July 9, 1898.]
renew 3,000 rivets. For these little repairs the sum of $17,000 was asked, equal at exchange 75 to Tls. 12,825, which, added to the sum already given, made the nice little total of Tla. 21,589.61, which M. Marty claims with entire justice.
The Toatai whom M. Marty addressed would not understand, which is nothing to be astonished at. He replied that M. Marty ought to do the repairs himself. M. Marty, who knew that the vessels were in a pitiable condition, claimed that he was responsible only for the internal repairs, rightly maintaining that the vessels had been promised to him with the hulls in good condi- tion. Proof of this was to be found in the simple fact that M. Marty had consented to pay the docking charges in order to ascertain for himself the state of the bulls. Besides, formal agreements had been made before persons whose testimony could not be suspected, and the Taotai had entered upon a bad caso. In fact this functionary was entirely mistaken in think- ing that M. de Bezaure would exhibit towards him the gentleness of temperament of that Judge who allowed to pass the unseemly observations of an English advocate whose role throughout this affair has been severely judged by his own nationals. However delicate it may be for us to speak of certain personal questions arising out of the Bennertz affair, we must say that a similar method of defence could not be pursued in this case. The plaintiff is a man occupying a high position in the Far East and as well known for his honesty as for his enterprise. No one has ever doubted his word, and in under- taking a case against Mr. Marty the Taotai will have against him right, justice, and honour. We sincerely regret, therefore, the blindness of H.B. Tsai, who does not understand that the time for artifices is past. The clouds are gather- ing over his head. He has got himself ont of many a tight place by his ability and intelli. gence, but he had better take care this time. The only god he can invoke now is the execu- tion of the formal promises he has made before witnesses. To draw back may bring upon him worse consequences than the Bennertz
affair.
M. Marty, who is quite willing to undertake the forty or fifty thousand taels worth of in. ternal repairs that the vessels require, has already engaged his staff. He has made con- tracts with the masters, the engineers, and the officers. Getting them together has cost money, it costs money to keep them, and it will cost much more to cancel their engagements. H.E. Tsai bad better think on all this and bring to an end as soon as possible a question which, if it becomes envenomed, may cost him very dearly, both in money and in respect of his position.
R. Y.
THE PLAGUE.
During the week ended 2nd July there were 10 cases of plague and 10 deaths. The daily
returns for the past week are as follow :---
Cagos. Deaths. July 3rd
4th
"
5th
6th
7th
27 8th
0
0
0
RUSSIAN OBSTRUCTIV LNESS.
It is stated in some quarters that Russia has made very strong representations to China re- specting the concession just granted to the Peking Syndicate, and maintains that in con- sequence of the treaty which she, China, has made with Russia, she has no power to grant the right of railway construction in North China to any other Power. We are interested to know which treaty is hereby referred to. Even the famous Cassini Convention, compre- hensive as it was, made no mention of a railway monopoly in North China, and if any such treaty exists it must be a subsequent and still more mysterious document. We should not be surprised to find that this report is founded on fact, as we believe there are very few things at the present juncture that Russia would hesitate to demand, and we make no secret of our belief that Russian aims in the Far East are by no means bounded by Port Arthur. As we have
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE JAPANESE CABINET.
The Japanese Consul has received a telegram to the effect that the Ito Cabinet resigned on Thursday and a new Ministry has been formed as follows:-
41
already stated, it is now in the hands of other next literary examinations, from those for Powers to define the limit of legitimate ambi | Doctor down to the licentiate examinations tion for her, and while Russia may deem it throughout the empire, the candidates shall be distinctly within her province to protest against examined in short practical essays instead of the concession to British interests, we trust in subjects from the Confucian Analects as of that no hesitation will be exhibited in remind- old. As to how to effect this end, by arrang- ing her that it is sometimes dangerous to taxing the various methods of examination, we forbearance to its utmost limits.--Peking and hereby command the Board of Rites to consider Tientsin Times,
the matter carefully and report to us as to the details of the said new course of examina- tions. We issue this special decree at this time. really because the present methods of study are opposed to the necessities of the times and so deeply rooted by custom and habit that we are forced to order a change from the rats of old literary precedure. The shallow customs of old will therefore be broken down and scholars while still making the Classics and Analects their foundation for learning will also be enabled, by being examined in short practical essays in current subjects, to keep their posi- tions as true and erudite but practical scholars imbued with a thorough knowledge of present day topics. They will escape also the charge of being merely technical scholars possessed of empty knowledge. Let there be earnest and practical study, therefore, and thus justify this decision of the Throne towards going out of the way to secure true talent.-N. C. Daily News.
Count Okuma, Prime Minister aud Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Count Itagaki, Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. M. Matsuda, Minister for Finance. Mr. M. Oishi, Minister for Commerce and Agriculture.
Mr. Y. Hayashi, Minister for Communica- tions.
Mr. Y. Ozaki, Minister for Education. Mr. Y. Ohigashi, Minister for Jurisprudence, Both War and Naval Ministers remain as before.
never
BRITON OR CHINAMAN,
Some time age, we (Straits Times) called attention to the case of one O. Khun Yiong, who alleged that the Chinese Government had unjustly dealt with him, and that the British anthorities in China would not procure redress for him notwithstanding his British nationality. He petitioned the Straits Government on the subject. The Government Gazette has published the reply of Government signed by Mr. C. W. S. Kynnersley to the petition. The reply states that inquiry has shown that the petitioner asserted his British nationality in China, but traded there as a Chinese sub- ject, also it was found out that he ab- stained from registering himself and his family as British subjects until a judgment had been obtained against him in China, when he absconded, and, after concealing the above facts, applied in Singapore for, and obtained, a British Passport. The enquiry thus showed the incorrectness of many of the statements in the petition. Mr. Kynnersley thus closes his reply:-
Her Majesty's Government cannot allow persons of Chinese race born in this colony to to enjoy the benefits of a double nationality, that is to say, it cannot permit them after act- ing as the petitioner has done as if they were subjects of the Emperor of China by residing and owning propertylin the interior forbibden to British subjects, afterwards to deny Chinese na- tionality and obtain as British subjects that full protection and countenance which can be ac- corded only to those who have consistently from their birth conducted themselves and been re-
gistered as British subjects."
CHANGE IN CHIA'S EXAMINA- TION SYSTEM.
A WARNING TO SHENG TAOTAI.
An Imperial edict of the 26th instant con- tains the following warning to Director-General Sheng-"For the scheme of building a rail- way between Hankow and Lukou Bridge, Pe- king, we sanctioned the proposal to make it a mercantile enterprise open to all our subjects, and further specially appointed Sheng Hsuan- huai to be Director-General of the project. Two years have now elapsed since then and by rights we ought to expect that the work of surveying the route, buying up of land for the road, and such like, should be completed by this time. Now the proposed railway route is one of very great importance to the Em- pire and we cannot permit any delay to be made with the progress of the work. Fur- thermore, we have now the requisite funds in hand for building this railway and there- fore command the said Sheng Hsüan-huai to commence work immediately. He is also to report to us in advance the manner he intends to carry on the said construction. Now if there be any more delays and it be found that there has been an air of levity in the prosecution of an affair of such grave and national importance, the question is asked whether Sheng Hsuan- huai will be able to avoid heavy punishment for conduct for which he is doubtless responsible. With reference to the Hankow-Canton Railway and the Shanghai-Nanking Railway we hereby enjoin upon those who have been authorised to conduct their construction to hasten with their work and refrain from unnecessary delay in the matter." Apropos of the above the Daily Chi- nese Progress publishes a report that Shêng signed a loan with the Belgian Syndicate for the building of the Lu-Han Railway on the same day that the above decree was issued.- | N. C. Daily News.
The following Imperial decree of the 23rd June is to hand-When our dynasty ruled China we followed the old examination regula- JAPAN SUGAR REFINERY. tions of the previous Ming dynasty making a thorough knowledge of the Four Books (Con. The Nihon Seito Kaisha (Japan Sugar Re- fucian Analects) a sine qua non to official pre-finery) at Miyaoka, Osaka, the work of which ferment. In the reign of the second Emperor was started last year, commenced business from K'ang Hsi, this was changed and short practical the 16th June. A representative of the Osaka. essays were the rule, which, however, did not Mainichi who visited the establishment, which last long, for a return to the old methods was is the first of its kind in this country, learned made shortly afterwards. Classical elegance that the work is to be confined for the present and brilliant practical essays therefore became to the refining of brown Java sugar. Four the rule at that time and erudito scholars were Europeans are superintending the work, togeth turned out not a few. But of late scholarship has er with two Japanese experts and the output daily declined and miserable results have been
is said to amount to about 40 tons per day. On displayed by candidates at examinations. This
the conclusion of the war between the United apparently has been caused by general careless- States and Spain, the Factory intends to obtain ness and apathy for the classics, etc., and we the raw material from other tropical countries therefore now rarely meet with any erudite and such as the Philippines. The factory is ar- brilliant scholars, while those who have been ranged and administered on an extensive plan, chosen for degrees owed it rather to the and is provided with the best machinery,” and reckless methods of making the selections. It altogether the Company's future is most pro- therefore has come to this, that we must make mising. What, however, makes the work of certain changes in the literary curriculum in
sugar refining in this country somewhat onerous order to enable the true scholars and really is the 5 per cent. duty which is levied on the deserving to get advancement. We therefore article, in contradistinotion to the bounty granted hereby command that commencing with the'in some Western countries.-Japan Times.