COM
MORALITY AND URING ENTER IN JAPAN
+
17
cles
partively foot bind appear with
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
which insisted on the manufactu being all marked at low figures conse quently, it was necessary for exhibitors to place a fictitious price on their goods, and measures. Neither in Formoso then to send agents on the first day the kong is the practice exhibition opened and purchase them back, being followed only so as to avoid loss We can well believe and not universally ev trickery characteristic of Japanese commer- bring up their fam that, for it is quite in accordance with the are comparatively few cial methods, but it does not dispose of the who do would_natu probability of Japanese manufactures in the mainland if their various lines competing with European goods. unduly interfered with. The Japanese have proved their capacity in ting that foot-binding is the match-making industry and the cotton hensible practice, the spinning industry and the same capacity whether the cruelty is such will be shown in all other lines for the pro-governmental interference, especi duction of which the local conditions are
colony Buchinter favourable.
← In the Nineteenth Century Mr. ROBERT YOUNG, the editor the Kobe Chronicle, has an interesting.
on Commercial Morality in Japan Mr. YoUNG's conclu- tion is that there is practically no morality in Japanese trade, a conclusion which is the more remarkable when we remember the pro- Japanese leanings of the writer in matters political and social. It is, he says, a con- mon belief among those who have investi- gate
the conditions of trade in Japan, that CO cial morality there stands almost on the lowest plane possible to a civilised people, and that, with few exceptions, even those Japanese who prove estimable and high-minded in every other matter are not to be trusted when business transactions are in question. Instances are given to prove the want of common morality amongst Japa- nese traders, and very telling instances they are, and yet it seems to us the colour is laid on a little too thickly. For instance, Mr. YOUNG 88Y8,
"Already Japanese Consuls have reported that the country's foreign trade is being seriously injured by mer- chants who send abroad matches that will not strike, rice that is not up to sample, and stuffs whose only merit is cheapness. To take one of the articles here mentioned, namely, matches, it is self-evident that Japanese matches could not possibly have secured a practical monopoly of the markets of the Far East, as they have done, if they would not strike. In the early days of the match-making industry in Japan the goods turned out were of inferior quality, but with increased experience of the manufacture and of the requirements of the market there has been a steady, improvement and now the matches represent very good value for the price at which they are sold. The besetting" sin of the Japanese trader is that he will not fulfil a contract if when it falls due it shows a loss to him, but he has sufficient commercial instinct to know that if he wants to establish and maintain a connection in
any markets for the goods he has to sell he cannot expect orders to be repeated if the articles he supplies are worthless.. The tale about Japanese matches not " striking is a survival from the early days of the industry and as applied to the present day is pure fiction. That the tale should have retained its hold on the mind of Mr. YoUNG, who, we may suppose, has regularly lit his pipe with Japanese matches for years past, is somewhat surpris ing And the excellence combined with cheapness that we find in their matches will doubtless be found in other goods that the Japanese are trying to establish a trade in," provided that the conditions are favourable to the manufacture. Mr. YOUNG, however, han not much faith in the ability of the Japanese to undersell European manufac turers and gives an instance to show that the reputation of Japanese goods for cheapness been secured by false pretences. The arkably low prices marked on Japanese ufactured goods shown at the Kyoto tion were commented on in the com- häls of every manufacturing world, and especially in ying the competition tures would have seems, however, sold" could not be facturers at the xplanation offered was that had the goo
✪ exhibition been thei
retail price they would have been refused by the committee
CE
C
as in this
and
would be“ attended by so little effect. In India suttee and tion under the car of Juggern been stopped by Governmental toot-binding cannot be placed in the same category with those fearful practices, involved the direct sacrifice of life." It followed by permanent injury to the gen
rely that foot binding comparatively rarely health, and so far from the women of China themselves regarding it as a cruel custom every woman whose feet have not been bound regrets the fact and in many cases artificial contrivances are adopted to give the appea ance of small feet. That this should be the feeling prevailing ou the subject is of course much to be regretted, and efforts to edu
educate the Chinese to a more
taylorect. View merite every encouragement, but to make i
in Formosa, would, we fear," be calculated ing a penal offence, either in this c colony or
to do more harm than good."
Bios
FOOT-BINDING IN HONGKONG. While fully endorsing the wisdom of Baron Noor's announcement that due re- spect must be shown towards the customis and conventions of the Chinese in Formosa, the Japan Mail cantot but regret that His Excellency should have designated foot binding as one of the things deserving to leration. Our contemporary condemns the practice as nothing less than criminal "mutilation" and goes on to say :-"We are fully sensible that in criticizing Baron "Noot's programme, we expose ourselves "to the retort that foot-binding is not "interdicted in the British colony of Hongkong. The point is not to be gain- said. Possiby soine palliation for Great Britain's disgraceful tolerance of such a savage custom may be found in the fact "that, when the island of Victoria (sic) came "into her possession fifty-five years ago, the THE VOLUNTEER CORPS. "foot-binding abuse had not attracted special "attention. Things were suffered to drift Energetic efforts are being made to raise on in their old channels without much at least another machine gun company for inquiry, the general policy of the Hong- the Volunteer Corps. At a meeting of the "kong "Administration being practically officers of the Corps' which was recently identical with the general policy of held it was decided to take measures for Japan in Formosa, as enunciated by Go- that purpose and a personal appeal in "vernor-General Nooi; namely, policy of that behalf which the Commandant, Sir તાર "nou-interference with custoin or convention J. W. CARRINGTON, has made to the “that did not directly hinder the preserva-maungers of the various banks and heads of "tion of good order and morality. But the lealing mercantile companies and firms "whatever value attached to that excuse in has, we understand, been very favourably past years, there can be no question that received. The regulations of the Corps "the Hongkong Government ought long provide for un establishment of 217 of all ago to have extended to all female children ranks; at present there are 149 of a "porn under the shadow of the British flag ranks borne on the rolls. The deficiency "the protection against brutal naiming and exists chiefly “mutilation that every subject is entitled to expect from those set in authority. The foreign philanthropists that recently started, and are now fomenting, in Chinh such a praiseworthy agitation against the foot-binding barbarity, were guilty of a singular oversight when they addressed a "petition to the Empress of China alone. They ought also to have petitioned the " Empress-Queen of Great Britain to extend "similar relief to the Chinese female "children living in Her Majesty's domi Meanwhile two wrongs do not "make a right. Japan finds an opportu-
nity. to set an example to Great Britain, | "and we sincerely hope that she may yet be on "persuaded to avail herself of the occasion."
makes upon the time While concurring in our contemporary's are not arduous for those condemnation of foot-binding, there are con- put in the minimum siderations, we think, which mig it reasonably Thirty drills a year for deter the Japanese Government in Formosa for an efficient, with or the British Government in Hongkong
in the afternoon or from forcibly interfering with the practice. Where the Chinese are brought into close contact with Europeans the practice of foot- binding has a natural tendency to die out of itself, and in Formosa, where the population will in all probability become within a com- in securing Sir JOHN CAPRINCK
"
"nions.
"
machine gun
all
the artillery numbering about a hundred It remains for the young hongs and banks and ivilservice to make up the number requi for. the additional machine gun companys be a point of honour, with all It ought to able bodied
nomen to join the Volun young make themselves efficient, thir teers and make creasing the military resources and bringing them up to u levél of less fortunate countries where prevails. But in addition to the cal volunteering holds out induc way of healthy exercise and ph ing that ought to attract re
Corp
other
Looptionall