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June 13, 1904.]
at least be Corean, and Japan in face of the Corean treaties with foreign nations would not be in a position to secure for her trade any exclusive privileges. And if we bear in mind the fact that the sympathy of the commercial nations is with Japan in the war mainly because of her championship of the principle of the “ Open Door we may safely conclude that Japan will scrupulously guard against any infringement of that principle in the territories which may come under her temporary rule as a result of the war. We say "temporary advisedly, for Japan has expressly stated in her diplomatic notes that the war is not being waged for the purpose of conquest and that she has no intention of acquiring territory as a result of the conflict. We have confidence ia Japan's solemn declarations in this regard and we do not think that elsewhere than in Russia the bogey which Mr. HAMILTON portrays will for the present frighten anybody.
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SHANGHAI AND THE CHINA ASSOCIATION.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. that is not sufficient foundation for the tone necessary to run an institute of this char of hopeless distrust of the Government acter. We will not quarrel with its basis, which characterised some of the speeches though its religious foundation may prove given. In that was as much of the element to stand to some extent in the way of of bathos as there was in the announcement its success, which must depend very of a member that the EMPRESS DOWAGER largely indeed on the elasticity of the rules of China had ordered the extermination of which will govern the institution as well as all the 'foreign devils," and that her upon the tact and breadth of view of its Viceroys were even now but waiting a most active directors. The Hon. GresHOM favourable opportunity to execute at once STEWART offered very sound advice when her orders and the subjects thereof. To do he urged the inadvisability of insisting on the majority justice, this argument in favour attendance at religious services or in any of the Association's striving to be up and other way trying to force religion down the doing something, no matter what, was not re- throats of members. The fact must not be ceived with much empressement. The nominal lost sight of that the average young man is if not the principal, object of the Associa- not a Christian of the kind usually associated tion is the education of public opinion, in people's minds with membership of the much as the case is with the Navy Y.M.C.A. He, in fact, has no admiration for League; and it seems a little inconsistent, the methods of the revivalist preacher, and is therefore, to hold (as in this instance) as a rule a very rationally-minded young man. its meetings in camera. It is not to be We have no wish to enter into a discussion on supposed that our Governmental leaders at the brands of religious faith, but we hearti- home would have proved unduly susceptiblely desire to see an institution for young to the criticisms made upon their methods; men firmly established in Hongkong, and still less that they might, as this committee sincerely trust that the spirit in which its did, have talked, in consequence, of re- movements are directed will not be of that signation. The fact is that the British narrow and exclusive religious order which (Daily Press, 10th June.)
Government has a happy knack of con- would assuredly fail to accomplish the good The Shanghai branch of the China As- tinuing the national undertakings even when it lies in the power of such an institution sociation takes itself very seriously, and
some of its constituents are prone to despair. to achieve here. rightly so. As most men thus regard the If Associations waver and relinquish the affairs in which they interest themselves; plough-handles at times, its Consuls and its and as it has never been demonstrated that Ministers persevere, and it is to be presumed the cynics of the study chair, the philoso-it manages to absorb some little information phers of the Superior Pessimism, manage of what is really going on, even so far away to get any
"forrader" than most men, the as China. Great Britain may not be so fact need not be accounted to the Shanghai supreme in North China, the sphere of her members for unwisdom. None the less, influence not so great or so sharply defined, the suggestion may be made, and that with- as the members of the China Association out offence, that perhaps they have been would like to see it; that misguided aliens recently regarding their doings, or failures should persist in considering Shanghai an at doing, with an exaggerated respect. At international port may be unpleasing; still, their last meeting, it appears, there was
-the task of RoMULUS and REMUs was not talk of a crisis: wild talk of a crisis in the accomplished in a single day. Let our matter of British interests in China, and northern neighbours take heart, and be of less startling references to a supposed crisis good courage. We have a sneaking sus- in the history of the local organisation.picion that the affairs of the Empire, like The Committee had threatened to resign, because attempts to amalgamate with the China League had not been welcomed with the fervour expected of the sister society. After all, it is not so much a matter of Through most of the speeches ran a note of indifference as the matter of a definition of complaint, that the Foreign Office at home "British interests " in China. It has would not sufficiently hearken to the well-always been patent, malgré the saying that informed counsel of the Association. Their trade follows the flag, that statesmen and communications were being "pigeon-holed," tradesmen define British interests from a method of treatment regarded by some of differing points of view. Just now British these earnest local patriots as hardly less patriots in India are vehemently upbraid- than insulting to themselves. They were ing the Home Government for a certain quite convinced, naturally, that none at home could understand the conditions or the needs so well as they in China. The apparent_futility of all their efforts to further British interests, the lack of appreciation on the part of a seemingly unsympathetic Government, had so given them pause that with becoming gravity they were now cousidering the moment- ous question: Shall we give it up, and leave the Empire to its fate? For- tunately, wiser thoughts emerged and floated finally on what had seemed a sea of despair. A. committee was appointed to struggle on doing the best it could. For this sensible decision, the Association deserves congratulation.
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Lightly, almost frivolously, as we have just esteemed this crisis of theirs, there is absolutely no hostility of intention. Things accomplished by them may well inspire gratitude; and yet. no poignant anguish be experienced because they cannot achieve all they would. No doubt it is disappointing to well-meaning volunteers of assistance and advice, when such assistance is not hailed with enthusiasm, or such advice not promptly and implicitly acted upon; but
those of this Association which has them so much at heart, may not be in such desperate straits after all.
tuppence on tea.” Beth ends of the wire are intent on British interests, but from what various view-points! Similar diver- gences of opinion are possible as between the Foreign Office and the China Associa- tion.
THE Y.M.C.A. IN HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, 13th June.) Unquestionably a long-felt want" in the Colony has been supplied through the agency of the Young Men's Christian Association whose new home in Alexandra Building was formally opened by 1.E. the Officer Administering the Government on Friday evening. The need of an Institute for young men which would be at once a home and an educational centre has long been patent, and the wonder is that an attempt was not made to meet it by an in- stitution like the Victoria Recreation Club. Perhaps, however, when all is considered, the experiment is safer in the hands of a organised body like the Y.M.C.A. which maintains paid officials on the spot, who have the time and presumably experience
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It is perhaps a pity that when the name of the institute was under discussion it was not resolved to designate it the Victoria Institute for Young Men or some other name which would be more attractive to young fellows generally. Had the institute a purely secular basis we believe it would have been inaugurated with a membership twice as large as the Y.M.C.A. is starting with. Indeed, a membership of between 400 and 500 is not too much to expect for a Young Men's Institute in Hongkong if it is wisely directed. We welcome, therefore, the assurance of His Excellency Mr. Max, who appears to have taken a very active and praiseworthy part in the movement, that the doors will not be closed against any man who has respect for "Christian morality," whether he be a professing Christian or not. We have in the speech of the organising secretary too a recognition of the fact that some Associations of the kind have failed because they have neglected to consider "the whole man," and we have the promise also that this Association will be run just.
STEWART on the lines for which Mr. pleaded. Attendance at the religious meet- ing and Bible classes will be purely volun- tary and no man need fear that he is
going to have religion pushed down his "throat." The social, physical and intellec. tual programmes mapped out by Mr. SOUTHAM will appeal to all young men, and we sincerely trust that whatever prejudices
been may have
unwisely formed by possible members will speedily be dissipated by experience of the working of the institution. We feel sure it will not lack that public approval and support it is the announced intention of the management to merit, and, recognising as we do the great usefulness of such an organisation, we trust it has a long and prosperous future before it in the Colony.
A telegram has been received in the Colony to the effect that the ss. Hoihao is a total wreck. It is assumed that the wind shifted and at high tide the vessel floated off her bed of hard sand and went on the rocks. The vessel, it will be remembered, went badly Bahore on the bank at Hainan Head about a fortnight ago. The Hothao is an old steamer of 500 tons, plying on the Haiphong-Pakhoi- Hoihao-Hongkong ran. She was built by Messrs. Hall, Russell & Co, of Aberdeen, in 1880, being now registered under the name of Marty & Ď’Abbade.
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