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CUM GRANÓ SALIS.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[April 4, 1.908.
and (from a public duty point of view) im should be appealed to only in exceptional proper proceeding was, of course, to raise cases. A similar argument has been used (Daily Press, 30th March.)
or maintain the status of the profession." in defence of the House of Lords, and it Although there is probably no profession Men like HORACE GREELEY would probably does not need much perspicacity to see that in which outsidere take such a persistent ory "Damn your status. Give the news,' -assuming the Lords are biassed always to. and personal interest as that of journalism, but we notice that some of our English the Tory sule and assuming likewise that journalists of the old school do not often contemporaries have obtruded their. pro- the plural votes of Shanghai are available bare to discuss it in public. Very often the fessional sympathies to the extent of always in support of the Council in power- The answer to very title of "journalist" is distasteful, applauding, and upholding the pro- it will not hold water. except to the tyro and quidaune, the old ceeding. The best man I ever had, it is, taking the aforesaid assumptions for hand preferring to call himself a news- said a successful newspaper proprietor in|| granted, that it is withheld so long as the
The difference of meaning is England not long ago, WES- paper man.
People ratepayers do what is expected of them, and not capable of easy definition, and the used to cross the road to avoid meeting that when they vote "contrary," or issert motive of the preference is equally esoteric. him." A too great tenderness for social their will in opposition to that of the Coun. Possibly it may be traced remotely to the approval argues în a public writer a vanity cilin auything that feally matters, they old days when Grub Street was only begin. from which his wider outlook should have are at once robbed of their sovereign right ning to realise its power, and when society emancipated him; and it is difficult to see and power. This is plausible, and wore took what little news it could get with why a personal slight by some cantankerous there no other arguments, our sympathy ill concealed contempt for the newsgetters. individual should stop him from " speaking would go promptly to the agitators and feudal" system. Briefless barristers and unincomed gra- the truth in his heart," or entitle him to against the so called duates possibly show the influence of the deprive a whole community of what it want. But here comes in again the uniqueness of old distaste for what undoubtedly ranked because one member of it has offended his Shanghai. At the last ratepayers' meeting. as a trade, for they do not become trades touchy dignity. A real newspaper-man is at Shanghai it seems sufficiently obvious. men when they " go in for journalism no longer a human being; he has at least that the plural and-or absentee vote saved they-honour their newfound colleagues by got rid of the human weaknesses that the meeting from making itself ridiculous. "entering the profession." If there were handicap those in professions of less rigorous The Municipal Council does seem to have not some such scruple still in existence, requirements. The power of the Press should shown some extravagance in minor matters. there would be none of the touchiness which be the power of the mills of the gods, At a time when the growth of the Settle- ment inevitably involves heavier expen has made journalistic institutes so careful grinding excceding small and separating the to bave their line of duty recognised as one flour of truth from the useless chaff. Iu diture, when big and costly works march of the professions. Although now recog one issue of one contemporary that has with a depression in trade, such symptoms nised by royal charter and in other legal discussed the incident, we find an indignant of up-to-dateness as investing in motorcars ways as a profession, it cannot pretend to disclaimer of a suggestion that its criticisms for official use was bound to attract un. the dignity on any grounds equal to those could be influenced by its patronage, side by favourable comment. It also seems to be professions, such as the Law, the Church, side with expressed approval of the overt, admitted that the feeling in favour of all dan Medicine, which, however hardly the admission of the Reichstag reporters that, possible retrenchment was generally shared, qualifications may have been acquired, do the doing of their duty is subject to aby official as well as unofficial, and that certify their possession with a Diploma. general recognition and courteous considera- any reasonable suggestions would have The only diploma su far open to newspaper tion of their unprofessional susceptibilities. been welcomed all round. The sore- men is that of experience and success, The ideal journalist would ignore both mass at depressed trade and growing rates following natural aptitude for a kind of financial and social rewards; the ordinary did not warrant, however, such hints aud were thrown out by one or work which no cramming could bestow.journalist would do well not to proclaim his fusinuations as It is the most open profession of all, and indifference to, one form of consideration two critics of the Council. Still les+ was after they have got in and proved their while exposing his susceptibility to another: there any warrant for such a purely right to stay in, meu of that class do not The "honour of the profession" is in no obstructive and useless vote as that which worry unduly about their social status. danger, so long as we go on honourably would have cens ired the Council by throw- Had the Nor do they willingly discuss in a public working. Performances are preferable to ing out its Budget in its entirety. manner things appertaining to their work, protestations, though their recognition may Council choked over the affront, hal it which they view very much as KIPLING does seem longer a-coming.
resigned in a boly, and left the objectors to form a new "the Great
Government and frame. the Indian Secret Service, as Game." But the quidnuncs are always
a new Budget, it would have been a fine. with us; and occasionally incidents, occur
commentary on the talk of economy and- that seein to compel temporary abandon-
retrenchnient, The threatened impasse was ment of the decent reticence and individual
top serious, however, to view as an object obscurity usually preferred. It should be
lesson, and the Council, in overlooking. noted that the editorial and staff anonymity
the personal aspect of the vote; and utilising of conservative papers is a part of that, and
the constitutional means of correcting an not due to any lack of courage. By their
ad captandum blunder, seem to have shown fruits are they known, and nothing else is
quite a becoming sense of public duty, which desirable. If the public forgets that every
most of the ratepayers, in their subsequent sentence must have had an individual
calmer moments, have probably recognised. utterer, and in that forgetfulness permits
To propme amendments embrlying explicit itself to attach more importance that it
instructions as to the desire 1 retrenchments would to a signed expression of opinion, it
and curtailments of the Estimates would is not because the fictitious importance is
have been wise, and no plural voting would deliberately sought after. There are jour
have been likely to prevent acquiescence nalists who take themselves too seriously.
with the wishes of the electorate so express- In such a large and heterogeneous body
ed, but to refuse to pass the Budget at all, that must be expected, but the worst
amid cheers' and laughter, was un troubles arise from the public disinclination
with the act of rebellious schoolboys who to weigh and ponder matters for themselves.
decide upon a "barring out," and who, for Nowadays it is more than ever obvious that
the gratification of a momentary ebullition, there is a great mass of matter written and
cheerfully accept the certainty of serious printed which no thinker dreams of taking
discomfort later. seriously.. It should be taken only for what it is worth, and that is, for various reasons; not very much. There is less danger to be apprehended from the type of journalism which takes itself au grand sérieux. It provokes only a tolerant smile, or should do so, both in and out of the craft. Of such we are inclined to label the heroes of the recent crisis in the Press Gallery of the Reichstag, where the reporters have discontinued reporting the meetings owing to an offensive remark made by a Deputy The motive of this thin-skinned, childish,
SHANGHAI PLURAL VOTING.
(Daily Press, March 31st.) Elsewhere we quote an opinion on plural voting by Shanghai ratepayers. Our readers have been fully informed of the nature of the mecting leading up to that expression of opinion. It bas often been pointed out how unique in many respects is the foreign settlement at the northern port. In this matter it is not so unique There is a considerable amount of resemblance between the position, of those Shanghailanders who want "one man one vote" and those Britons who want to abolish the House of Lords. The plural votes at Shanghai are largely those of abseniees, just as the really crushing vetoes of the Peers are mainly managed by those who attend only for such special occasions. The show of hands at the aunual ratepayers' meeting is, like the House of Commons, adequate for all ordinary purposes of administration. The ballot with plurality is regarded, like the Upper House, as a constitutional safeguard
that is, by those who believe in its value, Like those who regard the House of Lords as a reserve force of the Tory Party, there are some at Shanghai who view the ballot as a mere eard up the official sleeve, or a trump saved by the Municipal Councillors to decide a risky rubber. The official apologists say that the absentee vote was provided for by the Shanghai Land Re gulations as a check upon votes of the ratepayers which might call for revision or reconsideration, and they admit that it
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A DISCURSUS.
par
(Daily Press, April 1st.) Women (this is a fairly general masculine impression) do not always desire truth. They prefer, even when they know the comple ments are flagrantly men lacious, to hear pleasant things ra..or than candid. Men (this also is a fairly general masculine. They are less. impression) are different. emotional, less sentimental, and their superior reasoning faculties require above