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been temperate, and shown an amount of latent self respect that could hardly have been expected from a people so subject for ages to the depressing weight of a despotic and irresponsible government. Attempts were made after the coup d'état of September 1898 to restrain the liberty of the press, which had declared itself unreservedly against the reactionary policy of the intrud- ing Empress Dowager. The provincial officials were by no means desirous of de- priving themselves of a possibly useful ally, and the attempt fell to the ground. Still it is recognised that in the institutions of Shanghai there is something that naturally lends itself to freedom of discussion, aud the checks which have gradually grown up against the exercise of arbitrary power are a difficulty in the path of the present ruling faction. This very position has, however, more than ever brought about a rapproche- ment between the foreign and native ele- ments in the Foreign Settlements, so much so that the lines separating the two elements are becoming gradually relaxed, and Shang- hai assuming by degrees the character of
■ homogeneous community. This was well exemplified at the recent meeting of the local parliament, when an offer of certain of the higher class of Chinese residents to contribute substantial sum of 40,000 dollars towards the establishment of a native school, where foreign science should form a main part of the carriolum, came up for discussion. It was noteworthy that no discussion whatever took place on the principle involved. The Chinese were taxpayers, and the claims of education, as far as foreign children were concerned, had been already acknowledged and met; the Chinese were entitled to the same consideration, as an act of expediency as well as justice. The question resolved Itself into the important one of the most pro- Atable methods to adopt. As presented, the scheme inclined to the erection of a large central edifice for advanced education, while a large section were rather in favour of a system of local schools for imparting the foundations of knowledge-to teach the rising generation the methods of learning rather than seek to finish the already nd, vanced student. Both these requirements were accepted as essential to the eventual well being of the inhabitants, and will, no doubt, be in the end adopted. The tendency of this movement is unquestionably to create in Shanghai a large and increasing body of Chinese residents, who are prepared to make Shanghai their permanent home, and are drifting away from the local ties of the family and clan. They are Chinese in the wide sense, and recognise their rights and claims as such, and to such the humiliation which the present administration is bring- ing on their country is a cause of shame and regret.
That this feeling is becoming general was curiously exemplified the other day. An article had appeared in one of the more influential of the native papers reflecting on the character of men like KANG YU-Wei (who, as our special Tele- gram to-day announces, is still in Singa- pore, after all) and KING LIEN-SHAN, who have shown their sincerity by openly espous ing the cause of their Imperial Master. A feeling of wide-spread indignation was the result, and the paper had to withdraw the offensive paragraph, and make a public apology. In all these movements it is satisfactory to find the natives of the Settle- ments showing an intelligent interest, and it cannot but be grateful to the members of the Foreign Municipality that the honesty oftheir intentions has met with acknowledge- ment from so impassive a people as the Chinese ordinarily are.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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THE WATCHFUL ATTITUDE.
(Daily Press, 20th March.)
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[March 24, 1900.
THE FRONTIER OUTRAGE.
(Daily Press, 21st March.)''
It is now more thau a month ago since we It is so rarely that we see French colonial first published the intelligence about the Papers publishing anything in commenda murder of Major KIDDLE and Mr. SUTHER- tion of Great Britain that we cannot refrain LAND. In another column to-day we give from quoting a few lines from the Politique the report on the occurrence by Mr. LITTON, Coloniale. "British sangfroid is not an who was with them at the time and was empty expression. We get instances of it himself wounded. This report puts a very daily in the calm attitude in which the grave appearance on the conduct of the English people receive the news from the Chinese General Lu, who cannot have "Transvaal. 80, in spite of her serious been ignorant of the state of feeling in the preoccupation in South African affairs, Eng-Shan town, and yet raised no objection to the "land does not lose sight of the Chinese ques- visit of the Contmissioners, and only provided "sion. Unable to contemplate establishing a small escort of ten men and a non-com- 'her influence, for the present, manu militari, missioned officer. The escort disappeared "Her Majesty's Government has taken a in a long narrow street soon after entering measure which appears as if it should be a the town, and the non-commissioned officer preliminary to the future permeation of alone, though acting with great bravery, was 'China by the British element.” The mea-
unable to save the lives of the two murdered sure referred to is the fifteen months' resi- officials. Of course, it may be argued that * dence in Peking, for the purpose of learn our Commissioners must also have known ing Chinese, which has been accorded to that the Was were hostile, but they had our officials in Burmah. The French writer their duty to perform, and this duty could not be done by keeping out of all danger. displays throughout his article an admira- tion for English policy which is a pleasing General Lau, the representative of a contrast to the tone usually adopted by his friendly nation, was bound to afford Wo what protection was in his power, and countrymen in their colonial papers.
this he did not do. have quoted occasionally some of their re-
A knowledge of tile ways marks about England, and we saw the other of Chinese officials will not encourage any- day the sensational pictures of “ English one to think that the soldiers disappeared on their own initiative; and, even if this outrages," Boer prisoners chained to guns, wounded men forced to march bare-footed, were so, what good would ten men have and so on. Such language, of course, is done, had they remained, against a crowd of only to be expected, for the French colonials three or four hundred? The action taken are, practically without exception, members in the matter, as we reported on Saturday of the "Forward" party, the people who last, has been that our troops have taken were ready to go to war about Fashoda and and burnt two Chin se fortresses on the whose policy is more conspicuous for hatred Burmah-Yunnan frontier and killed and of other nations, England for choice, than wounded some eight Chinese soldiers, where for any real patriotism on behalf of France. at the Tsungli Yamen is said to have been Fortunately, France is not wholly given "greatly terrified," and to have sent
these fanatica, though her most humble message to Sir CLAUDE policy in China is strongly influenced MACDONALD, begging him to prevent any by their views. The infiltration of French further action and promising every effort to agents, whether religious, scientific, or openly give full redress. No redress can be full political, into Yunnan and the neighbour which does not prevent the recurrence of ing provinces, is at least sanctioned by the such outrages in the future. We await Sir to the home authorities of the Republic. A know. CLAUDE MACDONALD'S reply ledge of Chinese, such as is aimed at by the Tsungli Yamen regulation about our officials in Barmah, becomes daily a more important question, and we have no doubt France will be spurred to emulation. In the meantime it is interesting to note that the French look on it as a rather serious indication of the turn events are taking that, as a writer in the Revue des Revues says, English is on the road to replacing French in the diplomatic intercourse of the Far East; and that the recent treaty between China and Mexico was
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issued in English, not French. We do not mention these French comments on the growth of Anglo-Saxon influence in order to excite feelings of complacency, but rather to show the watchfulness of France over her concerns in China-n watchfulness which it is our duty to imitate.
"L. G." in the Courrier d'Haiphong, writing of M. Donmer, the Governor of French Indo- China and his “raid" into Yunnan, calls the visit a mistake. "We know," he says, how the great dignitaries of China travel. The ceremony displayed by them in the smallest journey seems to Europeans nothing short of stupifying. Chinese custom renders it neces- sary. The sight, therefore, of M. Doumer rid. ing on horse-back with no particular pomp or in the "devourer of miles" (the train) caused a smile and prompted the witty remark that the Governer travelled as his own servant. These little details are nothing in our eyes; with the Chinese they have a tremendons importance." M. Doumer's error unfortunately is only too common among Europeau ofolais dealing with the Chinese.
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with 80 me curiosity. China's usual idea of compensation in these little affairs-whereof she has no small ex- perience is the nominal degradation of the responsible official, often effected by his appointment to another important office, and a money fine, of which she hardly feels the loss. But such measures do not meet the present oase, and the Tsungli Yamen must know that this is no.'
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Hence their terror.
It is contemplated giving the Empress Do. wager two more honorary titles. She bas already sixteen, more than any other Empress before hor.
The Rossia, quoted in the last number to
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hand of The London and China Express, has at least the virtue of frankness. Holding that the present policy of China is to the safety of the Manchurian Railway and in general to the enormous interests of Russia in the Colestial Empire, it says that for the Rns- sian Government the most practical of the measures to be taken to safeguard its interests would be to annex purely and simply Manchuria and the Liao-tung Peninsula, instead of being content with those places remaining spheres of influenco. The journal adds that the present moment is peculiarly favourable for the annex- ation, as no protests are to be feared from France, being an ally of Russia, ner from Great Britain, which is at present paralysed by the South African war, nor from Germany, which is less than ever disposed to stand in the way of Russia, nor, in the last case, from Japan, which is already sufficiently indemnified, in Korea, with the assent of Russia. As far as China is concerned, it is for her own interests to be in agreement with Russia, and to acquiesce in her demands.