August 5, 1907.1
argument is mere impertinence.
· CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CHI A'S IMPORTS.
frequently brings things to a pass wherein | the hypocrisy of pretending that the A SCHO- immediate object is the good of the PÉNHAUSE class may debate very seriously subordioat. It never is. and very logically the question whether life 'be worth living, without appearing absurd; but if one of its members fall into the river on his way home, it is not expected that
(Daily Press, 3rd August). bis friends should throw syllogisms and According to the analysis just receivel axioms at him. What he requires is a rope from the statistical department of the or a life buoy. This is worth remembering, Imperial Maritime Customs, the value of for much acrimony may be avoided by China's import trade (net) for 1906 was timely recognition of occasions when less than in 1905, the respective figures argument is futile; when not argu- being Tls. 410,270,082 and Tis. 447,100,791. ment, but action, is called for. We have But too much may be made of this decrease, admitted that academically there is a the second in ten years. In 1897 the net good deal to be said for the attitude value imported was only Tls. 202,828,625, of the carpet politicians who discover and except for the easily explainable drop so many "morally indefensible" things in in 1900, there has been a persistent increase life. Their position is, however, peculiarly until last year. The 1906 decrease is under liable to the reductio ad absurdum. It thirty-seven million taels, and it is signi would, for instance, be quite logical to ficant that of this amount, thirty-two-and-a- dwell on the iniquity and un-equity of man
half millions were lost to American goods- being permitted to live so short a time showing that the boycott had more effect when he has to be dead for a long than was expected it would have. Other afterwards. Which is absurd. The com- countries did not profit by America's loss, mentator is sometimes illogical owing to the thus showing that the fears entertained exigencies of humbug. Politically, a good were quite warranted. They have suffered deal of humbug is inevitable and necessary. in sympathy, though not to the same An inspired Japanese translator has called extent. The imports from Hongkong fell it "social glue." Criticism and comment, away to the extent of about three million however, should have no truck with it-taels, which probably represents the local unless its motive be machiavelian, when it Americans' loss of turnover during the is no louger honest criticism and comment, boycott.. The imports from Great Britain but political propaganda, "piffle with a
were valued at Tls. 78,738,292 last year, as purpose as some modern brightly put it. against Tls. 86,472,343 in 1905. Germany The contemporary casually quoted above gained nearly three millions, and France has the following little bit of humbug : about half a million, excluding Indc-China, whence imports advanced over a million taels. Imports from Korea showed a de- cided falling off, due no doubt to the disturbance of political conditions. Japan's share of the imports was only slightly less than in the previous year, about Tis. 260,000. Canada contributed Tls. 4,460,736 worth against her Tls. 2,387,658 worth in 1905-another boycott result bably; but it does not appear to come
pro under the heading of flour. it is true, sent more than double the Canada,
quantity. 9,398 piculs worth Tls. 30,543, against 3,600 piculs worth Tis. 14.760, but the same table shors, curiously enough, a big American gain, 496,145 piculs valued at Tle. 1,704,596, against 119,672 picula value Tls. 493,282. All British possessions except Canada showed a falling off more or their conspicuous advances in the previous less considerable, but this may be set against year, when they progressed in advance of all the rest at a pace perhaps too great to the popular superstition that our Japanese stay." Those statistics knock on the head allies have been cutting us out, whether by fair means or foul. They too have suffered a big share of the depression. Among the more import int increases not already man- tioned are Macao, from Tla. 2,921,923 to
*
For whose good has this protectorate of Kores] been assumed, this occupation achieved, and this late abdication manœuvred? Before. that is answered, a glance at the methods of the greatest of colonising powers will be found useful. What does England do? What are the principles by which she is actuated? And if we may be pardoned a somewhat paradoxical way of putting it we will say that her main principle is summed up in two words, Altruistic selfishness. What we mean by that will be clearer if we take one of the axioms which have inspired Lord Cromer in his treatment of Egyptian problems. In governing Egypt, he said, England has ruled the country for the direct benefit of the Egyptians and the indirect benefit of England. Now we may search through volumes of blue books, reams of parliamentary rhetoric, and tomes of govern- mental platitude without finding anything more terse than this definition of the great Proconsul's.
the Koreans.
It goes on to say that Japan is morally right in conquering aud eubduing Korea, if its immediate object be the good of This is pretty, and soothing, but it is jesuitical, and quite contrary to the purest view of the ethics of liberty. The bitterness of defeat is bad enough for either man or nation, when it comes in the way of nature; but it is not hard to be reconciled to the prevalence of might, as We are all resigned to the ultimate prevalence of death. That bitter- ness is tenfold increased, and resignation much further put away, when the defeated is told that it is for his own good, intended for his benefit. When a person's conduct affects the interests of no persons besides himself, or reeds not affect them unless they like, he is entitled to perfect freedom, legal and social, to follow such conduct and personally stand the consequences. A nation undoubtedly has the same moral case is right. Interference in either immoral. It is, however, often politically expedient, in the interests of the meddler, and the world of the strong has approved an axiom that is nct and cannot be axiomatic in the eyes of the weak.
<
Tls. 5,780,198, the Dutch Indies, from Tls. from Tls. 2,058 to Tls. 13,876. Readers 4,490,324 to Tis. 5,487,874, and Sweden, interested will find the complete list else- where in this issue. We cannot hope to give here anything like an adequate sum mary of the important features of such a bulky production, which will be worth more than its price-three dollars to those interested in various goods imported by China. It is full of surprises for those who may have been building opinions on casual newspaper theories.
News reached the Colony yesterday of the death of Mr. W. Ramsay, the superintendent engineer of Messrs Butterfield and Swire. Academically Mr. Ramsay, who had been siling for some. "morally indefensible, it is politically time, left for home a few weeks ago with the pardonable. It becomes less pardonable object of recuperating, but died before reaching when the glozing humbug is stretched to 'his native land,
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
站
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 26th instant in the Council Chamber.
PRESENT:-
*
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINI- STERING THE Government, Hoa. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMзON, (Colonial Secre- tary).
Hon. Mr. H. H. J. GOMPERTZ, (Attorney- General).
Hon. Mr. C. McI. MESSER, (Colonial Trea- surer).
of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G, (Director
tendent of Police).
Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY, (Captain-Superia-
Hoa. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCH1B, (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES. read, and confirmed.
The minutes of the previous meeting were
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid од the table Financial minutes, Nos. 33 to 35, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 6), and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PAPERS.
His Excellency the Officer Administering the The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of Government, laid on the table the Report on the Assessment for the year 1907-1908.
INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance relating to Life Insurance Companies.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and became law. the Bill was read a third time, passed, and
HIS EXCELLENCY-The Council stands ad. jour ned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
held-the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. A meeting of the Finance Committee was then
The following votes were passed
HARBOUR MASTER'S DEPARTMENT.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of Four hundred and thirty Dollars ($430) in sid
Charges, Gunpowder Charges and Tubes for of the vote, Harbour Master's Department, G.-
Fog Sign-lling Guns. Lighthouses, Gap Rook Lighthouse, Other
PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY,
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of
Four thousand one hundred and twelve Dollars
(8,112) in aid of the vote, Pabic Works Viatoria, Extension East and West of Conduit Extraordinary, Communications, New Roads in
Road.
POSTAL VOTE.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of Four hundred and sixty-seven Dollars ($467) in aid of the vote, Past Office, B.-Postal
Agencies in China, Swatow, Other Charges,
Incidental Expenses.
Governor met with an adventure which, for
On the 1st August His Excellency the
tanately insignificant in its outcome, did actually place him for s few moments in bodily peril. He was paying a visit to the "Tamar" in the launch" Victoria
and a collision occurred between that craft and another launch of whose identity we are present uninformed. The impact was ficiently severe to cause the Victoria" lay over very considerably.