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such questions from both or all sides, their remarks lose all weight, and are, in fact, regarded as the babbling of one sitting on the fence. To avoid this risk of generalising from the particular, every comment would have to be prefaced by some such phrase as "thus think I at the moment", and followed by an admission that there are doubtless many exceptions. The effect of this would he absurd, and involve the whole world in
*
THE HONGKON) WEEKLY PRESS AND
a general dumbness. It is human nature that has to be considered. The American judge who said to a jury, "If you believe the prosecuting attorney, you will convict; if you believe the defendant's attorney, you will acquit; if, like me, you believe neither of them, I don't know what you will do", illustrated the position that would result. An aloof intellect regards the ex parte pleadings with a certain contempt; but the business of the world is not done by minds suspended, like Mahomet's coffin, between heaven and earth. All they ever accomplish is in the nature of dream-stuff, impossible ideals of universal brotherhood and peace, Utopian schemes that the practical, if less logical, mind sees would spell universal stagnation. ZANGWILL said it Was unreasonable to expect human beings to live logically; all he insisted upon was that they should argue logically. In the field covered by the criticisui we have quoted, arguing and living are com- plementary; they cannot be dissociated. When it is pointed out that the Chinese have shown great generosity toward their brethren suffering from the recent typhoon; that they have by deliberate “ corners in rice been inflicting similar suffering on their brethren elsewhere; that CHOU FU is an earnest and sincere enemy of the opium habit; that the Provincial Judge of Shensi
still uses in official documents violent and abusive verbiage when referring to foreigners; and so on, there is still no reason why the world should refrain from expressing its opinion of Chinese polities. The Chinese nation is not peculiar in having a manifold nature. The late Mr. GILBERT was not merely humorous when he said that every Briton was born a little Liberal or a litle Conservative. In human affairs as in cosmic, we must put up with atoms that attract and atoms that repel. When we say that the Chinese policy in the north is just now as bad as ever it was, we do not expect to be censured for being "too | sweeping". We speak of the policy of whatever section of the Chinese was in a position to formulate and carry it on. In saying that official China is humbugging the West over the opiura question, we can. not always be stopping to mention that China can boast of men like CHOU FU. All statements by all commentators are subject to possible exceptions, which are implied y admitted before they are mentioned. Of course there is the risk of going to extremes on our side as well as the other. The man
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foreigners to speak and write in sweeping terms of all their Oriental neighbours as all
rapacious and cruel" is in itself a too sweeping statement: and there are surely not many who hold that all Chinese are "supremely benevolent and ill-used". Still, those who do comment rather sweepingly are to be regarded as advocates of one point of view or another, and the public, in judging. must act like a judge, making all deductions and allowances, without resenting ex parte fervour. We can see what the author of the criticism cited had in mind; but that which was criticised. experience teaches is a necessary evil. It helps 18 to get "forrader", and it is too much to expect all men to be disinterested and impartial judges. Some must be advocates. Whether advocate is a question, apparently, that can a newspaper should be a judge or an never be finally answered. The same thing seems to apply to journals as to lawyers, the many must be advocates and only the few be judges.
THE KOWLOON RAILWAY. ·
(Daily Press, October 5th.) There is no cause for public concern in the matter of the coolies employed on the British section of the Kowloon-Canton
railway. The recent conditions have been somewhat exceptional, owing to the typhoon and other circumstances, but the officials in charge are capable of adjusting matters. D fferent men have different ideas, and there has been Boma talk about the respective usefulness and reliability of Indian coolies, of north countrymen, and of local men.
The advantage of the local labourer, when he can be obtained in sufficient numbers, is that he is acclimatised, whereas, as we have seen, the men from North China, who are better workers, have contracted more sickness than was expected. However, difficulties on this section are being met as they arise; and with the constant and peculiarly capable supervision of His Excellency the GovERNOR, who is over at all times and in all weathers, the public may rest assured that in the absence of official intimation otherwise, satisfactory progress is being made. The typhoon has, unfortunately, undone a lot of the work accomplished, particularly in the road-hed. Some of the outside labourers have taken advantage of the disturbed arrangements to take things easy, in addition to those who are really unfit, but there are still many working away willingly. They are also beginning to understand better what is expected of them. The New Territory coolies had to he most
car fully and ainstakingly drilled, and in addition to that, it is no longer a secret that the farmers and elders of the district for some time did nothing to make things easy for them. The local correspondeut of Reuter's Agency has sent the news to England in the following guarded words :
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who refuses to waste time dreaming of the perpetual abolition of war by actitration, still may set his face against the chauvinism
Another difficulty which has to be guarded that in ponaler song or adage teaches how against is the restrained ire-confined to certain
Tafy was a thief", Pat a drunken madmanmited localities only--of
those peasant with a shillelagh, Sandy a miserable niggard, proprietors whose land has been re-entered Jonathan a smart cheat who sells wooden by the Government. They maintain that they nutmege, John Ball an egregious bully, and have been in sm way or another despoiled of their property, although, as a matter of fact, 80 on, iddi infinitum and ad nauseain. In the Government has been, not merely scrupalous. forensic circles may be observed the ideally fair in all its dealings with the farmers, bat tolerance It is no reflection on the has even erred on the side of generosity. int llect or logical capacity of an advocate the farmers seem to feel that they have some that be regards all evidence from one point sort of grievance and watch the progress of of view, and interprets all facts as far us
the railway with no friendly eye. The greatest possible in favour of his client. That is precautions have therefore to be taken to prevent a quarrel arising between the coolies and the stand in discussing farmers. As may be expected, the coolies are Oriental men and matters. To say that by no means too peaceably disposed, and the "it is one of the commonest habits of farmers would be only too ready to give vent to
where
we may
Still
[October 6, 1906.
The whole object of the Europeans is to con ciliate the farmers and keep a firm grip on those coolies who are inclined to become obstreperous through an exuberance of spirits. They have succeeded so far in preventing anything like a disturbance, bat little instances, having no significance and not being worth recording, have occurred, which serve to show that there is some semblance of danger in the situation."
their feelings in a conflict with the labourers,
We have already chronicled the com- mencement of preliminary shaft-sinking for the three mile tunnel through the Lion's Head mountain, and by this time the diamond drills expected from England should be abʊut due, When this tunnel is made, and the bridge across the Samchun river, the rest is easy; and the inhabitants of Hongkong may even have the opportunity.: of taking interesting train rides to the or if the Chinese frontier, to see how that is being paid to Sir MATTHEW NATHAN section is progressing. The general tribute in this connection is the barest of justice and no flattery The Reuter's message we have noticed in the British press expresses very faithfully the general verdict. all hours,” it says, "His Excellency is to be found tramping through the mud and slush. Nothing is too minute for his inspection and no hour too late for his visits. The fact that he may be on the scene at any moment is responsible, there can be no doubt, for the rapid progress of the operations-"
"At
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on October 2nd at the Board Room, The Hon. Dr. Atkinson (president) presided, and there were also present Dr. Pearce, M.O.H., Mr. E. A. Irving, Lieut.-Col. Joslin, Mr. (vice-president), Mr. Fang Wa-chun, and A. Shelton Hooper, Hon. Mr. W. Chatham Mr. G. A. Woodcock (secretary).
SCAVENGING CONTRACTOR'S BOATS. DR. PEARSE, minuted-The scavenging contractor reports the loss of all this boats. He tells me it will take him six weeks to replace them, and I have therefore ordered him to remove the city refuse to the depots the inspectors to have it barned there. at l'ai Hang and Kennedy town, and have told
loss to the contractor must be very heavy, and in the interests of the public health. I beg to suggest that the Govirament come to his help with a view to quickly obtaining new bats. Ot erwise I have fears of the contractor com- pletely throwing up the sponge and leaving us
to carry out the contract ourselves.
The
Mr. HOOPER-The matter of compensation is one entirely for the Government and not th Sanitary Board.
Hon. Mr. H&WETT- -The Sanitary Bourd might well recommend to the Government in the public interest that all assistanos should be given the contractor to replace the bosts as promptly as possible. Later the relief com. mittee might consider this man's cass and nee their way to make him a grant.
Mr LAU CHU-PAK I agree with the M.O.H. that nul-ss assistance is given to the contrac- tor at once possibly he cannot go on with the
work.
The PESIDENT-I would inform you that arrangements have been made by the Govern- meat for practically taking over the disposal of this refuse from the contractor. In other words a lighter has been bought, and will commence operations to-day. It has a capacity of 35 tons and will make three journeys a day,so we hope in a few days, to get rid of the accnmnia- tion which bas collected since the 18th ultimo. During the recent rainy weather it has been impossible to burn all the rubbish, but as much has been burnt as possible, and now we have the lighter the accumulation will. I hope, soon disappear. A letter has been sent to the Sanitary from the scavenging contractor dealing with Board, which was received by the Government, this subject. I have not had time to circulate it, but if members wish, it can be read now or
airculated.
Mr. HOOPER-What'îs its purport ?