40
SHANGHAI RIVER CON- SERVANCY.
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[January 22, 1908.
prevailing in Peking, we have every reason to anticipate that the only result of sequies- cence will a return to the old system letting the whole question slide.
The Shanghai Chamber of Commerce has at once drawn attention to the unfituess of the appointments, but their resolution to appeal for information to the “Senior Consul" is an indication into what a chaos affairs at the neighbouring port have boon permitted to drift. This Senior Consul is from the necessities of the case generally the most inactive and the least influentinl of all; strong men, and those representing the more important Powers, being as a rulé more frequently changed. It is into anch hands under the present regime that the management of affairs between the com- munity and the Chinese officials usually drifts. The result is continual intrigue and, as we have lately seen, continual disorder and misunderstanding. More than any other the British Government, which has immeasureably the largest interests in the port, is to blame for the chaotic condition of affairs.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
consonant with the best interests of com- | merce, and more conducive to the lasting advantage of China as a world Power should (Daily Press; 17th January.) be made. The engineer, it is true, has on Neither the important mercantile com- this occasion been hoist on his own petard, munity of Shanghai nor the INSPECTOR but this, though strikingly in accordance GENERAT
through whose intrigues the with the eternal fitness of things, is but poor present situation with regard to the conser-consolation for the enormous interests vation of the Hwangpu River, and the which are thereby endangered. improvement of the approaches to the har. But if Mr. GOODNOW's name as Assistant bour of Shanghai, has been brought about, Director be in some degree unsatisfactory, feels very happy over the last phase of what shall we say to that of the Director in this ugly business which has thrown the Chief, Mr. Ku HUNG-MING? Mr. Ku entire control of the harbour of the largest HUNG-MING is beat known to the outside and most important port in East Asia into world as private secretary to H.E. CHANG the hands of the reactionary party-in this CHIH-TUNG, a post for which his almost case represented by Viceroy CHOU Fu and elegant command of the English language Mr. Ku HUNG-MING. In 1902, in accor-eminently fitted him. Outside this he has → dance with the Convention of the previous essayed English literature with fair success year which on the model of the recent as a writer. As a practical man he is, Thames Conservancy placed the control of however, distinctly of the Baboo order; the entrance to the port in an elective according to his lights, a patriotic Chinese, Board wherein all the interests, mercantile he has yet failed to master those points and political, were fairly represented, the wherein the practical politician differs from Board was duly elected, with the exception, the man whose knowledge has come from and the exception is noteworthy, of the the academy. In India we have had much foreign gentleman who was to represent and unpleasant experience of this type of the Inspectorate General. The gentleman student who, while, at least, as quick as their named for the post was Mr., now Sir, European fellows to pick up the externals ROBERT BREDON, and the apparent ground of Western knowledge, are quite unable to of sulking was the selection of Chairman. appreciate its inner working, and form with The other members of the Board claimed their crude indigested theories the most their right of election, but Mr. BREDON, dangerous class in Bengal. This phase of acting doubtless under instructions from Mr. Ku's character has been perfectly the INSPECTOR GENERAL, claimed the understood by his superiors, who have presidency as of right, and refused t› fall never during his career ventured to place into line with the others who, it was sup him in any independent sphere of office posed, were disposed to elect Mr. JoHN nor ever given him substantive rank. It GOODNOW, then U. S. Consul General, has been reserved for Viceroy CHOU Fu, and an ex-officio member of the Board. In himself a reactionary, to confer on him a this unseemly struggle wherein Messrs. substantive post, and-one, moreover, where BREDON and GOODNOW, each with his he is brought into contact with the very own personal interest to serve, and each element which, in spite of his European thinking far more of this than of the large lucation, he is the least capable of commercial and shipping interests en- understanding Such is the manner in angered, neither would give way; and the which the Kiangnan VICEROY is prepar- Board (incomplete without the appointing to carry out the Convention with ment of the representative of the Maritime regard to the conservation of the har Customs on whom largely depended the bour of the most important port in China, financial portion of the scheme) was never and we cannot but reiterate the dissatisfac duly constituted, and the whole remairetion which we expressed at the first in nubibus. Mr. GOODNOW, who never news of the weakness which had permitted succeed al in altogether gaining the con- the terms of the original agreement, where- fidence of his nationals locally, has since by the necessary works were placed in the resigned his office of Consul General, and hands of those most concerned, to be entered the service of the Chinese superseded in favour of a sentimental cry. Government. What office he was intend-; It was, of course, in deference to the ed to fill was kept from public know. I supposed superior experience of the ledge till within the last few wess; it was, INSPECTOR GENERAL, and in weak submis- generally rumoured that it was to be in sion to his views that the body of the connection with the Hwangpu Couser- foreign Ministers at Peking gave way. vancy, and there is no doubt that The present INSPECTOR GENERAL has, his influence with the present reactionary however, for the last five years definitely VICEROY of Nanking has, so far, at least, as ranged himself alongside the reactionary the provincial powers go, resulted in his party, We have before spoken of the appointment as Assistant Director. So far reasons, which were not altogether his own as is known at present the appointment bas seeking; but having taken the downward not been confirmed by the Peking authori- plunge he has naturally been unable to ties, but from the recent actions of ecover the position lost, but the scandalous VICEROY, there seems every indication tf intrigue which has resulted in the appoint- in this, as in other affairs, he intends to actment of the travesty of a Board which the perfectly independently, and keep in his own hands the entire control. That the snub administered to Sir ROBERT BEEDON, and through him to the INSPECTOR GENERAL has been amply deserved no one in Shang- hai will be found to doubt. Both for the
last
Kiangnan VICEROY would inflict, and the slap in the face administered to the aspec- torate is not a promising indication of what we are to expect in the near future. Techni- cally the new agreement contains a saving clause, that in case the local authorities few years have thrown in their lots should not proceed with the works required with the reactionary party, and have done the originally constructed Board of Control everything in their power to harrer any is to be re-established. Practically the attempt at advance. The post of Inspector weak yielding on a matter of practice has General of Customs, which it was once raised difficulties well nigh insurmontable hoped would be exercised as far as possible in the path, and there is no doubt that the for the purpose of removing petty restric- intrigue to place the control in the hands tions on trade, has been deliberately made of the Inspectorate General will be again use of for the purpose of obstruction, and renewed. From recent experience, as well it is time that some other arrangement mored as from previous knowledge of the views
CHINA SITUATION IN A NUTSHELL.
(Daily Press, 18th January.) China is awaking—that is its intellectuals, China is stirring--that is its young ideal, the university product; China promises to make a mess of it-that is its unchanging proletariat. Such appears to be the situation to-day, concisely summed. The intellectuals, not necessarily implying the literati, have discovered that the happy mean is not really identified so long as there are extremes still unexplored. The object lessons gained by enforced contemplation of their neighbours have awakened them from their self-satisfied dream, and convinced them against their will that all was not for the best in this best of middle empires That was the first step gained. But that wisdom which should always supple- ment knowledge was with them, inherent, a national birthright, born of centuries of experieuce; and the outside world yearned to hustle the East out of its exaggerated conservatism. "Hustle" is a symptom peculiar to youth, and it remained for the students to startle both old East and young West by the suddenness with which they grasped the new spirit. They, unlike t
e their elders, have been swallowing ideas with avidity, and are impatient for the Chinese Utopia that figures so stereoscopically in their young eyes. They have had the benefit, if benefit it
it be, of unexpurgated history brought up to date, and are in- spired by the sense of injustice to put things right. Injustice to youth is like the adagial red rag to the bull. It is a surer provocation than patriotisn. And youth so inspired, full of its awful responsibility (although its elders regard it as "audacious irresponsibility") is prone to short cuts. The end is all; the means nothing. Some times to talk of the illusions of youth may be to talk inaccurately.
Perhaps these things are real that present themselves to their clear vision; perhaps it is only that youth has not realised its limitations. Age brings that knowledge, the sense of power- lessness, of impotence; and age sees the ideal objective less clearly, because (let us confess it in confidence) it is more comfort- able to drop eyelids
is over tired eyes. That is one way of looking at it, but age call claim the merit of a sort of common sense to which youth is in the nature of things a stranger. Youth, to use an has energy to burn, and turns naturally to iconoclastic ways of setting the world right.
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