September 10, 1904.]
Of course there is another view, and one that it is well that the Japanese generals entrusted with the conduct of the war should well ponder. It is no part of their scheme to cause unnecessary waste of human life, nor needlessly increase the sufferings in cident to warfare. Such misdeeds may be consonant with Russian civilisation, or want of civilisation, for unfortunately their conduct of the war up to the present most nearly resembles that of a GENGHIZ KHAN, and casts a lurid light on the boasted cul- ture of our modern Europe. Still, uncouth as are the ways of St. Petersburg, there may be some method in this seemingly use. less waste of life at the doomed fortress.
Autumn is now well on us, aud in another three months field operations will become practically impossible. But winter, in the more southern regions of Liaotung imprac | tical for warlike operations, is in northern Siberia a time adopted preferentially for travel. As long as active operations in the field are possible the number of troops possible to convey along the railway will at best do no more than supply vacancies
!
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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to try his mettle, and afterwards she will atone to him a hundred-fold if he go for- ward with the plough." Thus do we talk, and write, and wonder that there is no responsive rushing "back to the land."; We are apt to rhapsodise, moreover, from the bone-coddling recesses of the padded chair, on the delights of the strenuous life, the physical pleasures of exertion, and the consequent joy in ease that is thereby earned. Well, the farmer, perhaps, knoweth his own bitterness. In China, for example, his "lot is not a happy one.' truly, theoretical honour in the land. The Chinese, when defining academically the social status of their own people, esteem: the tiller of the ground as only one degree lower than the scholar who is, de facto et de jure, of the first estate. Neither the merchant nor the artisan, sue. | cessful or otherwise, enjoys the social prestige (" on paper, in books, documents, proclama- tions, precepts, and exhortations") of the Chinese agriculturist. Every year, we are told, at the spring equinox, farming for T'ong you and Han jin is given its seal of Imperial, and therefore divine, approbation winter these conditions will be considerably by the custom which compels the Emperor altered. It is therefore quite within the to plough in the Temple of Agriculture at range of possibilities that during the winter Peking, and thus, metaphorically expressing the balance of the troops in point of un-it, to lay the foundation of the next harvest. bers may be considerably altered; and this. were it possible to stave off the surrender, might be considered to hold out a prospect of ultimate relief, and by engaging the Japanese troops elsewhere might eventually alter the result of the campaign. We do not, of course, wish to infer that such would be the consequence, but in warfare it is ahove all things essential to provide for every eventuality; and the continuance of the war over the winter, though probably not distasteful to Russia, who is above all fear- ful of being left to her own devices, would be in the last degree harmful, not only to Japan, but to all other Powers having rela- tions with the Far East. Doubtless this would be bread and jam to Russia, but it is a condition which would not so favourably appeal to
the other Powers-especially England and Japan.
due to the wear and tear of the war. In
CHINESE FARMERS' TROUBLES,
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183
MISSIONARIES AND POLITICS.
(Daily Press 8th September,) We are wondering what our American guests are thinking of the extraordinary petition published in the Journal of the American Asiatic Association, with reference to the Consul-General for the United States at Shanghai, some comments on which we took from the Kobe Chronicle and published in our issue of yesterday. So far as our observation has gone, the Shanghai papers
He has have observed a noticeable reticence with regard to the affair, and this absence of support or criticism may perhaps be indicative of the contempt in which the action of the signatories is held locally. Upon referring to the files, we find that the North China Herald deprecated the publica- tion, and pointed out a misrepresentation made in respect of busines: firms supposed to have signed the petition to the President. There has been, however, no protest against the thing itself, nor any animadversion upon the form of it. Only the vigilant paper in Japan, apparently, noticed any injustice, and its comments we have already presented to our readers. Whatever mistake or misunderstanding there may be as to the business men at the back of this expression of dissatisfaction with the senior consal of In the provinces, a like duty is expected of, the northern port, there is no probable and performed by, the viceroys and shadow of doubt, no possible doubt what- governors. Yet in spite of these aristocratic ever," that this remarkable request to typifications of the national importance of President ROOSEVELT was signed by a dozen agriculture, there are enormous areas of or more missionaries. The serious portion good laud left waste or fallow. This, also, of the representation reads :--" In a court in spite of that remarkable official generosity of law we could not be permitted to testify which has made a custom of allowing five to any particular act to show that the untaxed harvests to the farmer who reclaims standing of a man was not good, but we and puts into tilth any hitherto unyielding would he asked if we knew his general soil. In practice, the Chinese farmer does reputation. Acknowledging the justice of not receive the respect that legend and this principle, we do not, therefore, propose iterature has proclaimed his due, probably to direct Your Excellency's attention to any because nothing fails like failure. By that, one act, but we state that the official stand. it must not be understood that the Chinese ing of the Consul-General is not good, and farmer fails to make his farm productive. that his course here has not inspired the How should he, when the soil is so rich, and confidence of the substantial foreign re- lots still richer only want working, and sidents of this port. We do not feel safe when he is credited with an "unremitting under his administration, and we deeply toil" that fully exemplifies "the never regret to write that we do not. tiring industry" of his nationals? But loyal to our flag, and we beg that you will | alas! getting and keeping are two different have it represented by a man who embodies
matters. There are the robbers, licensed | in his official conduct its high mission.” and unlicensed, to reckon with. The Peking
No oue
can read that without seeing people recognise that an agricultural com- in it a serious reflection upon a public munity gives less trouble to its rulers than official with great responsibilities: and any other, but their efforts to encourage yet there is not in the whole of the the growth of such peaceful popula- complaint a single specific charge against tions have been. nullified by their the man to whose conduct and character failure to exercise effective government over it bears reference. To such vague charges, those subjects who neither toil nor spin, and so serious in their general ffect, as our no less so by their lack of supervision over Kobe contemporary bas pointed a rapacious officialdom. Peking has, as the there is no possible reply. We cannot help virile speech puts it, bitten off more of Asia feeling considerable ninazement that such & than Peking can chew. Just now in the document did not promptly find its way province of Kwangsi, the deplorable state into the waste paper receptacle of the U.S. of agriculture is particularly apparent. Department of State. Mr. Joan GOODNOW Hundreds of acres are laid waste again, and occupies, of course, a position of grave the patient toil of the farmer rendered of responsibility, and it were well that such an no account by the idle rebel. The Kwangsi official should be, like the Imperial Roman governor has “ memorialised ' to the effect lady, above suspicion. Who, however, may that the farmers are afraid to work, that rise superior to all stigma, if he is to be nine out of every ten houses are empty, and exposed touch inconsequent aspersions as that there should be a remission of taxes in these made by the Shanghai missionaries › consequence. It would appear from this Mr. GOODROW may have given numero: and numerous other examples that the causes of complaint that we have no suspi foreign politician's scrupulous regard forcion of: we do know that he has seemed to the integrity of China is on a par with some Shanghai Americans a man after Pre- the worship of a myth; and that it is our sident ROOSEVELT's own heart, a strong sa duty to follow BETSEY PRIG into seep-man, of quick decision and prompt action, ticism, and to declare our belief that there who has, in numerous instances, set the law "ain't no sich pusson." All the books aud¦ of Shanghai above “yellow patriotism, all the authorities go to show, as do these | and given rulings calculated to preserve the current events, that China has not that higher prestige of his own community and "local motion" which, according to Bacox, the necessary amenities of an international
keepeth bodies integral.”
settlement. It may smack too much of the
(Daily Press, 7th September.) Farmers themselves, if their chronic grumbling be evidence, agree in accepting a similar view of tillage to that embodied in Genesis, and consider that the labour in- volved in extracting nourishment from the bosom of Mother Earth is more of a curse than a blessing. Certainly, there are sigus of sincerity about their complainings, for although vast tracts await their attentions, these undeveloped spaces of Canada, Siberia, China, Australia-and otherwhere--are allowed to remain unproductive. In Great Britain, erdu, a land which our American friends are pleased to regard as overcrowded, and so small that the sightseer from the States is in danger of inadvertently stepping off into the sea on his walks abread, the greater possibilities of agriculture must still be considered latent and unguessed. And this in spite of us, ink-smearing, idea, cultivating folk, who are fond of preaching "the gospel of Soil-labour; that no man can win greater honour by his life-work than by labouring faithfully, wisely, undis mayedly among the good, sweet, reasonable earth. She (the soil) may seem to play with the patient farmer, may seen to thwart his efforts, destroy his work's ruition for very wantonness; but in the long run, a man earns the just price of his labour. The land will give him troubles, disappointments.
"
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1
We are
out,