January 14, 1899.)
clearly marked out in Manchuria as that of England in the Nile Valley, but there is no reason in the world, why the door should not be kept wide open to the trade of -all- matigas. : If Russia is not disposed to giminutçe this voluntarily and in her own
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
PROGRESS IN O INA.
(Daily Press, 7th January.) Even China moves. Perforce, perhaps, but yet she stirs. The reforming spark bas indeed been for the time almost ex-
23
interests the other great Powers could | tinguished, and the light of progress, burns | opinion the empire may be curent and
easily impose it as a conilition that must he fulliked. Thit we take my be the meaning of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN's recent declaration that an understanding with Russia was pissible and desirable. So long us England can secure an open dor het frile she can afford to snap her fing rs at-iphéres of influence.
Cor
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dim and low, but it will in time be fanned once more to a flame. Meanwhile the in- fluences that will revive it are not even
duced them to listen with more than ordin dry interest to Lord CHARLES Beresford when he volunteered to show them a way out of present difficulties. It is true that his suggestions went no further than the first step in a scheme by which in his from the dry rot which has attacked unwieldy body. Six y years ago his over- tures might have
hearing, but
given to them. Strong in their own con- ceit, invulnerable to all criticism, they would have dismissed warnings and laughed at 3 ggestions for improvement. What other could be expec.ed from the people who, when their foreign armed soldiers had been hopelessly routed by a n numerical- ly inferior force of Japanese, had reverted to the manufacture of jingals 1
now without their silent pressure on the beyond that not have been
dull black mass of ultra conservatism that has lately enjoyel so signal a triumph in the celestial capital. The Empress Regent and her supporters, who were able at a stroke to remove the EMPEROR himself and make a clearance of all his assistants in the work of reform, have been wholly, unable to set the clock back any further. They are unable to arrest the onward progress of Muscovite domination; they cannot stay the development of the railways that by and bye are bound to effect wonderful transformations. in the empire; and they are compelled by outside pressure to consider the propriety of opening up all the inland waterways, the mines, and the other natural resources of the country. They are under the necessity, by the pressure in the North, of conciliating the other Treaty Powers lest they should ne left entirely to the tender mercy of the Great Bear, whose hug is dreaded as his power is gradually becoming appreciated. Now that the tiger's skin has been stripped off the bare and unprotected, flanks of China no great military Power is likely in future to allow its time to be wasted by the pro- crastinating pleas and shallow tradiddles of the mandarins. When, therefore, the Representative of a Great Power speaks resolutely, and makes a clear demand, to the communiction as was certainly not dreamed of in Peking a few years ago. Then all that was thought of was how best to humbug the applicant; now the consideration is, how much must be con- cede. The mandarins are not more willing to meet foreign demands, but they realise their present inability to safely deny them.
But, as we have sani, China moves, be cause the pressure on her compels move- ment. The passes in ber mountain ranges will at no distant period be crossed by the iron way; the rapids of the Upper Yangtsze will be made practicable to light draught steamers; the erratic course of the Yellow River will be brought under due restraint; and China's Sorrow converted into China's Blessing; the rich mineral treasures beneath the soil will be made to contribute to the nation's wealth; and the magnificent sys- tem of inland waterways will bear on their broad bosoms tenfold the commerce they now carry. But this will not be accom- plished by the people of China or by their officials, though they will be made to assist in the work. The immutable laws of progress, stronger than the seem- ingly impregnable armour of celestial vauity, are working steadily in
We come now to Wilen wake's' sugges tions with regard to the so-called spheres of influence to be necorded to the other Powers prifiirity_interested, namely, England, Gerafiny, France, and Japan, and here it mný be well to remember the item in the recipe for booking whare first catch your hare.. Assuming that " Wideawake's" pro- posed carving up of Chin were considered consonant with British interests would the other Powers mentioned be satisfied with the division and would they be disposed to ae- copt the responsibilities thrown upon them? Two of the Powers ʼn med, Germany and Japin, are understood to fav air the main tenance of China's integrity, and American op nion also inglines to the sang side. The maintenance of that integrity is England's traditional policy, and if she is prepared, either alone or in conjunction witi otlier Powers, to assume the direction of the government the policy is perhaps not im possible of accomplishment. Caina may be destined ultimately to share the fate of Poland, in which case England must he ready to take her proper share, but in the meantime it appears worth while giving the Tsuugli Yamen pay such attention | direction, and the whole fabric the country another chance. And seeing what has been accomplished in Egypt, both in the civil administration and the army. China's case cannot be regarded as abso- lutely hopeless, provided the appropriate remedy be applied. As to whether the treat- ment should first be applied to the army or the civil administration opinions seem to differ, and it may be useful to point out an inconsistency of which some of the con- troversialists seem to be guilty-and small lame to them, for in China inconsistency seems to overtake us all. But the par- ticular inconsistency we would point out is this, that at the time of KANG YU-W's collapse it was affirmed with the most confidence that all the drastic reforming decrees inspired by that gentleman could have been carried out without any fear of opposition in the provinces, that the country was ripe for the reforms and would have welcomed them. It is now affirmed with equal confidence that any attempt at reform would be fored.omed to failure unless hacked up by a reorganised aring officered by Europeaus. The weathercock of opinion on this subject has changed from due north to the south. Whichever view may be correct, however, it must be conceded that the priny, as one of the principal depart ments of the state, must share in the general
· reorganisation, and the sequence in which | ful check upon the intrusive Cossack. How- and they bure away with the departments are taken in hand is per- haps not fundamentally important; if the decision be in favour of taking the army in, hand first we may be assured that reform of the civil administration will follow in due Course. But there must be none of that) with distinguishe! consideration, and histon to the Empress Dowager when he had
weakness in dealing with the case of the exhibition of which in the past" Wide awake justly complains; it must be clearly understool that the patient is to obey the doctor's orders and to be subjected to restraint if he grows refractory.
This change is in many ways one for the better; it will help forward the task of opening up this great Empire to trade most materially; and it will undoubtedly lead to a great increase in trade. Chinese officials are not willing instruments in this work; they will, by obstruction and corrupt practices, do their utmost to nullify the efforts of foreigners to develop the resources of the country. But they must go some of the way that they are wanted to travel; and though the drag b: heavy, the coach will roll lumbering along. Later on it may acquire momentum. Possibly, if we had many statesmen like Lord CHARLES BERES FORD, it would gather force rapidly. The provincial officials welcomed his lordship | with more heartiness than they usually accord to foreign visitors. They no doubt saw in him a represent tive Briton who would speak with authority in his own land on his return, and they perhaps thought that they discerned in his programme a use
ever that might be, the noble an gallaut representative of British commerce met with the best and most courteous reception from the different Viceroys. He was shown everything he wanted to see, he was treated
criticisms, if they failed to convince, were at any rate everywhere received in good part and in some instances perhaps with welcome. No doubt the recollection of what was
as effected for China by another British officer, the lamented GORDON, in-
ese conservatism is powerless to arrest the march of events. The EMPEROR may, as was the case a few months ago, be re- moved from the Dragon Throne by a coup d'état, the dynasty itself may give place to another, or the system of government may be wholly changed, but the wheels of progress must now revolve. They have been scotchel for a long period, but the obstructions are gradually being removed, and though the advance be slow it is likely in future to be fairly steady. The very want of funds which is now growing so acute will serve to accelerate the rate of progress. However unwilling, the mandarinate will have to give up preconceived notions and set aside prejudices in order to conciliate the people to whom they will have to look for assistance. A notable instance in point was the unparalleled-in Chinese history innovation submitted to with a wonderfully good grace by the Empress Dowager, when she held a reception of European ladies. The details of this function have been supplied by our Peking correspondent. It took place on the 13th December in the fam us Forbidden City, and the ladies were not only received in person by the EMPRESS but entertained at luncheon and presented with mementoes of the visit in the shape of handsome pearl rings and other gifts,
them, as was
inteniled, most pleasing impressions of Her Majesty's grace and affability. This con- cession to the e wishes of foreigners was ob tained through the instrumentality of Prince HENRY of Prussin, who suggested the recep-
audience with Her Majesty at Peking. The Empress, who is a naturally shrewd woman saw quickly that there would be advantage. to be gailied. It was desirable to place herself in a better light before the Foreign Powers and do something to obliterate, if