ceremonies great achievements in war, commerce, science, literature or art, winch promise to promote the well being of the nation that originates them and add to the general prosperity of the world. In accordance with this custom, we meet here to-night to exchange congratulations over the inauguration of an enterprise — the opening of direct steam communication with Japan and China — which must of necessity be of great advantage to this city, and largely to the general prosperity of this State, and prove a great auxiliary in the building up and extension of the commercial importance of the United States. So rapid has been our progress during the last half century, and so completely has mind obtained the mastery over matter, that in this our day it requires something bold or novel to arrest attention for a single moment, and turn our thoughts from the every-day concerns of life to the contemplation of the magnificent enterprises inaugurated in our midst, and the results likely to flow therefrom; and were it not for the intelligence conveyed to us through the columns of the press daily, it is easy to perceive that at this time one might open his eyes and look upon the world with wonder and astonishment, only equaled by that which filled Rip Van Winkle, when he awoke from his long nap. Direct steam communication with China, and uninterrupted intercourse by railroad with the Atlantic States, have formed the basis of our dreams of future prosperity. The enthusiastic, the hopeful and the sanguine have labored for the accomplishment of these ends, confident of success, while the timid, careful and conservative shook their heads significantly, and said, "These are grand conceptions, which may be accomplished some day, but not during this generation — they will not pay now." Bui while the doubting were desponding and the timid were hesitating, lo! our dreams are a reality. The railroad company have overcome the greatest engineering obstacles, and trains laden with passengers and freight already mount almost to the summit of the Sierra Nevadas, going eastward; and the iron horse hurries westward over the valleys of the Platte, soon to meet and wake the echoes of Mormondom by the shrill steam whistles of the locomotives. The magnificent steamship Colorado lies at our docks, ready to receive her load of living freight and bags of mute intelligence, and, ere the setting of to-morrow's sun will be speeding on her way toward the Orient, carrying with her the hopes and prayers of a civilized nation for her success. Did time permit I would like to speak of the enlightened liberality of the nation, as shown by its Congress, in extending aid to these grand enterprises in the midst of a civil war, that alone taxed its energies and resources to the uttermost. I would like to pay a quiet tribute to the men who never wavered in their faith as to the ultimate triumph of justice and right, and who, during the darkest hours, advocated liberal aid for the advancement of civilization and commerce. It would be interesting to trace the progress of steam navigation, from the starting of Fulton's small steamboat in 1807, amid the jeers and doubts of the throng assembled on the dock, who looked upon his scheme as one of madness and folly, to the present day, and compare Fulton's first effort at steamboat building with those floating palaces — the Dean Richmond and St. John — which now convey the thousands daily between New York and Albany. It would be instructive could we now have the steamer which Stevens built soon after Fulton made his experiments, and sent by sea to Philadelphia, or the Savannah, which made the first voyage across the Atlantic to Liverpool and St. Petersburg, in 1818, and compare it with the magnificent specimens of naval architecture now owned by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, or that leviathan of steamships, the Great Eastern, that has justly earned the gratitude and plaudits of the world by the service performed in laying the Atlantic cable. It would be a pleasure to pay a just tribute to the enterprise, sagacity and business foresight of the men (chiefly New York merchants, represented at this Board by the President of their Chamber of Commerce) who have inaugurated and carried into successful operation so many enterprises that have had the effect to build up American commerce and make the nations of the earth homogeneous. This list would include Fulton, Clinton, Morse, Aspinwall, Chauncey, Low, Stephens, Griswold, Skiddy, Webb, Taylor and others, all of whose names are familiar to most present; not forgetting the resolute and enterprising American, Cyrus W. Field, to whose undaunted courage and fixed determination to conquer are we indebted for the privilege of reading, at our breakfast tables, the news from Europe of the previous day. Calmly surveying the progress made in the last half century, what may we not expect to accomplish, in the future, by well directed efforts? Until within a few years China has been to us a sealed book, practically, and even now we are permitted to examine only the outside and the title page; and it seems but yesterday that Commodore Perry anchored his fleet in front of Japan, and gave the Tycoon the option of opening his outside door or having it battered down with shells made of American iron. Who can tell the results of intimate commercial relations with these countries dining the next ten, twenty or fifty years? China, with an area of 5,000,000 square miles, a coast line of 3,350 miles, and containing a poption of 410,000,000 people, or about one-tenth of the whole world, thrown open to unrestricted intercourse with us, and indomitable energy of the American people, what mutual advantages may not be expected to flow from it? The ruling powers in China will learn that free intercourse will be of advantage to them; that they can increase their imports of merchandise with profit, and dispense with the large amounts of precious metals which are annually received in payment of exports and hoarded. And while the Chinese are receiving these valuable lessons, may not our magnates in finance learn that the true remedy for the unsettled state of our financial affairs is to be found in securing a balance of foreign trade in favor of the United States, rather than in Acts of Congress making the selling of gold a misdemeanor. Our State is as yet in its infancy, so far as agriculture is concerned. A small portion of the arable land has been cultivated very imperfectly, with astonishing results in the way of small grains. When a teeming, industrious population shall fill our valleys, and agriculture be aided by canals for irrigation, the wildest figures which we now might make would probably fall far short of the reality. To find a market for these products should be our aim, and where can we look for our consumers with so much hope as to China? With a proper effort in that direction, I am in the firm faith that within ten years China will take all the surplus flour that can be produced in this State, and will, like the renowned Oliver Twist, be asking for more. To accomplish what we desire, our intercourse with China and Japan must be unrestricted. Not only the ports of those countries must be open to commerce, but American pluck and enterprise must penetrate the heart of the Empire. The voyages of our steamers must be made direct and in the shortest time possible, and not round by "Robin Hood's barn." The company should be relieved by legislation from sending their ships out of the way nine hundred miles to touch at Honolulu, when it is easy of demonstration that the time lost by this detour is all important to enable this line to successfully compete with the European mail steamers. We must learn to treat the Chinese who came to live among us decently, and not oppress them by unfriendly legislation, nor allow them to be abused, robbed and murdered, without extending to them any adequate remedy. I am a strong believer in the strength of mind and muscle of the Anglo Saxon race, which will win in the contest for supremacy, with any people, without the aid of unequal and oppressive laws, and the man who is afraid to take his chances on equal terms with his opponents, is a coward and unworthy the name of an American. Were I to sum up the whole duty imposed upon us, I should say, let us be honest, industrious and frugal — be persevering and progressive, and remember Raleigh's maxim, that "Whosoever commands the sea, commands the trade of the world, and whosoever commands the trade of the world commands the riches of the world, and consequently the world itself." GENERAL M'DOWELL. I regret exceedingly, Mr. Chairman, that on account of the indisposition and consequent absence of Major General Halleck, it has devolved upon me, at a late hour, to respond to this toast. I regret it the more for

the reason that you therefore fail to hear a speaker in every way so well qualified to do justice to the subject, and that you have nothing to replace it. I merely rise now to thank you for the toast, and for the kind manner in which you have received it. I, however, take some consolation from the fact that of late the army has made so much noise in the world that perhaps the best thing that can now happen, many years to come, will be that the army shall be but little heard from; that instead of its engrossing the whole mind of the nation; instead of every man waiting with breathless anxiety to see whether a Sherman shall reappear; instead of our being thrilled with the dash of a Shreidan down the Shenandoah Valley; instead of our exulting in the final triumph of a Grant; that hereafter we should turn with mere pleasure to such triumphs as that of the railroad uniting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, or that of great telegraphic lines uniting all parts of the world, or such magnificent enterprises like the one we are here to-night to celebrate, uniting us with Japan, China, Australia, or, indeed, wherever on the confines of the Pacific Ocean there is anything to go after — for the Pacific Ocean, I think, hereafter forever more is to be and become the personal property of this great city of San Francisco. EX-GOVERNOR STANFORD. Mr. Chairman: To one who cares to look into the future, this banquet, in honor and in celebration of a line of steamers between America and Asia, must prove a source of interest. It shows the importance of the result is appreciated. The command of the carrying trade is a control of one of the essentials of commerce. To gain this command two things are of chief importance. One is superior cheapness, the other superior expedition of transportation. It can hardly be expected at this time that the line of steamers whose inauguration we celebrate shall have the advantage of cheapness, but it will have that of superior expedition and it is upon this advantage it must chiefly rely for success. It is for this the Steamship Company must strive; and, Mr. Chairman, it seems to me, to do that, their course should be direct as possible. But enough of this; it is but a hint that I wish to give and perhaps I intrude. But I do not forget that the Government has given aid for that purpose and I wish to see that purpose accomplished. This is an effort to open up and secure largely the commerce of a people more numerous than the people of all Europe and America; a people whose civilization was old when that of Europe began, and who have maintained it to this day. They are an agricultural, manufacturing and commercial people, wise in Government, arts and science. The prize we struggle for is the commerce of such a people. As an auxiliary to that end the Pacific Railroad will play no inconsiderable part. Indeed, upon another occasion I might be tempted to say it would perform the chief part. The Pacific Railroad will ever be a monument to the enterprise and sagacity of the American people. Though long considered by them, they fully awoke to its importance, and determined it should be built, while in midst of the most gigantic war ever known. It was on July 1, 1862, that the voice of the people in favor of a Pacific Railroad expressed a law to that effect, and limited their appropriation in aid thereof only by $1,000,000,000, besides 12,800 acres of land to the mile. Truly a noble donation to secure a noble end — the binding the East and West by ties, not only fraternal, but by the enduring ones of an overwhelming interest. In the passage of the Pacific Railroad law, it may not be improper to say, the Central Pacific Railroad Company of California played no inconsiderable part. It urged its passage at that time and in that form. The Central Pacific Railroad Company has asked for much, but it has never asked in vain. All that it has ever asked, whether at the hands of the nation, of the State, or otherwise, it has received, but it has never asked anything that it could not, and did not, make plain, was right and just, and necessary to the construction of the Pacific Railroad. After a line of railroad has been selected and its practicability determined, the chief problem then to be solved is a financial one. It was in that our company found its chief difficulty, and while it remained unsolved the physical difficulties — as it was known they would yield to the power of capital and labor — were of minor importance, and gave the company no uneasiness. But they were truly of a formidable character. The financial problem has been solved; its result is a success. The physical one is a fair way for solution. Already the locomotive sounds its bell and blows its whistle at an elevation of 5,911 feet in triumph over the maximum grade and the snows of the Sierra Nevadas. Experience has already demonstrated that the provision made to encounter snow is amply sufficient, and that snow cannot stop the the locomotive if vigorously and properly met. Another year and the track of the Central Pacific Railroad will be east of the Sierra Nevadas upon the plains beyond and progressing at the rate of a mile a day toward connection with the Union Pacific and completion of the Pacific Railroad in the year 1870. Then will the "ligament be perfect that binds the Eastern Eng and Western Chang together." Then, Mr. Chairman, behold the result. For America, the chief control of the developed trade of the better part of Asia with Europe and America. Our Pacific slope and particularly California, filling rapidly with a hardy, enterprising and industrious people, mostly of our brethren and sisters of our old Atlantic homes — California will then commence a career of prosperity hitherto unexampled; and here on the bay of San Francisco will be the great commercial center for this prosperous people; here will the commerce of the Pacific find its entrepot, and here will be one of the great cities of the world, and we, fellow-citizens, may all aid in realization of the vision. FUNG TANG. Gentlemen: On behalf of the Chinese merchants and citizens present, I desire to thank you for the in--vitations we have received to be present on this occasion. We consider the opening up of a great steam line between California and China and Japan a very important event. We hope it may prove to be of very great benefit to America as well as to China. We, of China, are very fond of trade and commerce; so are the Americans; and we hope both countries may profit by it. There are 60,000 Chinese on the Pacific coast engaged in all kinds of business — many in mining and many engaged in trade and commerce. I came to California ten years ago, and have been engaged as a merchant all that time. I learned to read and write English with the Rev. Mr. Speer, formerly a missionary in China and this city, for whom I have great respect. In my business I have a good many acquaintances among the first merchants and business men of San Francisco. They have always treated the Chinese merchants with great kindness, and I hope the intercourse has been as agreeable to the Americans as it has been to Chinese merchants. We believe that with the new steamship line to China and Japan well established, and the Pacific Railroad completed, San Francisco must become one of the greatest cities in the world. The great part of the trade of China with the East ought to come by San Francisco. The population of China and Japan is very large, and those countries produce a great many things which Europe and America desire, and America produces many things which are needed in China and Japan. We hope that friendship and peace may prevail between America and China for all further time. QUAN YUEN. Gentlemen: I don't know what to say more than has already been said on this subject. I learned English here, and have found it indispensable in my business. Besides, I now take a great interest in many of the arts and sciences that hitherto have been to me a sealed book. In music, I have learned to sing "John Brown" and "Sweet Home," and to play them on the piano. In French and German I have got as far as: "Bon jour Monsieur, comment vous portez vous? Comment vont les affaires? [Good day, sir, how are you? How's business.] And "Wie geht's, mein herr? Was giebt es neues? [How do you do, sir? What is there new?] But making speeches is not my forte, and I trust you will be satisfied with the assurance of my gratitude for the honor you do me. I thank you again and again, for myself and those with me, for your great kindness. CHOY CUM CHEW. Gentlemen: We thank you for your invitation to this grand banquet, and we rejoice with you in the accomplishment of the great event of which it is in honor. We have watched with great interest the development, and now hail with joy the inauguration of this great, enterprise, which will bring us into closer communication with our native land. We are exceedingly happy to have so many kind friends among the merchants and people generally of this city. This good feeling is cordially reciprocated, and its influence already extends to China, to the benefit of this country; and is bound to increase with these greater facilities of intercourse. The present friendly feeling of the Chinese Government toward the United States is undoubtedly in a great measure the result of the intimate relations between the two countries. The Chamber of Commerce of this city has done much to foster this intimate relationship, and we must confess to a great respect for an institution of such wide-spread influence. The noble building now being erected for the Merchants' Exchange will be a fitting commentary on the liberality and taste of its founders, and will be a great credit to that Association of which we, too, are permitted to be members. The establishment of a free school for teaching Chinese the English language has been the means of educating those who can now use either language with equal facility. It is also contemplated to establish a school for teaching the Chinese language. A short time ago there were hardly any Chinese who understood the English language; but thanks to your generosity for the free school, a great many boys and young men now do the work formerly required of professional interpreters. A number of stores regularly take the daily papers, and our people are thus kept well informed as to the news of the day. This Steamship line will bring to this city from China and the East Indies a large trade with the United States and Europe that otherwise would take the usual long and circuitous routes of travel. We fervently hope for the success of this steam line to China and Japan, and we promise to give it all the assistance in our power. We intend to show by our acts, more than by our words, our appreciation of this enterprise, and we confidently predict its entire success. After the completion of the Pacific Railroad to New York and the telegraph to China, we expect to see San Francisco become the greatest city in the world. The following were the regular toasts: "The President of the United States." "The Army of the United States — 'Always invincible,' a proposition which every American is obliged to Grant." • "The Navy of the United States — The Dutch challenged victory with a broom at their masthead; our tars swept Mobile Bay with an Admiral at theirs." "The Pacific Mail Steamship Company — 'The avant courriers of Progress and common carriers of civilization; we praise the bridge that has carried us safely over.' " "The Pacific Railroad — The ligament that binds the Eastern 'Eng' and Western 'Chang' together," "The Merchants of San Francisco — Like steel, strengthened through hard knocks and fire; like the coral works — the edifices of their own industry are the foundations of future empires." "The influence of Commerce on Literature and the Arts — Through the aid of Letters Venetian galleys became Venetian galleries." "Commerce — The ally of Religion and Civilization." Responded to by Rev. Mr. Stebbins. "The Commerce of New York — A toast that may be responded to in every part of the globe." "The Commerce of San Francisco — A sapling, yet whose blossoms are scattered on every sea." "The Judiciary — May it continue to offer the best Field for legal ability, the safest Rhodes for litigants, and may virtue always find amicus curiæ in Currey." "The Chinese Merchants of San Francisco — Our skillful competitors in trade; our generous rivals in good works. May the Flowery Kingdom yet produce a China Aster." "Our Mines — The roots of our Tree of Knowledge ramified throughout the land." "The Presss." "The Magnetic Telegraph." "China, Japan and the East Indies." "The Hawaiian Islands, sandwiched between China and California." "Manufacture and Commerce."