July 2, 1898.1
even in its most minate detail be applicable to Formosa. With that readiness to retrace their steps, as soon as they discover their mistake, which is characteristic of the nation, the au- thorities have resolved on falling back, to a great extent, on that old system of popular rule which so exactly suits the Celestial nature, and which is based on the immediate government of the people by the people themselves through their headmen.
Governor-General Kodama, ably assisted by his expert henchman Dr. Goto, seems to have taken the matter up with great earnest ness and vigour, and those who know in- form me that in a very short time matters are likely to assume a much more favourable aspect thau has obtained in the past. This, however, necessitates some little delay, as much has to be undone, and new arrangements sub- stituted, before the regular machinery can get into working order.
In the meantime, the Japanese have abstained, as far as possible, from active interference with the people, even under great provocation, rightly believing that when everything is arranged means will be found for putting a stop to that which at present is undoubtedly most unsatisfactory, not only to themselves bat; to the people generally. This has led some of the evil-doers to misconstrue the forbearance we have described, and they have gone so far as to form bands most audaciously altacking or threatening to attack towns and even garrisons. Thus it was, that the other day a large collection of these brigands, or Toehin 28 they are locally styled, congregated in the hills close to the district city of Fangshan (Hozan) with the armed intention of marching on the latter place and sacking it. Things became so threatening that it was thought expedient to call in the aid of the military who anticipated matters by themselves assailing the robber stronghold. Severe fighting took place in these hills, which, I may mention, are riddled with caves communicating with each other and into which the robbers retreated. After severe
3+
loss, and not without considerable difficulty, the
latter were driven out and dispersed.
The fugitives re-formed in a village further to the South, called Lunating, which has long been notorious as the rendezvous and head- quarters of the leading brigand chiefs in the South. It is no exaggeration to say, and this we state on the authority of the Chinese them. selves, that every resident of the village is directly or indirectly concerned in these evil practices.
The soldiers following up the flying robbers found the latter prepared for a stand at this place. The summons to surrender was met by a volley which knocked over one or two of the Japanese.
Thereupon the engagement became general, the robbers making a house-to-house resistance, many of them finally escaping.
Of course, in an action of this sort, as with rioting, places and persons who are perfectly innocent often have to suffer in the general
mélde.
With the inhabitants of Lunating it is prob- able that this liability, from their very charac- teristics and associations, was reduced to a minimum--still it may be that some were killed or injured who had it been possible to protect would no doubt have been carefully guarded.
I have taken the trouble to describe this last engagement in somewhat minute detail, as a very exaggerated account of the same appeared in a late issue of a Hongkong paper. It may add weight to what I now say when it is stated that the information on which I base my report has been obtained, in chief part, from the Chi- nese themselves, some of whom were actually spectators of the whole affair, and I have good reason for saying that the strictest orders have been given to both military and police to abstain entirely from setting fire to houses, firing on those who are retreating, or not resisting, and, above all, to refrain to the very last moment from opening fire.
The Chinese, I am informed, say that the houses at Lunating were fired by the robbers themselves, prior to retreating from the same, and no amount of investigation has been able to afford confirmation of the highly sensational events which second-hand native informants (with characteristic disregard of either truth or pro-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
portion) would appear to have led the Hong- kong correspondent to believe actually took place.
Although no one can say that the Japanese have at all attained perfection, yet it can serve no good purpose to retail the hysterical and mendacious accusations which Chinese, who themselves have not been near the place, are always only too ready to invent.
To turn to more pleasant, because more hopeful, matters, I think it may be taken as pretty certain that ere very long marked evidences of commercial and local progress in the way of harbour improvements and allied enterprises will be announced, Aiready we see signs of a very liberal tendency on the part of the officials to do that for For- mosa, her people, and her trade, which is all that is lacking to enable this island with its bounti- ful capacities to progress" by leaps and bounds." The country once pacified, as no doubt it will immediately be, as soon as the new system of popular government is instituted, there will be nothing to present the freest development of all resources, whether undertaken or aided by the efforts of the natives, the Japanese, or even foreigners.
UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL COMMISSION 10 CHINA.
Yokohama, 16th June.
The Hon. Sheridan P. Read, recently United States Consul at Tientsin, China, is a passenger on board the Doric. Mr. Read is Chairman of a United States Commercial Commission to China, which Commission, while having the ington, is under the direction of the Phila- delphia Commercial Museum. Mr. Read is well known both in Japan and in China, having been formerly connected with Messrs. Russell & Co., as one of the resident managers of Messrs. Russell & Co.'s Canton branch. As US. Consul at Tientsin, China, Mr. Reid's record is still fresh in the memory of those who
endorsement of the U.S. Government at Wash.
watched the course of the recent war between
China and Japan. While Consul he acted as protector of Japanese interests in Northern China during the war, and rendered such good services that the Japanese Government offered him a decoration through the U.S. Minister at Tokyo.
The object of the Commission, of which Mr. Read is at the head, is carefully set forth in a prospectus. It desires to lay before the mer- chants and manufacturers of the United States a comprehensive study of the internal resources of China, illustrated by samples of raw mate- rials and products, and of existing trade con- ditions and methods of doing business. Mr. Read is accompanied by his wife and children, who will reside in Tientsin, while Mr. Read is engaged in the work of the Commission. Mr. Read is accompanied by Mr. Cassius A. Green, the Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Information of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Mr. Green with his wife will remain for several weeks in Japan before proceeding to China to rejoin Ex U.S. Consul Read. The object of Mr. Green's stay in Japan is in connec- tion with the Philadelphia Exposition to be held from May to October of next year, and especi- ally in connection with the second International Commercial Congress to be held in June, 1899, in conjunction with this exposition. At this Congress there will be represented not only the leading Chambers of Commerce of Latin Ame rica, but also those of South Africa, India, Australia, China, and, it is to be hoped, of Japan. Mr. Green will visit the principal Chambers of Commerce of Japan, and lay be- fore their members all the necessary data con- nected with this exposition, and urge the sending of representatives to the Commercial Congress. The convocation of this Congress in conjunction with an exposition of such manufactures as are best suited for export trade, will give to foreign merchants an unusual op. portunity to study and examine what they can best buy in the United States.
The Chambers of Commerce of Japan will no doubt extend to Messrs. Read and Green & warm welcome and will assuredly not lose the opportunity of being represented at this Congress. Japan Mail.
HANDEL IN CHINA,
city
The Tungehow correspondent of the N. C Daily News writes:-Strolling outside the walls the other evening, we came upon a Chi- nese lad seated on a bank and playing on some primitive wind instrument. It proved to be a penny tin whistle, brought into the country probably by some outlander, to compete with other and less noble instruments dear to the Chinese heart. This, however, was not the sur- prise. For on drawing nearer, the thin notes shaped themselves into a succession of puzzlingly familiar sounds to be presently recognised as the thread of the air in the Hallelujah Choras from the Messiah. It had much the same staggering effect as would be produced by coming upon a Londou_coster chanting s Sanskrit ode to Buddha. Yet, allowing for the limitations of the instrument, the air was being produced faithfully and in good time, so that even in Timbuctoo it would have been re coguised at once by any wanderer from the great West.
The explanation was presently forthcoming. It seems the lad was a student in the North China College, and was one of a chorus of fifty who for months past had been practising the Hallelujah Chorus for rendering at the approach. ing graduation exercise. Escaped from his associates, he was regaling himself in the sum- mer evening by piping to himself on a tin
whistle in the dusk.
Later on we had the singular experience of listening to the chorus, sung, probably for the first time, by a trained Chinese choir. The voices were strong and good, the parts admir- ably maintained, and the time and entrances were nearly perfect. The feeling and vervé with which the performers entered into the singing were unmistakable. A number of audi- great oratorio as rendered in the capitals of the tors were present who were familiar with the western world, on both sides of the Atlantic. But there was not one who was not thrilled through and through with the old familiar fervour of delight as the splendid passionate theme moved on to its culmination. It was, to very foreigner who listened, a revelation of esthetic possibilities on the part of the Chinese, wholly unsuspected. If they could enter with such appreciation and manifest enthusiasm upon a triumph of musical art peculiarly western, what other possibilities of esthetic development might no lie behind. There are many sceptical Occidentals to whom it will be less incredible that the Chinese should be capable of an ethical and spiritual refinement like our own, when they realise that an aesthetic cultivation like ours may be so readily developed. It should be particularly noted that the whole work of learn- ing and mastering this chorus has been done by the young men themselves, under teachers chosen from among their own number. This achieve- ment is rendered possible by the use of the Tonic Sol Fa system.
THE SHANGHAI COTTON MILLS AND THE LABOUR QUESTION.
The China Gazette has recently drawn atten- tion to the effects of the increase in the rates of wages on local industries. In the second article on the subject our contemporary says:-
It is gratifying that our remarks last night upon the labour question in Shanghai have evoked several responses, bearing out our state. ment of the general proposition, and pointing to a desire on the part of foreign employers of labour to take concerted action with the object of dealing effectively with the octopus which threatens to destroy all local industry. One of the cotton mills, and strangely enough a native owned mill, bas already been compelled to sus- pend work on account of the extortionate de- mands of its native workpeople. It is evidently only a question of a short time when other local
ctories will be similarly placed, if nothing is done to meet the extortionate conspiracies of their hands. In this connection, however, are informed the foreign managers and owners of the various mills are endeavouring to form an employers" protective union, and we trust those interested in other industries will promptly follow suit. With a little more mutual under- standing and less feeling of fierce rivalry, anch a consummation ought not to prove a matter
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