November 23, 1208.]
THE FUTURE OF CHINA.
1
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
THE LATE EMPEROR OF CHINA.
the
اما
357
anything like the greater part of the capital | Majesty. He was of a studious disposition invested. We may add to this information | and his studies led him to take a view of the (Daily Preis, 14 November.)
that these foreign firms are mainly on the needs of China which was diametrically The story of the awakening of China, as it fringe of the Empire. As China becomes opposed to that taken by the Empress. is outlined in the speeches delivered by Sir gradually covered with a network of rail-Dowager. The crisis was reached at the ROBERT HART at Belfast, has attracted thaways,ad the Chinese Gvernment develops time of the war with Japan. Kwano Yu wide attention at Home which the engros- its policy of opening international centres of War, the Reformer, in an article in the Con- sing interest of the story no less than the foreign trade in the interior we may surely temporary Review stated the position in these high authority of the speaker certainly look forward to a great increase in the terms: "At the beginning of the war with justifies. To the resident in China who is number of foreign firms in China before the Japan the Emperor and his Ministers want- as acquainted as he ought to be with the dawn of that far-off era when the Chinel war, The Empress-Dowager and Li history of foreign intercourse with the great man will be in a position to dispense with HONO CHANG wanted peace. The Empress empire, the speeches contain, perhaps, little the foreign mid tleman. That time, like the Dowager was ready to give up Ma churia that is new, but facts which may be familiar Millenium, may coute one day, but it is a
and Formosa. The Emperor could not possess a new interest when related by one long way off yet; and the day when the think of it for a moment without crying who has ben so prominently identified in foreign iniport trade will steadily tend to
with distress; he wanted to make an alliance the making of them as Sir ROBERT HART diminish is, we venture to think, farther off wit England and to reform, while the has been. In all the speeches Sir ROBERT still. We ought to look forward with Empress Dunager was equally beat on an has made since he returned to England confidence to tremendous growth, for alliince with Russia without reform." The he bas spoken confidently of the future the awakening of Chins spella increased Empress Dowager won in the struggle in* progress of China.
What has so far been opportunities for trade. Nor need the the end, but before that tim: came the Em- accomplished he regards as but the laying pr spect of China herself comp ting at some peror, stiffened to his purpose by the rise of the foundations for further development.uture day with foreign goods strike of a Reform Party with KWANG YU It is all, as he most aptly explained, "the dismar. International trade has a habit of ¦ WEI At their head, issed in 1898 natural and logical outcome of the many expanding with the industrial and scientific | his famous Reform Edicts concerning (1) forces that have been at work, where, more development of nations, and we can see no
freedom to memorialise the Throne; (2) especially, a powerful and progressive reason for believing that Chion will prove the introduction of foreign suljes s in the Christian civilisation which aimed at shap- an exception to the rule.
examinations; (3) the foundation of a new ing the future, and of whose ethics the
University at Peking; (4) turning temples keynote is the word 'Do!' came into con-
nuto schools; (5) establishing a translating tact with a seemingly somnolent and
bureau and a patent office; (6) seading antiquated society, whose only ambitio
young Manchus abroad for studies; (7) seemed to be to continue what had been and
alomning su, erfluous officials. The zen{ reproduce the golden age it dreamt of as its
Daily Press, November 16th
of
Re.ormers was unflagging and glorious past—a p at in which the Confucian China a suddenly plunged into mourning. | ther'se red many success in the direction Do not!' was the soul of its golden rule. The ExPEROR, who has lo gben in feeble ¦ of modern ref or rs and the reorganisation of The clash of internationalism and the play health, s dead. The nomination of 30 education and government. But it was all of conflicting interests have, however. Her Apparent and the appointment of too drastic and too sudden. In an official opened men's eyes and given new views of a Regent on Friday were plain udica- | dispatch. Sir Claude MacDONALD wrote: environment, and the successes of the future tions that the Court physicians regarded *Imperial decr-en isteuded launch will go to those who know best how to use t'e EMPEROR'S patio 8.8 extremely | China on the path of reform continue to all that nature provides for bumanity in critical. The EMPRESS DOWAGER, the appear, though there are few signs of ́any things, in men, in opportunity." That is telegram informs us, is also ill, so that of them taking practical effect. The Emperor the case everywhere. It is when Sir PRINCE CHUN, the Emperor's brother ba is evidently learning that it is one thing to ROBERT Speaks of the future-not of the suddenly be clled up to assume the i-sue a reform edit and another to get it present or the past-that we find him reins of goverument, his son, the
new obeyed." Three days after those most interesting. In his speech acknow. Emperor, being a child of but three or were penned came the memorable coup ledging the address presented to bin four years of age. It may be recalled that detal at the Palace when the Empress- by the Belfast Chamber of Commerce the Emperor Kwang-usu was himself but Dowager once more took the reins of Sir ROBERT, while expressing his belief four years of age when he was chosen to government in her own hands, the Emperor that trade will go
u⚫urpation in a meek on growing, slowly succeed to te Throne in 1875 on the sudile announcing the
which decree i
be perhaps, but steadily, added these words, in death of the Emperor TONG-CHIH in the and submissive which he seems to doubt his premises, so eighteenth year of bis "ge.
The two
referred to the affairs of the nation @ far at least as imports are concerned :- Empresses-cf the Eastern and Western le ng in A Jifficult position and every-
Foreign trade is a luxury, and not a
Palaces were appointed Regents.
but thing awaiting reform; how, in coping necessity, and even if it does continue to the former ded in 1881 leaving the with the mul ituds of affurs he feared that increase, the Chinese themselves will presin Empress Dowager sole regent. Her he would be overwhelmed, and "moved by acquire a larger share in its direct manipu. Majesty continued in that reation to the deep regard for the welfare of the nation,' la'ion, and will less and less depend on Emperor until 1887 when (by Weste n he hal repeatedly implored. Her Majesty to foreign middlemen at home or abroad. reckoning) the Emperor had reached the be graciously pleised to a visa him in the And not only will they do this, but Chinese age of sixteen and then she withdrew, for
government. Thereafter appeared an Edict manufacturers at some future day will com. a time, from the scene, but remained in the Emperor's name, but certainly not pete with foreign good not only in China still the power behind the Throne, for empos d by him, repeding all the reforms, itself, but elsewhere." This is, indeed, dip in his first imperial Edict the youthful and many of the reformers were executed. ping a long way into the future, and, with all Emperor said: When I heard of the Thus the Empress Dowager recovered her due respect, we venture to say that these are decrce (from the Empresa Dowager handing ascendency and the Emperor once more ba- visions which need not trouble the present over to him the reins of government) I c.m what, but for those four short months nor the next generation of traders. There
of the Reform Era be was throughout are few countries in the world which could
his nia, An Emperor ia name only. not describe foreign trade as a luxury with
The readri‹ famılar with the fact that the quite as much reason as China, Japan, for
overthrow of the Reform party and the instance, considered foreign trade a luxury
ascend ncy of the Empress Dowager pro- and rigorously isolated herself from the
| duced an immediate outbreak of hostilities world for two hundred years; but, in spite
against foreign -rs culminating in the march of the increasing manufacture of foreign
of the allied troops to Peking and the flight goods in recent years by Japanese mills, the
of the Court. During this troublous. volume of annual imports iuto Japan shows
period, known in bistory as the rising of the steady growth. The goods which fifty years
Boxers, the Emperor issued an Edict stating ago were regarded in Japan as luxuries have,
that a be was suffering from an incurable with the changing times, come to be coo
disease and it was impossible for him sidered necessities; an wat has happene
to begst a son, he had humbly implored in Japan in this regard may be expected to
Her Sacred Majesty carefully to select from happen also in China. 8'r ROBERT told
among the near branches of the Imperial his audience that there are now some three
Family good nad worthy member thousand foreign firms established in China,
who should found a line of posterity and to “After the majority being Japanese in respect of
whom the Throne should revert. numbers, though perhaps not representing
repeated entreaties Her Majesty, the
44
|
<
trembled as if I were in mid-ocean, not knowing where the land lay. Her Majesty will, however, continue to advise me for a few years longer on important affairs of State. I shall not dare to be indolent, and ia obedience to the Empres«'s command, I have petitioned Heaven, Earth and my Ancestors that I may assume the adm dis- tration of the Government in person o the 15th day of the first mon in the thirteenth year of iny reign. Guided by the counsel of Her Majesty everything will be done with
care.
11
In time, however, and in the process of obeying the exhortation of the Emp e-8- Dowager that he should develop his mind, pay unremitting attention in the administration of the government, and love his people," the Emperor gradually eased to be in sympathy with the counsel of Her
|
↓
A
19
words