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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CHINA'S SURRENDER TO THE
BRITISH ULTIMATUM.
(October 10, 1895.
and enforced at that time it is safe to affirm that the recent outrages in Szechuen and the horrible massacre at Kucheng would never have been committed. Better Inte than never, however, but while the lesson is being administered it is to be hoped the mis- take will not be made of leaving it inçom- plete. The officials whose culpable neglect is responsible for the Kucheng affair stand in need of chastisement as well as the Szechuen officials, and the failure of the Peking Government to exercise due control over its high officials in the provinces should also be visited with consequences which will keep them alive to their duties in the future. Under pressure the Peking Government is well able to control its Viceroys and other high officials and the latter are equally well able to control the people, but, so far as the protection of foreigners is con- cerned, it is only under pressure that any effective action will be taken. The punishment of the Szechuen officials will in itself have an excellent effect, but it is important that the lesson should be driven home, that the Fuhkien officials should be drawn into the net, and that concessions should be demanded from the Peking Government of such a nature as to make them entertain a lively sense of the danger of ever again permitting an anti-foreign out- break. There never will be such an out- break unless the people are incited to it by the officials and the literati and these the Government can well control if it is so disposed.
(5th October.)
I
one lesson. They know how to arm their | if they take prompt measures and men with weapons of precision, and though prevent the leaders establishing com- the braves understand little about the munication with the coast. Seeing, how proper use of them and less of the duty of ever, the miserable manner in which they taking care of them, they still possess an failed to stop the Japanese advance through enormous advantage over the rabble who Manchuria, it is quite possible they may usually makeup a rebellion. The Imperial prove too late in driving back the Mahome- Government also enjoy the position of hold- dans in Kansuh. The progress of this great ing all the ports, and are thus able to pre-insurrection will be watched with no little vent supplies of arms or ammunition to interest. rebels. It is to these facilities they owe the It might will be thought that, after the ense with which they have been able to sup- succession of disasters in the recent war, and press all the various risings, that have taken in presence of this new trouble in the north- place in different portions of the Empire west, the Peking Government would be very during the last quarter of a century. It is ready to accord satisfaction to a friendly these conditions that render an insurrection Power like Great Britain for the grievous in the Central Kingdom so doubtful and injuries lately sustained. But the attitude difficult an enterprise no matter how nume-of China can never be gauged; she is unlike rous the rebel ›llowing.
all civilised states, and always calculates But while the chances of a successful re- upon getting out of difficulties by the exer- volution in China are very small, they are cise of chicanery rather than by the arts of not altogethe hopeless, always provided conciliation. Sympathy and forbearance that the leader is a man possessing some are alike thrown away upon her, and she practical knowledge of the science of war has no respect for acts that among Western and of the resources of the district in which nations would excite admiration and it is conducted. As a matter of fact there gratitude. It is to be hoped, therefore, that are no soldiers in China in our sense of the Lord SALISBURY will not be influenced by term. There are fighting men, but there the progress of a nascent revolution in the are neither officers nor strategists. It is not north-west provinces to moderate his likely therefore that a great leader will arise, demands upon Peking, but rather to regard nor is it probable that a well planned scheme it as a fortuitous circumstance which may of rebellion will be developed, though the assist indirectly to bring about a settlement country is said to be literally honeycombed of the questions at issue between Great with disaffection. At the same time it must Britain and China. All past experience be admitted that in the Mahomedan rebel- afforded by our relations with this great lion just developed in Kansuh there are corrupt and effete body go to show that no elements which may well cause the gravest gratitude need be expected from the officials disquiet at Peking. It has originated at Peking, no matter how great the service According to a Reuter's telegram, China among regular troops, and they have un-rendered, nor how considerable the prize denies that the degradation of the ex- furled the standard of revolt in the name of surrendered.
Viceroy Lt is due to the British ulti- the Prophet. It is a war between Mussul-
matum, and France comes in with a men and Buddhists. The rebels are well
claim that it is due to her pacific armed and have a vast reserve of men behind
action. There is an appearance in this of a them. The latest intelligence from Kansuh
plot to place Great Britain in a seemingly is to the effect that on the 18th ult. a hotly
ridiculous and humiliating position. As to contested battle was fought at a place about
1 (3rd October.)
the claim of France, she sent men-of-war up forty-eight miles to the south-east of Lanchow, The surrender of China to the British the Yangtsze herself some time ago and made the provincial capital, and that during the ultimatum in reference to the Szechuen
no pretence then that her action was pacific; fight three battalions of cavalry and seven outrages has saved her from serious conse- on the contrary she apparently wished her of infanty, numbering over 4,000 men, quences. Lord SALISBURY meant business action to be taken as a demonstration." The suddenly went over to the enemy, naturally on this occasion and had the Tsungli demonstration was certainly called for and causing great confusion and nearly involving Yamen remained obdurate reprisals would France was right in making it. Why should defeat to General TUNG FU-HSIANG, the have been promptly taken on the towns she wish now to make a point of her pacific Imperialist commander. The day was saved, along the Yangtsze. The whole programme representations? Is it because her demon- according to the Imperialist account, by the had been arranged and would have been stration proved ineffective and she was not personal valour of General TUNG and two faithfully carried into execution had the prepared to follow it up with active oper- brigade officers, and the rebels dislodged timely surrender of the Peking Governmentations? As to China, the case is clear. from some walled villages wherein they had not removed the necessity. With the exem- Had the degradation of LIU been decided been entrenched for some days, but the plary punishment of Inu, the anti-foreign on in consequence of the anti-foreign Imperialist loss was 2,860 in killed and ex-Viceroy of Szechuen, the instigator and outrages she would have so announced wounded. The losses of the rebels are not abettor of the recent outrages, the security it without the compulsion of an ultimatum. known, but it is stated that 1,900 heads of the lives and property of foreigners in As a matter of fact. LIU was in disgrace for were brought in by the troops, a fact that that province and throughout the empire reasons unconnected with the outrages, but stamps the Emperor's soldiers as the savages generally will be materially advanced, and when his formal and effective degradation they really are. This would seem, too, to the naval demonstration will have done was demanded by Great Britain for his com- be one of those victories which confessedly something towards rehabilitating Britishplicity in the riots it was at first refused, and are scarcely less disastrous than a defeat, influence at Peking and teaching the ad- for it is admitted by the Imperialists that visers of KWANG SU that Great Britain is the position is critical, applications for aid not a power to be trifled with indefinitely, coming in frequently both from Kansuh long-suffering as she has shown herself to and Shensi. The Imperialist army in Kansul be in the past. Lord SALISBURY'S firmness only numbers 60,000 men, and the Mahome- and vigour in the present crisis will be dan rebels are estimated at 800,000 fighting hailed with satisfaction by all British re-adopting.
The prefectural city of Sining, insidents in the Far East, and if it be due in Western Kansuh, is invested by a rebel any degree to the representations of Sir
There must be some reason, says the N. C. body and cannot hold out long unless assisted, NICHOLAS O'CONOR it will be a pleasure to Daily News, for the avidity with which the and it is feared that the rebellion will soon acknowledge merit in a quarter in which we Chinese are buying up property on the Carter spread to Yunnan, where the Mahomedans have of late become unaccustomed to look and Markham Roads and on the opposite side will be only too ready to join their co- for it. The only fault to be found with the of the Soochow Creek. Eleanslea, the house religionists if there seems any prospect action now taken is that it should have been and grounds formerly belonging to Mr. Robert of the movement succeeding. There are taken four years ago, and the question also Mackenzie, sold not long since for Tls. 8,000, has just been resold for Tls. 24,000. Is the also large numbers of Mahomedans in suggests itself whether the reparation terminus of the Soochow railway to be some- Szechuen, who may be counted upon demanded is commensurate with the offence where near there, or are the Chinese anxious, in to give trouble if the rebellion ex-
that has been committed. Had the punish-view of what may be coming, to have property tends. The Chinese Government can,ment of the guilty officials connected with the which they think will be safe under foreign however, readily grapple with this rebellion | anti-foreign outbreak of 1891 been demanded protection?
men,
was only announced after the ultimatum. But Great Britain's claims are far from satisfied yet. The Kucheng case has still to be settled, and Lord SALISBURY will have abundant opportunity of making China regret the flouting attitude she is now