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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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MOSTLY ABOUT A MIS. QUOTATION.
(Daily Press, 1st February.)
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[February 3, 1908. branch did endorse the protest of the Shanghai branch. If Hongkong bas no particular convictions as to the unsuit- ability of Sir BOBERT HART'S successor, we say at once that it is not always going to be the wisest procedure to support another branch on the offchance of some day finding that one good turn has deserved another. Not even "sentiment toward our established institutions should persuade us
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selves in the background, were actuated by deeper motives, and were really actuated by what they conged to be the growing power of Peking over the provincial govern- ments. Somewhere what was called a We expected-more than that, we hoped- compromise" was suggested; the money that at the annual meeting of the local was to be paid to the Metropolitan Board of branch of the China Association some re Communications, and it was to dole it out ference would be made to recent comments to the provincial constructors. It was appearing in this column. Could we have thought that ag a matter of course the been sure that the meeting would be favoured Syndicate would be content with this with the customary flight of oratory by Mr. any section of a Shanghai committee can imaginary compromise, and would go blind MURRAY STEWART, we would have felt be always absolutely in the right, and and forego all control, leaving that to the certain that our observations would not be in its ill-advised attack on Sir ROBERT Board of Communications. All were elate allowed to go unremarked. A year or so BREDON, we have shown that it was wrong, at the capture of the Syndicate, and the ago, when Mr. MURRAY STEWART wa acting wrong in tactics, wrong in the light of prospect of pelf, unalloyed with financial or as chairman, he took umbrage at our criti-that which defi es "mannerly controversy," other control-just, they thought, in the ci:m of his somewhat long-winded address, and wrong morally. If any member of the good old style! It was just auch an ideal not so much with the matter of it, as with Hongkong Branch really knows good reason arrangement as the Tibetan: all the re-
the unusual presumption shown in daring why the China Association should have sponsibility and outgo on the side of the to criticise at all. Sometimes men figuring protested against Sir R. E. BREDON'S foreigner, and all the profit, and that too in a public capacity get so accust med to appointment, why has he not taken the unchecked by any disagreeable audit, on the flattery that the mildest of criticism appears opportunity, always open since we broached part of the fortunate officials. Peking was to them as a sort of lise majesté. We hope the subject, to correct us in our own -naturally quite content with the
that our former good friend Mr. MURRAY columns? That would have been, not to promise"; it had the control, that is to STEWART has not permitted himself to fall correct us only, but to correct the opinion say the advancing of the money; and it into such a state, or we shall lose some of of the public, which we supposedly have knew from experience what that meant; it
our respect for him as a har.l-headed man been misleading. But not even in the wanted nothing more. The provincials ¦ of affairs. We were, as we stated then, a annual report are any reasons given. So knew also what Peking control uneant, and, little amazed at his annoyance, and hoped far we have no doubt that the Hongkong how to avoid its unpleasant incidence; the that time would remove the impression that branch endorsed that protest as formally as foreigner on bis side had nothing further evidently rankle. The tone of bis con- it records the fact, and that locally no to do than to advance the money; and that cluding remarks to the Hongkong Branch particular interest was taken in the matter completed his part of the bargain! That of the China Association on Thursday sug- until we threw a little light upon the cir there could be any stipulation as to China's gests that the Lope was vain, tha', in fact, cumstances of its origination. The Chair- part in the transaction, that would be, of he is still hopeful to see us punished for man did give one reason that might be cited course to call in question China's "So what we now recoguise was a serious pre. in explanation of the formal report of th vereign Rights"; and that
was a thing sumption-in venturing to criticise any local participation in the Shanghai mistake. regarding which there could be no disputing, thing he, as a public speaker, was good Mr. A. G. WooD said that "in its present So long as the question was regarding the enough to submit to public notice. We open position it does not appear desirable control of Peking over the Railway, the have nothing unkind to say about his latest that it should be further discussed." We unanimity of Metropolitan statesmen was spe ch; but it is only fair to ourselves to do not think it is so open now as it was; it above question; they were solid for the say that in giving a sample of our not can at best be only hali open. The Shang- foreign loan and Imperial Control; but sober criticis and our not mannerly hai protest was against Sir R E. BREDON'S affairs assumed quite a different aspect as controversy," Mr. MURRAY STEWART ought appointment either as acting or permanent soon as Peking conceived it could get the not to have dragged it from its context in successor to Sir ROBERT HART; we announc foreign money and its control in its own the way he has done. Quoted or misquoteded that the appointment had been made a hands. Naturally the Syndicate inter- as b misquo ed it, it looks worse than day or two before this meeting. In any case, preted the new proposal in quite a different mannerless it looks puerile in the extreme we did not first make this thing open; it light it had the temerity to ask for the to describe “the committee of the Shanghai was the China As oc ́ation that did that, by same control as before! The fat was now
Branch as a 'monkey clique.'" But we never allowing the Shanghai telegram to get into in the fire; and we find all patriotic China did anything so pointless, and we hope that the London Standard, and so to call atten- ablaze at the presumption of the foreigner. Mr. MURRAY STEWART's misrepresentation tion to the possibilities (if we may go no It has, it thinks, the means to make the was merely carelessly, and not carefully, further than that) of the Shanghai agitation.
Chairman feela aure that foreigner bend it will establish a boycott. made. We spoke of Mr. GUNDRY as having The
the Jardines and the Hongkong and Shanghai | been made to act as "chestnut-snatcher Shanghi committee would certainly Bank are the principal offenders: they must for a monkey-clique in Shanghai." Need subordinate considerations of person to be utterly extinguished. The Municip1 we remind the public of the table, to show that of qualification" in considering who Council of Shanghai bad the temerity to Low innocently yet effectively the point waS should succeed Sir ROBERT HART. arrest a native banker caught flagrante made? If we had called Mr. GUNDRY only marvel at this beautiful faith, and delicto, advocating the boycott, and
"Catspaw," the objectionalde implication envy the character that can continue to the righteous fire of the Shaghai would still have been there.
Noel we
possess it in a world that we have not Taotai boils over. Who dare to order quote the greater part of the article to found consistently chivalrous. Not claim. his arrest? He would see himself to the show that it was a section of the committee ing greater knowledge of human nature Council and, if necessary, would himself who had copied the monkeys of the fable, in than it is possible for most human beings to teach it to know its place. Unfortunately that one respect only? We do not think attun to, we will not assert as a certainty our Home Government has been, as China we need. Fortunately not all our renders that the section of the Shanghai committee knows very well, lending its aid to the entertain for us the same peculiar feelings which seat the telegram was unworthily general solution of authority all over the that our former friend Mr. MURRAY STEWART motived. We never meant to assert its car. world. Ireland is in open contumacy; India seems now to do, so we can perhaps afford tainty and in our first comments we dwelt has been permitted to play with authority, to continue what we conceive the our duty only on the possibility and probability of till government scarcely exists, the Colonies without taking his disinterested cousures too something we felt was reasonably certain are one and all disaffected because their greatly to heart.
after digesting all our information in this efforts to keep order within have been With regard to the
connection. Bat even if in later comments thwarted by a dangerously disaffected party | remarks of the Chairman, we accept them we have been more dogmatic than we meant, within the Government itself. The example as they were mesot. We cannot expect
or than was wise, in imputing improper has not been lost on China; residents feel | him to see ero to eye with us in this influence to the senders of the telegram, its effects in the increased efforts of the matter, especially as it would dbtless Mr. A. G. WOOD is now in the same boat reactionary party to escape its engagements. Le with his asseut that the local Branch with us. Does any reasonable man with It is possible that no irremediable damage endorsed the by Do means unanimous any experience at all pretend (almiting has ensued, but the moment has become oue representation emanating from Shanghai. there has been personal prejudice) that it is of anxiety all over the world.
The passage in the annual report of the an easy thing at all times to forget it ? La Hongkong Branch is very formally worded. it likely, is it usual, is it even human? It is remarkably formal, indeed, considering | But now, instead of arguing this frankly the importance of the issue supposed to be unarguable point, let us take Mr. WOOD's involved. Sir ROBERT BREDON's name is clain that the Shanghai men would not even mentioned. No reason whatever tainly" take into
oaly Bi is offered or suggested why the Hongkong R. É. Bazdox's qualifications for the im-
Two armed robberies are reported to have occurred near Baikung this week, pirates hold ing up two jaoks laden with wool and getting away with the booty which is said to be worth some hundreds of dollars.
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