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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[November 17, 1906.
the public, accustomed to regard the it"-that the TSAB may naturally be remains to be seen whether the Chinese penny as a part of the Constitution almost, looked to as a useful adviser with respect may not prove more happy in effecting a will be disinclined to ask for any change to any movement which may tend to con-transaction from absolutism to something A writer in the Strand Magazine is the solidate the Chinese Empire. This fact like popular Government
tha Russia author of the revolutionary idea that would no doubt be duly considered by the has heen. The advice given to the changes are possible and
desirable. Commissioners and won'd add to their Commissioners against doing anything A man taking his ticket at a railway gratitude for the imperial guidance on a rashly io this direction is, it booking-office, or about to receive a 'bus or | point on which the Heal of the Russian is needless to say, quite superfinous, tram ticket, is compelled either to examine Empire is so specially well qualified to Whatever mistikes China may inake, no a handful of loose money or wriggle his speak. The present state of Russia is an one will accuse her of being 'sposed to fingers about in a purse in order to s cure excellent object. lesson as to the effects of introduce changes in too great a hurry, and the right coin, he says. This is bid not rashly embarking upon a Constitution, the last thing she would be likely to do enough, but when a person is aboard a The TSAR can point to the peace and would be to net with undue haste in a tram or 'bus in the hours of darkness the prosperity which reign in every direction matter involving a radical alteration in her trouble is neventuated. Many riders are in his dominions-the total absence of internal administration. But there is a frequently troubled with the suspicion that | discontent, the marked obedience to hope that the Chinese Government (in. they have parted with a valuable coin in authority, the freedom from rebellion au stigated probably by Japanese advisers), place of one of humbler value. Besides, the security for life and property, especially may honestly endeavour to devise some conductors deserve to be considered, since that of the Jews' which have resulted from scheme of more popular government, which it they are constantly compelled to scrutinise Russia's prudently abstaining from may in due course present to the nation and coius as though they were engaged in recognising the rights of the people or so avoid having such a change thrust upon it scientific investigation. How many disputes granting them a Constitution at an earlier by revolutionary actio i on the part of the occur in these situations: He goes on to date. The state of affaira in Russia is so people, which is only too likely to ge sur if plead for some hange of design that would very like that which from time to time baa some such improvement ba not eff cte 1. enable the sixpenny piece to be readily been shown to be existent in China-and What has taken placa in Russin can hardly distinguished by touch alone from the half which if all accounts are to be believe I fail to be a lesson to such accurate observers sovereign. A raised “six" on the sixpence, exists in a voiled form almost as touch in as the Chinese of the effects of attempting or a sexangular shaping of it, would be both the present day as ever, that the Chinese to perpetuate repression by ever increasing appropriate and convenient. He would cannot fail to be impressed with the friendly repressive measures. Rebellious and threats divide the half sovereign by a flush balf-advice to be very cautious how they think of rebellion have been so long familiar in way ridge", or by milling only half the of anything so rash as recognising that the China that it is not surprising that Chinese circumference, to show in dark or fog that people of a country have any right to a as well as Europeins have come to look it is a half. The ridge idea, it is pointed out, voice in the question how they shall upon them as more or less a normal state of would also protect the royal effigy from taxed and governed. From the autocrat's | affairs. The events, however, which have defacement. With regard to the confusion point of view nothing can be more incon-occurred in Russia cannot fail to have between pennies and florins (we cannot venient than fanciful constitutional impressed upon Chinese statsman that, agree that a half-crown is so liable to share restruuts. This is being felt at the present in this) he proposes to surround the figure moment in Russia and it is not surprising of Britannia on the penny with a rop in that the TSAR should be anxious to warn his relief, quite suggestive, and at the same Chinese friends against allowing themselves time tangible. Floral designs embossed on to be shackle Lin such a manner. the florin also naturally suggest themselves but these riised patterns would, we fear, soon disappear by abrasion, even if raised far beyond the point nw in vogue. The shilling and the sovereign are also much alike, to the feel, and the writer suggests that the shilling might be distinguished by au upraised, round-faced figure 8, consisting of two $8 crossel, as signifying its station, while the sovereign might be adorned with a prettily scalloped edge with twenty lobes, signifying twenty shillings. The suggestion is also ride that pennies might couvenient. ly be pierced in the centre, so that they could be stacked on plus or pegs just high enough to hold a tequired number, say twelve; this might save a lot of trouble in counting-houses, Again, shillings and half-pence are somewhat similar in size, and the bold suggestion is made of a triangular ha'penny, with rounded corners of course. The appetite for altering old established things seems to be growing, and it is not to be expected that the reformers' zeal will be contined to abolishing peers and ruuning the empire on the cooperative society plan. Our local dollar has lately interested us with its vagaris, but that is nothing to what may yet be in store for Far Easterners going Home by-and-by.
THE TSAR COUNSELS CHINA.
The truth however is that the real less in
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where the above-named state of things exists, a point may be re the lat which local disaffection becomes general, and when there may be such an uprising as cannot ha put down by the means which were before effective. The task before China is by no means an easy oue, seeing that it involves a qualification at least of her most cherished tradition as to the absolute sanctity of the authority of the Emperor. But it need not be considered as hopeless
on
this account, seeing that the same difficulty has beeu overcome in every country in which a purely monarchical system has been life to one in which the people at large have been admitted to The chief share in the Government. difficulty will of course be in obtaining the co-operation of the Provincial Authorities. If however these magnates can be induce l to co-operate with the Ceatral Authority a Peking, the introduction of something in the form of representative institutions deal not be considered an insuperable task.
MISSIONARY SQUABBLES IN
CHINA.
which the Chinese Commissioners ell learn in Russia on the question of coastitu tional Government is to be found in the plain facts which they must have gen around them, and not in any advice which might be given by the Head of the very class which has brought about th evils, It is precisely because the gime cause; which have led up to the deplorable state of affairs in Russia exist in China that the question of constitutional Government in some form has been considered by the latter country as a possible mea is of àvert- |ing the like calamities. In China an aristocracy of the kind familiar in Europe, that is one exclusively of birth, does not exist, though the element of hereditary dignity enters more widely into the political and social life in China than is generally understood. The great families do not, however, take by any means so prominent a position as the Grand Dukes and other nobility in Russia, a popular element being (Daily Press, 16th November.) interfusel in China with the dominant Let it be understood that what followsfis classes through the opportunity which is chiefly a synopss of ex parte statements afforded through the system of examinations made in a North China newspaper,for for men of talent t enter the off sial ranks, which we accept no more responsibility (ban interesting But, ones a Chinum in has entered this that of quoting them as an magic circle, he becomes one of a ciste, indicat on of what may sometime; b, going which has been as arbitrary in its action on in the interior, away from the sympathe towards the masses of the people, and as
tic or other observation of the treaty pfis. ready to support the uncontrolled power of The story, which we gun repeat (Daily Press, 15th November.)
the Throne as any purely arist erae class have more thin one sile to it, is not only A statement has been published to the that has ever existed. Substitute the suggestively interesting; we take it that it effect that the report of the Chinese Com- !" Mandarins for the Grand Dukes, ani may partly explain the manifesto by Sir missioners who have recently been visiting the internal state of China is very much ERNEST SATOw in 1303, which Mr. Consul- Europe gives au account of an interview the same as that of Russia, with, however, General MANSFIELD of Canton recently with the TSAR, in which His Majesty this difference that the Chinese, conservative ¦ invited us to publish. Ignoring the state. warned the Commissioners against rashly and reactionary as they have always been, ments we are about to quote, for the embarking upon 鏡 Constitution. The seem at last to hire recognised (as Japan į moment, it is permissible to point out that circumstance is suggestive of some interest-recognised long ago) that some change in three years ago it was officially recognised ing consideratious. Russia has always red the system is absolutely recessary, while; that at least so ue missionaries were dis- China so much-in the way in which in Russia the dominant classes, inclu ling, it tinguishing themselves by, shall we say, of zeil. It WAS considered Henry the Fifth loved Frauce, that is "so is too much to be feared, the TSAR himself, excess much that he would not lose a village of hope to perpetuate the old regime. It officially necessary to
warn them that
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