11, 1901.]
Our contemporary, we suppose, is referring to events in North China and Japan alone. The "moderation and conservatism of
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
(Daily Press, 10th May.) When Mr. OSBORNE at Wednesday's special
335
Belper Deira
French policy in the South can only be meeting of the Sanitary Board expressed will doubtless in the not distant future pre-
observable to those who live a long distance from the scene. Mere abstention from the Lore violent methods of aggression does not constitute moderation. In the North, / ambulances was inimical to the public health, | divided into two mutually hostile camps,
France has been content with more or less
silently supporting Russia. In the South she is playing her own game in a manner to which the epithet "conservative" is the last which can be fittingly applied.
PLAGUE AND THE SANITARY
AUTHORITIES.
(Daily Press, 7th May.) The occurrence within the past three days of two plague cases, ending in the death of one British resident of this Colony and the removal of another to hospital, is a matter which cannot but attract cousiderable atten-
tion. The fact that both cases occurred in the principal street, in the very centre of the city, lends additional gravity to the event. It seems probable (and probability is all we can expect to attain to in such a matter) that the two cases in question were due to the presence on the premises of those unpleasant vermin, rats, the dead bodies of which have been discovered in some number in the place attacked. The Government has been doing its utmost, by the offering of rewards for their capture, to keep down the number of rats in the Colony, but the task of exterminating them entirely is one which is beyond human power. It is only a little less hopeless task than the extirpation of the anopheles mosquito. If the Australian colonies have been absolutely unable to exterminate the rabbit, it is hopeless to expect that we or any one else can get rid of the more prolific and less accessible rat. We can keep down the quantity, and our sanitary authorities are doing this as much as possible. We cannot complain that they have neglected their duties in this respect.
Free Traders have existed since the arguments as capable of rigid proof, times of MENCIUS at least; and
his opposition to the carrying of plague vail even more widely than they do now. patients through the streets and thought The actual consequence of the policy then that the continual sight of dead-boxes and adopted was that England for a time became we feel sure that he was voicing the opinion whose shibboleths were respectively Free of the majority of the European residents Trade and Protection. The results of the at least. Dr. BELL thought otherwise, and policy introduced by the great financier when a dead-box was carried past. Now even general interests of the State that after a had seen Chinese laughing and smiling were, however, so clearly beneficial to the if we grant Dr. BELL's assumption that the decisive campaign they were accepted by Chinese do not mind the sight, how does the nation without exception; and Great this affect the fact that the European re- Britain became as fervent a worshipper sidents do mind, some of them very strongly.nt the altar of Free Trade as ever did Israe We agree with Mr. OSBORNE that it is very lite of old at the shrines of Baal or Ashtoreth. unwise always to hold before people's eyes As a matter of course, with a new religion evid :nce of the existence of plague. Some other means of conveying the dead bodies grew up new signs and watchwords, and a than in ominous-looking boxes through the became the common property of the nation. principal streets of the Colony would be Credo quia impossibile est, was the test to be more decent, and would have a better effect applied to all candidates for honours of any on the public mind. Is it not a fact that description, however humble. Had the zeal bodies of Europeans who succumb to the for the new cult been according to know- plague are carried by launch? there any reason, apart from the slight ex-pretation of the tokens of the faith; un- ledge, little was to be said against this inter- pense, why Chinese bodies should not be fortunately it was the lot of Free Trade that treated the same way ?
And is
On the question which the Sanitary Board was actually called together to consider it is not necessary to say much. The Board was all but unanimous in rejecting H.E. the Governor's suggestion, and the general opinion was that, however such a measure as that suggested might work in Hainan, it could not safely or with advantage be put into operation here. His Excellency put forward the proposal for an experiment to be tried at Yaumati, the patients to be kept "under proper supervision." The last words are important, for it is here that the scheme must break down. As the President of the Board pointed out, there is no sub- division of the houses where it was proposed to try the experiments, and consequently no means exist of isolating patients. In se- parate small houses-little more than huts -the scheme might be worth trying; but the conditions of Hongkong are totally different. The chance of the individual patient's recovery might be increased by his not being disturbed, but he would be a source of disease to all around him.
THE QUESTION OF THE--
COAL-TAX.
doctrine as hard as the Athanasian Creed
+
it fell into the hands of the dilettante-the
derstanding of the principles, had got hold mere superficial men who, without any un- of the watchwords, and were ready to misuse the popular ory whenever some momentarily unpopular issue came to be discussed. One of the first duties to be re- moved under the free trade movement was the strictly protectionist duty levied on foreign sugar in the interest of the planters of the West Indies. The differential duty was indefensible on every ground, political or economical; and its repeal would have proved in the end beneficial to the islands themselves, as leading to the cultivation for which they were best adapted. On the other hand, the Continental Powers were desirous of competing in the production of sugar in contravention of all economic prin- ciples, by paying high bounties on the raising of sugar crops from plants emin But there is another point in which we
ently unsuited for its growth, and think that the public has a very strong case
thereby throwing out of profitable against those who look after the health of
cultivation large areas which under other this Colony. We have published a few
crops might have brought wealth to the letters recently with regard to the carriage
countries at large. On the taking off sugar through the streets of Hongkong and over
the protectionist duties the Continental the Kowloon ferry of the clothes of plague.
Powers, instead of following in the course infected people. But these letters only
that reason dictated, raised still higher their bear a very small proportion to the number
bounties as the price of sugar fell in the of complaints which we have heard on the
market. As Great Britain was really at the subject. At the Sanitary Board meeting In 1838, with the formation of the Anti- time the largest consumer of sugar in the yesterday Dr. CLARK promised that no Corn Law League may be said to have world, she had in her own hands, by re m clothing should be sent across by commenced the Reign of Free Trade, Infusing to receive this protected sugar, the the ferry. But another q: tion remains. 1842, under the guidance of Sir ROBERT means of striking an effective blow against What guarantee, it may well be de- PEEL, the effects of the new rule began to the principle of protection, as well as of manded, have we that the improperly be felt, in the removal from the Tariff of a placing her own colonies in a proper position covered baskets carried in both directions large number of petty duties. At the time to carry on her own free trade policy. Her along the crowded streets are only the dis- there were enumerated no less than twelve people had unfortunately learnt the shib- infected clothes of the plague-sufferers? The hundred dutiable articles; and in order to boleth without the reason of free trade; sanitary authorities after all are ultimately make good the calculated deficiency, the and for the sake of admitting sugar at responsible to the public of whose health Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced an rate below the cost of production, called out they are the guardians. It is all very well income tax, as he stated, merely as a tem- against the interference with this system of to adopt a stoical, a Chiness attitude toward porary measure. Sir ROBERT PEEL, though barefaced protection, as if the placing of the scourge which once more threatens us. as probably the most far-seeing financier of the colonies, as well as France and Germany, But the authorities will be extremely un- the century, and as such an advocate of the on an equal basis were an offence against wise in neglecting to take steps to avert a necessity of freeing trade as far as possible economic laws. The result of this falsely patic among less hardened persons tha from the old bonds, which under the name called free trade was, of course, the ruin of themselves. A sense that the Government of protection really acted as sweddling her West Indian colonies, and for a time the is vigilantly taking every precaution that clothes, and prevented all wholesome move sugar interest of Great Britain was can reasonably be expected of it will do ment, had no idea that he was introducing battening on the vitals of British tra more for the public equanimity than any what after a few years becane, to at least Fortunately the economical errors quantity of speeches. We trust that an one political school, an actual religion. ¦ Grea: Britain herself refused to see altération has also been made in the sur-The question with him was simply the ad-coming apparent to the Continental 1 veillance exercised over the coolies em- vantage or the contrary of removing duties, who find the acreage thus divorced ployed by our sanitary authorities to carry which by hampering the interchange of any useful crop are gradually making infected and disinfected clothes through | commodities generally, reacted injuriously | countries themselves dependent on
on the trade of the country at large. countries for their very nece
our streets.
(Daily Press, 6th May.)
of life.