February 4, 1907.]
Wucbang with his tail between his legs. Nemesis overtook him in this wise. Censor CHAO PING-LIN is an admiring student of the classics, and takes an esoteric view of Confucianism somewhat similar TOLSTOT's view of Christianity. He was shocked at the idea of an irreligious fellow like LANG influencing Her Majesty to instate the Sage on a parity with "Heaven and Earth." That was, he pointed out, the Chinese equivalent of blasphemy, for it was well known that Confucius consistently objected to be either deified or worshipped. As in the case of other prophets, his admirers persisted in thrusting deity upon him, and like the others, he strongly deprecated such procedure. Like the others, his protests were often ignored. But this Edict, inspired by a rowdy Judge of Hupeh, was beyond all previous offences, setting the seal of Imperial approval on that which was distasteful to the Sage and deplored by his more intellectual admirers. Hence the denunciation of LIANG, which | startled that scheming humbug into a con- fession that he would esteem himself fortunate if he were allowed to return unpunished to bis yamen at Wuchang. The Edict referred to is not yet recalled, and it may not be, but it is very likely that with numerous others it will be by tacit consent ignored. Iustauces of the pety intrigues of mandarindom, and the arcbaic follies of their administration, could be multiplied indefinitely, but there is no need to spoil the market with a superfluity of samples.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT, Chinese deeorum; and makes it quite plain foreign and Chinese authorities here. that unless they seclude themselves and Events then rebent geuerally demean themselves like untive necessity, in any time of emergency, that lat proved the women they cannot avoid horrid miseon- | all the organized arined forces in the Settle- toceptions. To be safe, in fact, they would | ment should be under the direct control have to forego the work they do, so that of the foreign authority, and there was not against his will we may claim the author too much disposition at that time to regard as being in effect on our side in this matter. ang help from the natives o' this country It is open to question,” he says, "whether as likely to be trustworthy. The subsequent such visits are at all advisable in the present course of events and the negotiations condition of China, and whether the good leading up to the inelus on of the Chinese attained is not counter-balanced by the ill Company in the ranks of the S.V.C. have effects which sometimes follow; but, seeing been, however, a testimony to the good faith that female missionaries are to be found of those who organize the new body, and already in most of the provinces, the only to the good sense of the representatives of thing which can be attempted is to suggest | the foreign community, in recognizing a real prudential, methods, in connection with a desire on the part of Chinese, who have a condition of things which is not contem. stake in the Sttlement, to take a practical plated in the etiquette of the Chinese." part in the defence of those interests,” There are other things which might be With the first expressions of that distrust attempted, surely; including a revision of we found some fault, pinting out that the treaties to which no Chinese objection would | semblance of nervousness could not fail to be likely; and the immediate recognition impress the Chinese, and 8 enhance any and admission by all concerned that inland danger that ther might be, besides being China is no place for women. The author unworthy of a brave people. It was not in tells us that female missionaries "have accordance with the spirit of the Maoris little conception of the ideas which are who made truce and even sent provisions to entertained about them, or the language their starving fo s, and the gallant volun- which isapplied to them behind their backs, teers of Shaughni should n yield best to even by those who may seem to offer them any fighting men, even of New Zealand. a smiling wel me.' It is evident that To say to the new corps of Chinese Volun- Mr. WALSHE knows, and fair to assume teers. you may organize, but you musto't that other male misionaries are equally carry arms," was doubtless a prulent view well informed, aut this reflection leaves us to take, but it did no look well. In effect, to think none too well of the married it would seem there ar pople who are missionary whose conception of self-sacri. willing to advise the Chinese to reform," fice for his principles permits him to
to arise from their sorry state of sloth, and retain, under such condi ions and risks, to emulate other peoples, but waa shudder the comforts and pleasures of conjuga. ¦ at the though: that the Chines may one lity. With a perpetual emphasis of sex day be able to fight instal of run, about them, we read that female missiona. this militarism of theirs is a necesary step ries often "rather prefer an audience of to the refor.nation advise l. A males," as being more attentive. It is dis. virile people can afford to be honest; the tinetly unpleasant to speculate as to the ex-
weikling must continue to fight for his planation of this excessive masculine inter.
own interests by guile and rickerv. Our est; but much may be hinted in a book Shang ai conten, orry almits that the like the Rev. Mr. WALSHE'S that would be rebabilitation of the profession of arms will considered out of place in a newspaper. We tend t› eubance the national se'f respect. may quote in conclusion:
In its germ, the tea, is acceptable, thoigh its form of expressi be misle in So arran a people cannot be sad to lack gel-res wet, and we kuo ♥ that it has ben a sort of self-res ect, a pride f intellect, that has put the Chinese fighting man on a against 'foreigners, and who are prepared to i confirm by their own experience all that they :
contemp'ible level of public opinion. In theory-in oirs and places where bave heard, and perhaps make some "contribu- they sing-there is also
FOREIGN WOMEN IN CHINA.
"It is awful to contemplate what may be tha popular verdict on a young and inexprienced girl
more especially when the judg are Chinese men and women, and there of t! most ignorant and conservative class, winse minds have been filled with abominable libels
}
tions to the sum of calumny by original investi-; gation on their own behalf.”
។
And when, as hus often happened, a warmery ccurs, and the passious of the mob have been aroused, the world shudders at the manifestations of the ideas entertain ed by the Chinese and unwittingly fostered by their victims,
•
-
Yet
a rong,
n western
(Daily Press, 1st February.) When a good deal of concern was being felt over the shocking fate of mission women in certain massacres, we ventured to ask wale missionaries to lend their support to that public opinion which deprecates the presence of foreign women and children in unprotected districts of China. Beyond seeing our comments reprinted with approval in various news- papers in the Far East, we never learned that any good purpose had been served by our well-meant and certainly timely suggestions; and we were left to think that the male missionaries in China were too selfish for their own comfort to manifest any interest in what seemed a humane precaution. The subject is revived for us by the appearance of "Ways that are dark," a book just published for the Rev. W. GILBERT WALSBE by Messrs. KELLY AND WALSH. LIMITED, à book primarily written for the guidance of missionaries newly arrived in China. To any one at all interested in China, the book has its own fascination, aud to those for whom it is specially intended, provided their real for instructing others perniits them to realize the necessity of attending upon instruction, it should be particularly helpful. It should, to paraphrase ROBERT BURN, from many a blunder free them, and foolish. Shanghai, at first a little alarmed at the indiscretion. The Rev. Mr. WALSHE does, idea of Cuinese Volunteers, has now made him. Big strong dogs snarl less than little not, of course, associate himself with our up its mind to make the best of them, and i curs, and a self-reliant, independent people opinion that only male missionaries should į to welcome them. They appear in the guise; are less prone to double-d-aling of any kind. be admitted to the China field, but he does, of oue disarming a possible enemy by the! To be ready to fight is to be less ready to in plainer and vastly more expressive terms, courtesy and kindness of their reception of ¡ lie; at least this is a natural, asomption. indicate what may be expected, apart from him. When the Chinese Physical As-
Adoptel and encouraged as they now arc, massacres and hideous cruelties, to follow suciation was first formed." says the N-4. the intrusion of women.
the Shaughai native Volunteers will, we The presence of Daily News, we confess to have shared,
trust, progress in more than were sķill at foreign ladies in country districts," be with most foreigners in Shanghai, a remarks, “where the people are very co-
certain amount of distrust in regard to its servative and altogether unacquainted with motives and purposes. As a distinct foreign wars, is so inexplicable to the organization of a military character, with natives that such visits should be con headquarters either in or on the borders ducted with the utmost caution and the Settlement, IL offered to promote scrupulous regard to decorum." He means friction from time to time between the
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CHINESE MILITARISM.
W
(Daily Press, Quod February,)
14 14shion of sneering at soldiering as method of barbarisın, and in some cases a disposition to put an end to it. Perhaps their success would put European nations into the shoes that China has worn for so long; prhaps it would not; we do not pro- fess to know all the hypothetical results of all the unlikely events that are prayed for or prophesied. What this spirit of militarism will dỗ for China, if properly directed, is not to enhance the national se f-respect butto substitute a new variety; and though during the process of exchange it way broed trouble for the foreigner, its effects ultimately ought not to be detrimental to
arins.
In
The provincial armies should also have a like levening effect, and in time all foreigners may realize that “China's awaken- ing militarism is not au unmixed evil. any case, for reasons we have often stated, it will be a long time before it becomes any. thing to warrant nervousness.
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