January 22 1906.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. however, on reading Viceroy SHUM's pro- clamation, is that there may be a modicum of truth in his view of the matter. It is n possibility we are bound to consider. We know at he is a shrewd diplomat, parti- sulaily clever at stating a case, nod that the plausibility of his arguments may be a matter of cunning artifice oftener than a reflection of truth. But we know also that po people can be expected to rejoice at taxatiou. We have been led to believe that the Chinese are accustomed to being taxed to the limit, and we naturally wish to con- clude that such a demonstration ns we have just witnessed at Canton has been provoked by the last straw in that connectio... There
CHINA AND RUSSIA.
(Daily Press, 20th January.) The state of affairs which has arisen in Russia is suggestive of very important con- siderations with respect to China should sile ever venture upon hostilities with foreign Power.
Age conserves energy, and emulates the eclecticism of the bee, content to build upon what is good of the past. Young China has seen Japan in euviable status, and is in a state of glamour in consequence. It is too much to expect young China to go slow, The truth of BACON's subtle remark, "a froward retention of custom is as turbulent a thing as inno ation," has penetrated their vitals, and become an obsession. Their idea is, naturay, to get rid of their in- structors, of all the foreigners, so that thoy can begin to build on a clear foundation. They wish to begin where Japan has left off. They are almost in the position of those agitators of the unemployed in London, who have been saying, "Damn your charity; is to consider, however, the change that has assailable. No one before the recent
give us Utopia by Act of Parliament, and recently crossed the spirit of their dream. we will not require assistance." With all The Chinese people, for long accustomed to their wonderful foreign learning, they (the bend to the breeze, and to adjust themselves Chinese students) are still influenced, like unmurmuring to the yoke of government, many of their betters, by hereditary in. have begun to talk and act like our own stincts. One is the old mistrust of strangera (foreign) peoples. They have been absorb- -a primal instinct apparently, that ing ideas on the subject of the inalienable permeates the whole animal kingdom- rights of man, and demanding liberty, which we
now describe, vis-à-vis the equality, and fraternity. The anti-American Chinese, as the anti-foreign feeling, or agitation is continued in defiance of official 'alienophobia." The Kokumin, a Japanese interdicts; evidently because they have newspaper, has recently remarked that learned to consider the ill-treatment of almost all popular movements in China are Chinese, not as an insult to their nation, If this more or less influenced by this spirit. This but as an injustice to their race. is interesting confirmation of the ex parte theory he correct, official China (Manchus) European opinion. It is this which makes has more trouble to face. The Cantonese, old China dread young China. These always the most independent kind of students would be beneath notice if it were Chinese, are claiming the right of free not that they are imbued with the prejudice speech. Vocal freedom, on tongues unused of the proletariat, whose effects, when en- to it, may easily run to vocal licence. couraged and evoked officially in the Viceroy SHUM is advised that it has just past, are by no means forgotten. The done so. Our reports from Canton go to sympathy subsisting between the student-show that quite enough was said to startle reformers and the proletariat is the danger; student ideals and popular prejudices are a bleud to be dreaded like dynamite. The Japanese seem to see clearly the mine that is being prepared, and it is perhaps their superior acumen which has brought them under suspicion of being aiders and abetters. Such suspicions will be repented, we venture to think, on an approaching occasion.
CANTON-HANKOW RAILWAY TAXATION TROUBLE.
The similarity of the internal condition of the two countries has been brought prominently into notice in a variety of ways during the recent war. Rus- sia, like China, had the appearance to super- ficial observers of a country under so strong a central Government that the power of the supreme authority was absolute and un-
war
would have thought that anything in the form of a serious rebellion was possible in a country so thoroughly under control as Russia was generally supposed to be. Yet we find that, when brought to the test, Russia was honeycombed with edition which only required a suitable opportunity to break out and to set all law and rder at defiance.
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Those acquainted with the internal state of China are well aware that a precisely similar state of things has existed in this The history of country for some time. China affords too much reason to fear that in the event of any unexpected pressure on the central authority, such as would be brought about by a war, the same results as have been produced in Russia would infallibly follow. It will be remembered that the war of 1858 and 1860 between China and the allied forces was speedily followed by the Tai-Ping Rebellion, which was suppresed only by the aid of officials of the old school, accustomed to Gordon's Invincible Army. At the time, unquestioning obedience to authority; or the Chinese authorities, more suo, put down the whole of this evil to the war and if not always obedience, at least freedom
overt defiance. from
Viceroy SHUM's ignored altogether the chief cause of the allusions to " presumption," frequent
trouble which was their own corrupt and "audacity," and so on, may be taken as arbitrary governmeot. In this, there is an sincere: be has not yet realised that the old exact parallel between China at that time order is changing. There is a good deal in and Russia in the present day. Nothing his proclamation that is impressive, almost can form a better test of solidarity or other- touching; if those portions were written wise of a nation at a given period than a with his tongue in his cheek, then they were war, and more especially a war which is composed with all the cunning of BARRIE's unsuccessful. If a nation is in a healthy in- "Sentimental Tommy," and with all that ternal state, the effect of external trouble is to draw it more closely together than it (Daily Press, 19th January.)
gifted young hypocrite's insight into human It is quite possible that the situation at nature. It appears that we are chiefly in-was. before; but where serious discontent Canton may be either less serious or more debted to the nearness of the Chinese New exists, a disruption of a more or less serious serious than we know at present; but Year for our present immunity from more character is certain to ensue. China, it is any event there must remain the anxiety embarrassing demonstrations; and we trust notorious, has been in a chronic state of lest the assiduously encouraged and long that the truce will permit of a settlement discontent, unfortunately with too much wished-for failway scheme may be again which will not dislocate business, and still reason, for a long time; and there can be set back. With this in mind-and it is too permit of the railway scheme being pushed very little question that the strain which would be placed upon her, should she ever late in the day now to look for anybody to a successful issue. So far as we can see who does not realise its almost supreme at present, the official appointments already attempt serious hostilities with any nation, would be more than the country would importance to this Colony, so we need not made, of directors, etc., should be rescinded again dwell on it-we are somewhat at a and the prospectus left to the merchants bear. loss to know just how to regard the exciting and guilds to see what they can do with it developments that our Canton Correspon- first. According to our notions, the dent has been so faithfully chronicling for government grant or share-money might us. It were easy to harp on the notorious better be allocated from Peking, but even failings of the VICEROY, but while there then the appointment of official representa are many interested in foreign commerce tives would be a thorny point, The Chinese who will rejoice if he be removed to a more distrust official fingers in such pies, and with distant sphere of labour, we cannot but good reason. Perhaps if China were to recognise that to a certain extent and in his appoint a foreign Inspectorate-General of own way he is fighting our battles. We Railways, à la the Imperial Customs, the want to see South China keeping pace with difficulties would be solved. Their ambition North China in modern progress and ad-to recover all concessions would not be so vancement; we need efficient railway con- nection with Hankow as a preliminary step; and we know that if left to take their own time and to go their own way about it, the people of Kwangtung will keep us whistling
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Of this fact no one is better award than the Chinese authorities themselves. They are far too shrewd not to have taken warn- ing by the lessons of the past; and they are quite aware of the danger of internal disorder which hostilities with a foreign nation would bring about. In fact, there is probably, no nation which has less real cohesion than China; and the dread of disturbances which may be beyond the power of the central authority to subdue is constantly before the official mind, and is indeed the secret of much of their vacillation and weakness. It is in all cases extremely difficult to awaken anything like a true The rule is The total increase, of stamp revenue in the national feeling in China. Colony for 1905 was $42,177.20 Bank note each Province and even each District for duty showed an increase of $18,046.26; impressed itself. A quarrel between the contral do not want it themselves, for it would be cents, and emigration fees of $126. stupid to suggest that they are any the less decreases shown
is not necessarily regarded a were :- Embossed stamps. capable of foreseeing the benefits to be | $10,683.54; medical declaration, $20; medical | say, the Canton Province and the same nation—and a high authority such as the derived. The thought that occurs to us, registration, $5, and bills of health, $258,
much distrusted in that event, and Chinese investors would be less timorous.
for it a very long time indeed. Not that they stamps, of $34,970.98; telegraph forms of 50 | Government at Peking and a given power
The
as one between,
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