March 5, 1906.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
151
to the strict laws of primogeniture, I fourth grade with $5,500; Chefoo, Hankow, as understood in Europe, Prince Tux, Mukden and Newchwang in the fifth grade who has
been
to Europe, and who with $4,500. Liverpool stands alone in the has made a favourable impression on first grade of Consuls, with $8,000; those with whom he has come in contact, Manchester aloue in the second grade with would be the natural successor, but the 86,000; Amoy and Foochow in the fourth PRINCE is nnfortunately. a TSAI, and so grade with $5,000. There are two other could not offer the sacrifices to his two grades of Consul-General, with salaries predecessors. The EMPEROR'S younger ranging from $3,500 to $3,000, and six other brother is, however, married and has a young grades of Consul, with salaries ranging son, and is thus eligible; he is unfortunately from $4,000 to $2,000. The doings of a few almost an infant, and under existing black sheep in the American Consular circunstances it seems doubtful if China service have, not quite fairly perhaps, made could afford another long minority. The the whole thing a byword, in the Far East, alternative is a grandson of K'ING WANG, at any rate; and all because these men, but K'ING WANG derives his descent from always underpaid, were placed in situations K'IEN LUNG, and even in Chinese eyes this exposed to constant temptation. title seems too remote. At all events the proper remuneration and no fees or other situation is not promising in view of the unchecked business undertakings, and with very unmistakeable anti-dynastic feeling a reasonable hope of fixed tenure and pro- abroad. In any case it has become almost motion, there would soon be an end of the a matter of necessity that the step so long nods and winks so often visible in discus- deferred should be taken quickly, in view sions of the service. It appears, however, of very probable complications amongst the that the American authorities do not like a various claimants should it be longer man to take a position for life. delayed.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
(Daily Press, 27th February.)
CHI's consort was pregoaut, and in order to secure the throne to her nominee it was necessary to get rid of her. The stories of her death vary, but it is generally allowed that driven to despair by the harsh treat ment she received, the young DOWAGER starved herself to death. In any case she followed her unfortunate husband to the grave on March 27th succeeding. On April. 9th, 1881, the DOWAGER EMPRESa died, but | the superior agility of the EMPRESS MOTHER had long reduced ber influence to insigui ficance; the communding personality of the same lady had also Leeu in the long run effectual in restraining Prince KUNG, the third of the members of the regency, 10 that in the spring of 1884 she found herself strong enough to actually dismiss him; and from that time the EMPRESS MOTHER, now the DOWAGER EMPRESS, assumed the complete control of the Government. She bad early taken steps to debauch in body and mind the youthful EMPEROR by surrounding him with eunuchs and women, evidently fearing that as he came to years of discretion le might be disposed, like his cousin and pre- decessor, to assert his prerogative. He did in effect on attaining manhood nominally undertake the government, but for many years the EMPRESS Dowager was It appears that we are shortly to see much able to keep him in leading strings. Towards desired and long necessary improvements the latter end of 1897 bis insubordination in the American Consular Service. Latest became more marked; he assembled round advices state that the first reform Bill in- him a number of would-be reformers, and troduced by Senator LODGE is likely, with towards the autumn of 1898 had actually certain accepted amendments, to become the hardihood to issue on his own account the law of the United States. There is to a number of ordinances ordering various be a system of grading appointees, but reforms. Encouraged by his temporary instead of allowing the consular officials to success in September he had the courage work from grade to grade by promotion, to kick L HUNG-CHANG Out of Court, the Congress reserves the right to the and even contemplated confining the re PRESIDENT to appoint any officer in the doubtable EMPRESS REGENT to her own Government Service to any grade, irrespec- Palace. But he had reckoned without his tive of experience. This is the blemish in host; LI at once went and laid the case the programme that is to make it possible before the ExPERS REGENT, and YUEN in the new regime for favouritism and com- SHI-KAI, to whom the EMPEROR had dis- plaints; as well as to permit the appoint- closed his plot, went off and betrayed his ment of incompetent men, as is admittedly master. The tables were turned with a the case now. However ably and faithfully vengeance; the indignant lady confined the an official of subordinate rank may work EMPEROR himself, and for some weeks his for promotion, he will often experience the life was in danger, while all his schemes mortification of being passed over for some for reform were blighted. So far did she politician. Still, the much amended Bill is proceed that she even named his successor regarded as a distinct advance toward the in the person of the young grandson reform so loudly clamoured for. Sum- of Prince TUN, the latter the fifth son of marising the points from a telegram, our the Emperor Tao Kwang. The young Shanghai contemporary remarks that pro- ster's name was Pu TSUN, and he was thus, vision is made for five Inspectors of foiling the life of KWAN SU, undoubtedly Consulates to rank as Consuls-General. the direct successor of TAO KWANG. Then, The value of this provision of experienced of course, followed the affair of 1900 and Inspéctors is obvious. We cin recall the flight of the EMPRESS DOWAGER and clerical gentleman being sent out here as her protégé to Shensi. The PRINCE, however, Inspector of Consulates, because he was the turned out a young scoundrel and totally incumbent of a church in Washington, and unfit, and this conjoined with the demands a personal friend of the then President, and of the foreign Powers ended in bis official wanted a trip round the world. His visit degradation. The Emperor KwANO-Su, to Shanghai was made very pleasant for however well meaning, was unfortunately him, but his report to his Government was weak both in body and mind, and lately simply worthless. All Consular fees are it has been becoming more evident that his abolished, and all officials are placed on life is not to be depended on. Lately, too, salary. Consuls who are also lawyers will there is no doubt that a strong anti- be forbidden to receive fees for legal work dynastic party is rising which has branches they may do. The grade of Commercial all through the Empire. For a long time Agent is abolished. No person not an the self-willed DOWAGER has been American citizen will be employed as willing to sign what, rightly or wrongly, Consular clerk where the salary amounts to she interpreted as the warrant for her own $1,000 gold. Power is given to the resignation, and hence has arisen her hesi President to transfer Consuls General and tation in taking the final step. Born, how. Consuls within the same grade. There are ever, in 1885, and so post her, seventieth to be several grades of Consul-General, year, and worn out more or less with the with salaries ranging from $12,000 to $3,000 enormous task of keeping the unwieldy (all these salaries are, of course, in gold). Empire together, she begins to feel her London and Paris are alone in the first energy evaporating, and is now disposed grade with $12,000, and Berlin, Hongkong, to contemplate a retirement from active Havana, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro, and life. Naturally there are several claim. Shanghai are in the second grade, with ants to the high position. According $8,000. Seoul and Tientsin are in the
00-
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a
THE "SINGING" OF THE CHINESE KETTLE.
With
(Daily Press, 28th February.) It is idle to deny that a state of tension which at any moment may become dar- gerous, and even break out into open vio. lence, is wide-spread in China.
It has, it is true, come upon us suddenly, but the causes have been long at work, and may be said to permeate the Empire, and not the Empire only, but to extend to the numerous colonies of Chinese abroad, especially in the United States. The first and most deep-seated cause is the knowledge that has dawned on the masses of China that, how. ever great and respected in the distant past, when the nations of the world, as she knew them then, from Parthia to Japan and the East Indian islands, hastened to secure her goodwill, and did not hesitate to pay homage at her Court, China in these modern days has been idly standing by; while her neighbours both in Europe and America have been steadily advancing both in knowledge and power; and now in turn expect the homage which China in her own days of greatness as rigorously demanded herself from the nations who sought her friendship. Now all this is changed and those nations, even, that are not plotting openly her partition are doing what to an over-sensitive mind is almost as galling, and extending a sympathy which the masses, too inexperienced to appreciate its meaning, have taken to resenting as almost an insult. There is likewise a second reason, almost as difficult for the native mind to appreciate. In the old days the Chinsman who left his country to better his condition was looked upon as little removed from a renegade ; by the very act he had forfeited every claim to be looked upon as a son of Han, and his government for long refused to recognise bis existence even, much less to acknowledge his wrongs as in any way its concern. It was England that first by attempting to legislate for the better treatment of these waifs and
strays drew the attention of the Chinese Government to the effects of its neglect. The usefulness of the Chinese immigrant soon came to be recognised in those coun- tries wherein he had made his new home, and he was encouraged under specious promises, too often broken on his land- ing, to conie; till at last, especially in the South American States he came to be placed on the level of the Negro slave, and was meted out even worse treatment.