399
?
June 2, 1906.]
an perfectly understand the position taken by the proletariat of the place with regard to Chinese labour, but for the rest of it the outery has as little of reality as has the outery against the Jews in many of the continental states, The cry is the more contemptible that it professes to be founded on moral principles: If there were' a 'city in the world whence such a plea could come with the worst possible grace it is undoubt- edly San Francisco. Possibly as a city it is not any worse than other cities of the size and importance, but it forgets that much the same can be pleaded for its Chinese inhabitants. As a fact experience does not seem to show that on the avenge a Chinese city population as more vicious that that of more favoured nations. Certain crimes loom large, but others rampant else where
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are comparatively absent, and except that prejudice in San Francisco has by rendering a pariah of the Chinese continually tended to lower his moral tone, there is no symptom that a Californian Chinaman is deeper sunk in degradation than his com patriot elsewhere. However that may be, Si Francisco seems determined on getting rid of the Chinaman and thinks the burning down of Chinatown affords the opportunity Probably California will feel something as did France after the expulsion of the Huguenots, or the Spaniards after they had got rid of the last of the Moors, and find Bant they had with the departure of the Chinese lost their best and ablest industrial element; but at all events
an effort is to be made, and it is not likely that th: State Government will offer any effective opposition ; but an objection comes fron an unexpected quarter. Portland, Oregon, has the only other important China- to vn on the Western coast, and is appre- bove, that the Chinese residents driven oat of San Francisco may take final refuge there; so Portland is devising its own oject for getting rid of the supposed incu- 18. Altogether, neither the Unites States nr China appear to come very well out of tlis China question, and it seems, to us at 1 ast in China, that in listening too much to the proletariat on the Western slope the Washington Government is really hindering what might be developed into a very import- aut trade. More than this, the not unua- tural feeling of indignation on the part of the Chinese at finding themselves relegated to the position of little better than outcasts is having its unwholesome effects in China; and is undoubtedly one of the underlying causes leading up to the very unsatisfactory situation here. We, looking at the question from an outside point of view, can see that the present cry of the rising generation of China for the Chinese forbodes no good to any one, and least of all to the Chinese themselves, to whom it means practical bankruptcy, if not the extinction of China as a nation, may yet acknowledge that they have been but following the evil example det them by the States, who certainly as professing to be in the front of civilisation ought to have known better. But under existing conditions it is hard to bring this home to the Chinese as a nation. Atall events the manner in which the subject of Chinese exclusion - is being treated by the leading statesmen of the day is hardly likely to lead fofa better understanding being arrived at. Without being invidious we might suggest an object lesson to the members of Con-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
SUBSIDIARY COINAGE AT
HONGKONG.
is not driven to crime, and finding himself ↑ subsidiary coins is quite inadequate. There respected be soon learns to respect the in-are in circulation so many subsidiary coins, stitutious of the country which has given | which may be said to be “absorbed”, useful, him shelter ; and grádnally becomes assimi- actually necessary. In this employed lated in ways, in manners and in dress. medium, British coins are altogether out- numbered, except perhaps in the case of copper cents. It is admitted that there should be more of them, that they were absorbed into the southern province of China", and that the Government benefited by that absorption. That was before the present alleged over-production of Chinese subsidiary coin, and we may take it thất in neither Hongkong nor South China, was the supply too abundant, otherwise the British coins would have come back, and the presence of Chinese coins in Hongkong would not have been so conspicuous. Apparently the Hongkong Government took no steps to stop the flow of its subsidiary coinage into China, and as Hongkong could not dispense with their use, there has been an ebb and flow in which the two currencies
"
With the
ཐཱ
(Daily Press, 80th May.) The subsidiary coinage in circulation at Hougkong is mixed by reason of the close neighbourhood of and intimate relations with Canton. This mixture in various ways causes inconvenience and lose to individuals, and the correspondence now published indicates how it may affect the well-being of a corporation. Mr. E. OSBORNE, ou behalf of the Star Ferry Company, asks the Chamber of Commerce to consider the question with a view to influencing legisla- tion. After pointing out the objections to the present state of things, he makes two remedial suggestions, which the Chamber of seem to have become inextricably mixed. Commerce, voiced by Mr. E. A. HEWETTS If the Hongkong Government is to be treats as one proposal, which it is "alto- permitted to take advantage of fluctuations gether unable to endorse We should in exchange value, according to the terms have thought that Mr. OSBORNE's two of the first clause of the Chamber's reply, proposals might have been considered there seems to be no good reason why it separately with advantage. In one he should not accept, at market rates, the proposes to reverse the law and make the Chinese coins which circulate in the ares of British subsidiary coins legal tender to any its purveyance. With regard to Mr. amount; in the other he asks, with more OSBORNE's fears for the future, wellgroe reason, we think, that Government should that "the developments foreshadowed are pledge itself to redeem all its coins at par. problematical", which, however, does not The
reason for legally restricting the mean far-fetched. But Mr. H. B. Morse number of subsidiary colus which may be has told us that free as the coinage has been tendered in payment of large amounts bus in the provinces, the demand was not abort never ceased to exist; is obvious to every of it; and the placing of all the mints nuder body; and there would have to be much the Imperial Board of Revenue seems to
reasona adduced before strönger
any promise that in time China will have a government would think of abandoning standard revenue, and that "theafiovern- such a common precaution,
ment which issues those coins at ge wortain should ou demand redeem any of its own the coins in payment of all dues and at the suggestion that the Hongkong Government face value must, in all its branches, secept- coins at par we are in full sympathy; the
same value". With this it seems only fair proposal really rests on a broader basis that the Hongkong Government should also than the more or less temporary losses fall into line, accepting its own coins ne occasioned by local fluctuations."
payment in any of its departments, in any similar proposition in the cus: of China, atquantity, and at their face value. the beginning of the month, we remarked on the reasonableness and justice of this obligation; and the obligation appears to us all the stronger in the case of a British
(Daily Press, 31st May.) Although the conditions, political and government. The Chamber of Commerce holds that as the legal tender of subsidiary climatic, could not have been more favour- coin is limited, it is natural that its exchangeable, and although the completion of the value should fluctuate according to supply Ching-Han railway diverted extra business and demand. That is true of almost any. to Hankow, yet the trade for 1905 was thing, where it is a case of arrangement somewhat disappointing. To that effect and trade obligation. Even a Bank of writes Mr. ALEC W. CROSS, Acting Deputy England note for £10 fluctuates in value, Commissioner of Custows in charge at according to supply and demand, in Hong. Hankow, in the second fascicle of trade. kong, but when handed over the counter of returns, which deals with the eleven Yang- that institution, supply and demand cease tze ports. This disappointment was caused more by the non-fruition of sanguine to affect it its value is its face value, uo
It is true there is a expectations, than by any serious falling more and no less. certain intrinsic value attaching to coins off; and we have not the slightest doubt that the rapidly growing prosperity of which the note cannot claim, but in essence the twenty cent piece bearing the stamp of Hankow, strikingly evident during the last the Hongkong Government is just as much three or four years, will be no less apparent a promise to pay on demand. It can never when this year's returns are unfolded. It pretend to contain metal to the value of one should also be remembered that the Customs fifth of a dollar; it is a token which the point of view of prosperity or otherwise is Government permits to represent that
a special one; almost on a necessarily value; and without the Government's per- footing with the position of the public mission it has no value at all. Tuus at the executioner who might say “ times are not post-office, a Kwantung twenty cent piece so good" when a diminution of crime lessen- has absolutely no value. The Chamber of ed his business. Thus we read that the Commerce says no one in the Colony need decline of 1905 at Hankow was lefly in
Of a
HANKOW
Send the very different aspect the question | accept Chiness subsidiary coin at all, that cotton goods and in Japanese yarn, which
* Assumes in Canada. The Canadians are as antagonistic as the people of the United States to the unchecked entrance of Chi- nese;" but when once the Chinaman has been admitted, he is treated in all respects as any other subject. As a consequence bel
it is entirely a personal matter between debtor and creditor. It is certainly not a personal preference; no one would do liberately choose Chinese coins if they had the offer of British. It happens to be the case, however, that the supply of British
latter is being displaced by the product of the local mills". It seems evident from that that what the Customs counts a diminution may sometimes be merely a more or les gratifying transferetice. Then {-artificial factoru lave to be reckoned with :