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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
fulness) we have now to cast in their teeth this lack of physical attainment. To the Sinomaniac who has accustomed himself to look ppon the Chinese as the salt of the earth, emphasis of the existence of this biological trait, which stamps them as belonging to a low type of humanity, may sound unkind. Yet since the characteristic is self-produced, or rather since it is owing entirely to themselves that they still possess this mark of their low estate, it may legitimately be used, together with their intel lectual and moral defects, to rebut any claims which the Chinese may make to be the equals or superiors of the white races. Against the triple proof furnished by Biology, Psychology, and Ethics there is no appeal.
us in
wholly occupy themselves when military warfare has died out. Therefore, rather than spend much labour in attempting to balance the pyramid in an unnatural position, it behoves us to see to it that we place it once for all securely on its base. This will be found to be the most economi- cal and wisest plan in the end. And not only would its adoption solve questions now pending, but it would solve a most important question looming in the distant future. Let us see what Sociology has to say on this point,
[February 20, 1895.
of acquired characters, it was shown that inferior (ber of any civilized community. Moreover, those who could tolerate the idea are but few races are able to squat", i.e., to sit on their heels, even could the Chinese be artificially or naturally in number and that the tendency to enter into that they probably all did so originally, aud that raised in other ways to the level to which much so derogatory a servitude is but a transient as civilization advanced those who took to sitting hard work and thought have raised the white one. on chairs gradually lost this power. The Chi- man, Sociology tells as that it takes several If, then, the assumption by us of a position nese, having lived for at least fifty centuries hundreds or even thousands of years to change of inferiority or of equality as regards the without acquiring the art of physical comfort, the character of a people, and, as we shall pre- Chinese is unnatural and anomalous, and even still possess this peculiarity. Added to their santly see, the law of self-preservation forbids suicidal in the long run, the only other course is lack of intellectual attainments (as shown con- us. to wait until
the Chinese shall have the assumption of a position of superiority-we spicuously in the national ignorance of reached a level on which they would be able must rule. And not only must we rule, but we geography, for example) and to the lack of moral to successfully compete with
the must take the present opportunity of asserting attainments (as shown in the prevailing untruth-industrial warfare wherein the nations will our rule. If we do not, the problem will only be shelved, not solved. Depend upon it, it will re-assert itself later on, and the longer it is left unsolved the more difficult will the solution be- come, until perhaps we may one day wake up to find that it is too late to solve it at all. And not only is our duty plain from the stand-point of protection now and of self-preservation here after, but it is no less plain from the stand-point of the national prosperity of those European powers who have interests in this empire. With the Chinese working under us we might find in Though stay-at-home people may believe a China, by developing the vast resources of the good many of the absurd statements respecting country, a means of increasing our national pros- China's future as a military power made to them perity to a very great extent. But the matter by the European pre-s, those who have been any of self-preservation-the first law of life is the time in China are well aware that this people do more pressing need, and until steps have been If it be said that though the Chinese have not not possess the qualities which are indispensable taken to secure this once for all, discussion of lost the physical peculiarity indicated they never for a successful military career as a nation, and subsequent proceedings is premature. As we theless have acquired the habit of sitting on are not likely to acquire them for many huu- value our civilization, therefore, and the welfare chairs, and do sit on them occasionally, the reply dreds of years to come. The Chinese will of our children's children, it behoves each one of is that, apart from the fact that they have not never become a race of warriors who will us to do what in him lies to further those actions lost this physical characteristic of savages and die biting," as Lord Wolseley exhorts the by which there shall ultimately be secured to the lower animals in so great a length of time British soldier to do. The strength of the the world, not the slovenly, mediocre, and un- (which is blameworthy in the eyes of civilization), Chinaman lies not in his predatoriness but clean existence of the semi-savage, but the so few of them do at the present day habitually in his peaceableness, Therefore, when war highest and best life of the completely civilized. assume the sitting posture in comparison with dies out amongst the highest races, as in time Let us note, in conclusion, that what has here the great number who either squat or lie pros- it must, unless a sort of general battle of Arma- been said would apply, though in a less degree, trate, that the people as a whole cannot truth-geddon is to throw us all back into a state of to the case of a possible. Japanese occupation of fully be said to have acquired the habit. Even savagery-for the advance of civilization means China. Civilizations are not made. but grow; when resting on the edge of his 'ang, or brick the gradual purging itself of savage traits, of and young civilizations are apt to be wanting in bed, the Chinaman shows an inclination to draw which war is the most conspicnous-China and thoroughness and show a tendency to relapse up his feet, and seems more comfortable in the ber people will be the most dangerous compe- into barbarism under appropriate circumstances. position habitual to the monkey than that habi- titor the civilized world has yet known. Able to But of the two evils, a Japanese government in tual to the civilized European;:
work all day and half the night on a very small China would be preferable to a Chinese one; and amount of sustenance, able to live and thrive in it would perhaps be best for Europe to have to than an in- almost all climates, content with small profits, face a military competitor now unambitious, and not rendered unhappy by the dustrial one later on. The Japanese as masters. absence of physical comforts and mental recrea of China would be willing to open up the country tions he has never known, the Chinaman stands out and trade with us; and they would also no doubt as the very type of being most fitted to overrun the be ready to listen to us when the time came for earth, not by force of arms or the roar of big guns, a general disarmament. But a proper under- but by the slow sure method of peaceful persever: standing and use of the opportunity now pre- ance and unremitted labour. Should it be said sented to the European powers would obviate that this conclusion is not a logical one, since we both dangers. have shown that China is an aggregate of like fashion to ancient Egypt, Assyria, Mexico, and other nations of the "Oriental type," and neither Now, white men who sit on chairs were not the Egyptians nor the Assyrians nor the Mexi. Warlike Exploits of the Merchant Navy. By made to serve yellow men who squat. To place cans have overrun the earth by force of industry
J. FETHERSTONHAUGH. Hongkong Hong black or yellow over white is to invert the whole or by any other force, we reply that though
kong Daily Press Office. order of civilization. We must either serve similar in structure China differs from these THE appearance of this little volums is well. China or be served by her. There is no other societies in one important particular, namely, timed at a moment when attention is being way. If it be said that the method of "helpful her immense mass. So large has the nation generally attracted to the part merchant steamers persuasion implies neither the one nor the grown that it would be unreasonable to expect can be made to play as supplemental to the other, the reply is that it only does so in it to disappear from the face of the earth, as Royal Navy. The Royal Naval Reserve is imagination and not in reality. There is these other societies did, especially since, as far increasing and the number of steamers being no nation or body of men who will give their as our information goes, the population shows placed on the list of armed cruisers is becoming service and advice gratuitously to another no signs of decreasing and will probably increase quite formidable. That the idea of the mer for any length of time; and being in the even more rapidly than at present as life-pre-chant navy forming a reserve for Her Majesty's pay of any nation implies superior officials serving arts and medical knowledge spread among Navy is no new thing is brought forcibly to mind. who give that pay and dictate rules to the people.
by a perusal of the chapters of this book, in be observed-implies a position of inferiority. This question of number it is which has given which many moving stories of gallant deeds And when the question is one not between rise to what is known as the China problem. To at Sea are.. graphically told. It ought to not only among two white races, but between several white this problem we believe the recent action of have a large circulation racts and one yellow race, the position be- Japan has opened the way to a solution. To those who go down to the sea in ships comes not only inferior but anomalous and bolster up the present Chinese Government but also among that very large class in- annaturala state of unstable equilibrium, a means not only that the proud and high-handed terested in shipping and maritime trade gen- pyramid poised on its apex, which nature officials of China will continue to act towards erally. The merchant service ought to be now, must sooner or later set in its natural position foreigners in the same way as before (as previous as it undoubtedly was in the times of Blake and again. It may at first sight seem a matter of wars have told us plainly enough) and that more Nelson, the nursery for the Royal Navy, and every but small importance that Europeans and murders will be committed and compensation be effort should be made to bring the two services. Americans, if they like that sort of thing, as difficult to obtain, or as unsatisfactory when closer into line. Any work which will promote should enter the employ of the Chinese as their obtained, as it has been all along. but it means this and tend to uphold the just pride of British subordinates. In so far as these foreigners much more than this. It means that we are mariners in their noble profession should be concerned the matter may nurturing in our bosom a venomous snake, which, bailed with satisfaction. Mr. Fetherstonbaugh's be of but little moment, but experience when sufficiently warmed by the glow of our kind-contribution to marine literature is calculated to shows that the position is not looked upon in its ness, will dig its fangs deep into the very life have such effect, and is sure therefore to have true light, and this non-recognition or conceal of civilized humanity and slowly but surely numerous readers. The book is printed in good ment of its real nature tends to originate a dis- poison our life-blood and paralyze our activity type and neatly got up.
With those who like to contemplate simulating character, which is dragged into for ever. everyday life in intercourse with others and so the yellow races with their tinse y semi-civiliza- operates injuriously on the society just in the tion ruling the descendants of the present white same way that we have known a half-caste, by races (of which state of things a small beginning the constant dissimulation in word and action may even now be perceived in the willingness with which he endeavoured to conceal his Chi- of Europeans to place themse ves under the nese parentage, gradually acquire an unreliable orders of Chinese officials) no argument will be nature which rendered him an undesirable mem-of any avail, but we are happy to think that
In the same way, did space permit, we might dwell upon the relative inferiority of the Chi- nese in other physical qualities, as, for instance, the colour of their skin, which, whatever its cause, is generally recognized as belonging to a lower stage of social evolution than the white skin of the European and the peoples related to him; and draw from many examples of various kinds the conclusion that, when the length of the national life and the vast number of workers are taken into account, reprobation, if not ridicule, is more meet than praise or worship in view of the results achieved.
themselves are
REVİEW.
James A. Frame, formerly a lion tamer, who shot a nian named Watts at Yokohama a short time ago, inflicting rather severe injuries, has been sentenced by a Japanese Court to one year's imprisonment. Frame some years ago killed a man named Lemon at Shanghai,