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THE HONGKON › WEEKLY PRESS AND
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REPORTING PROGRESS IN CHINA. I that it was
(Daily Press, 5th April.)
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defective compared with our standard," and he said nothing of the motives with which it is being sought. When Dr. MORRISON, lately returned to "Everywhere was noticeable the desire t Peking after a visit to this end of the learn English," but that is not necessarily Chinese Empire, gets his copy of the Times what the Times calls “the zeal for European dated March 8th, we fear he will experience methods." The young man in Hongkong something like a shock. When he arrived who learns Cantonese does not do so because at Hanoi after his interesting overland, he is a convert to native methods, but journey, be sent an expensive telegram for | bause he thinks it will facilitate business This desire which any other correspondent of any other with the people who speak it. paper would doubtless have received a
to learn English has ben noticeable for a wigging." Professionally analysed, it was long time before Dr. MORRISON made his a sort of make-weight message, not worth last trip, and has been held to account the expense. To the ordinary reader it is largely for the apparent successes which A certainly an interesting sketch of an unusual have raised the hopes of missionar e‹. trip, and every paragraph of it forms part of writer some years ago re marked that it wis a faithful, if somewhat colourless, picture of
for Englishmen learn the situation existing in the area traversed. European languages. He said the English- Not having to pay the telegraphic charges man had only to travel round holding up for it, we have no fault to find with it what- a sovereign, and the various peoples would ever, With the editorial supposed to be make it their business to learn English in based upon it, however, and the reckless order to ask him for it. The little parable conclusions therein drawn, we cannot ex- is not inapplicable to the Chinese appetite press equal satisfaction, and Dr. MORRISON for foreign "education," by which they in the seclusiou of his Peking library may chiefly mean the language or languages.
18 true they are
studying not improbably give vent to comments wore | It
It other
foreign history, and things, vigorous than we need or care to make.
Dr. MORRISON men. would be no business of om:s at all, were it politics, and science. not for the fact that so many people at tioned that also, but he never said, and would Home trust the " Thunderer," especially not dream of saying, such things as this those who know how reliable a narrator its Peking correspondent is. Many of these will ful to notice that the Times has said things not warranted by Dr. MORRISON'S
unnecessary
extract contains:
110W
"Hitherto education has been eduction in the Even the most accomplished Chinese classics, of the native scholars have had no more con
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(April 15, 1907.
PARLIAMENTARY INEXACT-
ITUDES.
(Daily Press, April 6th.)
Is honesty possible in politics and state- craft? In some countries this question would be taken to refer to financial honesty, to to the corruptibility of statesmen,
It is bribery and other forms of "graft.' put now in another connection, and refers to verbal honesty. Is truthfulness possible in British politics and statecraft? The party system does not seem to encourage sincerity. The latest mail papers and telegrams present sime examples more striking than usual of political humbug. The last general elections elicited plainer campaign of phraseology; we heard of a lies," and "very ofte plain language like that seems called for. Uut here, not being drawn into the whirlpool of party feeling, it is easier for us to take a detached view of both sides, and as we look at them, the | thought that both sides have much to be Not that ashamed of irresi tibly occurs. there ever are any traces of the self-know. ledge that induces shame. Both parties Eden, litical to be living in a p appear nakedly mendacious and not ashamed. REUTER gives a striking example, when ALEXANDER reporting that Sir JAMES SWETTENHAM is officially declared to have resigued the governorship of Jamaica account of age.” It was really unnece tary for Sir FRANK to deny that; it was one of
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less gushing comments, and things more ception of the rudiments of scientific astronomy \ those statements, like the assertions of
optimistic than we have thought it just to write for the consumption of our European readers. Thus we feel justified in drawing attention, in the interests of accuracy, to the discrepancy between the correspondent's facts and the leader-writer's embroideries Dr. MORRISON said his journey was a very pleasant one, the officials and people friendly, and that he met not the smallest disagreeable incident. Upon this the Times assures its readers that any stranger, if he knows local manners and character as Dr. MORRISON does (in which case he would hardly be a "stranger") may pass through Hunan and Kwangsi "in perfect comfort" and safety. The safety may be temporarily granted, but the other phrase conveys a
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and geography or of the conformation and functions of the organs of the human body than have the most primitive of the island rs in the Pacific or of the negroes in Central Africa The Renaissance and the Reformation together can have brought po such shock to the roc ived ideas of medieral Europe as instraction in modern scienc is bringing to the Chines" Both of those great movemeuls were gradual and at first affected a limited class, from which they filtered down to the people. But in China the light bas been fished upon comparatively large masses of the nation together. It will be of deep interest to g-e the effect of so saddeu and so fierce su illumination on the habits and character of a people whose whole civilization
and ethics hare hitherto depended iu au exceptional degre· upon babit.
The Chin se have had their astronomical instruments, rather better thau rudimentary,
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extrem cordiality between Far Eastern meteorological observatories, that nubody believes. It is interesting to speculate how many people are really imposed on by the claptrap that is talked in Parliament. know that the allegations that Chinese coolies in South Africa were treated like slaves were followed by a majority of votes for a certain political party; but it is doubtful if all who rated that way really believed all that they were told. It is possible that caprice Ogures as largely in the political gains ILA party squacity. Given that the public is disgusted with each party in turn, as seenis unt unlikely from the regularity with which they risa "turn the rascile out," it mɩy bɩ that
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quite misleading idea of preseut day travel and their maps, and physiological charts of the public is not such a credulous mass as
in inland China. Its conditions are very
a sort; and we are surprised to find the slowly improving, but they are still far
Timex venturing to empare them with “the from the perfection stated. That is a minor
most primitive of the islanders in the Paci. point, however. Our illustrious contem-
fe." There is a good deal wore in the porary goes ou to explain that because Dr.article, but we will not go further with it. MORRISON was not molested, a "change The port to note is that it is too gool 10 in the whole mental attitude of the
talk of this mental revolution of the Chin Chinese" is indicated. This is exaggera-
ese, if it
ever will be time. Here and f tion unworthy of such a journal's pre- there, and in constantly increasing numbers, Book Club reputation. It admits that
we admit, our neighbours are revising by shrewd and experienced observers" have
meins of foreigu text books their u tiong of
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movement A
politicians seem to think it. Perhaps the mariner who jums bis helm bard over to get away from Scylla is not really sp desperately of Charyb-lis, ย่ง electoral enam ured
make statisticinus
out. There wi # discussion in Parliament one night last mouth, on the new Navy propo als, which to us sufficiently illustrat d the humbug At the anqual permeating that Hous.
dinner of the A soriation of Chambre of Commerce, Lord TweedMouth uit red the
King's
thought they discerned in the reform | physiology, &*., but whether the British / familia” and pleasing disingenuity that the strong and dangerous Board School boy who believes the meat of Navy was above party and beyond anti-foreign biss", but Dr. MoRRISON'S the emotions is in the skull has aur political / party. The men of c «omerce cheered it, but
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evidence (that be was not molested) "tends advantage over the Chinese who thinks ther to throw doubt upon this view. Perhaps originate in the belly, is to us a matter of the pessimists have been sending exaggerated
doubt. Chinese polities ant. Chinese rela. stories home, for this leader-writer evadently
118 cons with the outside world cone-rn held the impressiou 'hat the usual incidents
mest nt present, and it is a mistake to of a journey across China were stoues and staves or worse. Undoubtedly maur Ciencourage hoane-dwellers to thank the thers,
has been any material change. They are nese now believe that
foreign influence
already too apt, irhen a competent observer and foreign learning must play a great part, like Dr. MORRISOx remarks that the new in the regeneration of their country," but Chinese soldiers are a great improvement there are as many who desire to dispense
ou the old Braves," to run away with the with the foreigner as soon as thy have learned what they want to know. As it is,idea that he means the Army of Asia 14
Lorganized, efficient, and mobilz d. Dr. MORRISON's message made it clear that ¦ most of the thirst for foreign knowledge that he noted was being taken to Chinese and Japanese teachers for assuagement, Though he used the phrase spread of Western education," the traveller noted
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In a libel sotion brought by the Jewit Fathers against Mesars, W. and J. Cowan, of The Chica Time” judgment was givun on April 5th for the plainuff, who were awarded $500 and posts.
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the Cominous immediately showed what noneuse it was. Mr. ARTHUR Lrs opened an attack on the Government's proposals. Do the Government reilly believe that there is any reasonable possibility of our neral rivals being attracted by the bait
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which th· Qoverament hold out to them ? he asked, referring to the reduction of The Parxin talked Labout the “ Two Power standarı," and let it be seen that his did not menu the orthodox
armaments nonsens→.
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to those of the two strongest Powers. priample, of Britain's navy being equal Wiss satisfied with being equal to the strongest of those with whom we had no alliance. ** I believe Germ
ɩny to be a friend and it is neither good ・ of peace," be said,
tactics nor good taste for us to assume ou the part ofja Great Power that it has any