January 18, 1909.j
Anti-Opium League would imagine that the vice of opium in China is infinitely worse than the drink evil in England, whereas any one who is in a position to make the comparison cannot but be amazed at the suggestion. The International Commission appears to us totally un- necessary. If China is convinced that opium is a source of great evil, it is for her to apply the remedies, and having already obtained the co-operation of the Indian Government she has, it seems to us, all that she could hope for or desire. The remedy for the evil is entirely in China's hands. If the Chinese Government is
unable to enforce its decrees within its own dominions, othing that the Powers can do in their own territories will avail to help her.
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JAPANESE EMIGRATION TO
AMERICA,
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12
A
speedily adopt a standard of living equal to that of the Americane. If all the immigrants from Japan had already acquir ed a standard of living equal to that of the American, and equiring the same wages to support i, the problem would be solved but u til tie "Westernis tion" of Japa has developed to that extent, the immigrat tion of Japanese is bound to be a costant source of irouble.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
Aye, it is quite true. The weather is man's conversational god. Everywhere during the week one heard little else but growls about the. weather, and even the folks up topside did not appreciate the mist which hid them from the vulgar gaze. That reminds me, that somebody "wot knows" has predicted that we are in for two months of the weather we sampled last week for four days. In other words we are likely to have which we expect at this season. plenty of rain instead of the cold crisp weather That looks as if we shall have greater use for waterproofs than overcoats,
CHİNA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
French writer on the subject declares that "between the yellow and white races there cannot, there must not, be any assimila tion; the Bible and SPENCER have so decreed," and he quotes the Hon. E. A. HAYES, representing California in the House of Representatives, as saying
The ministers of all our religions pro- claim on the marriage altar this divine doctrine, What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.' It is an equally divine doctrine that What God has put asunder, let no man join together.' The finger of the Almighty has emphasized in plain characters the differences of colour, of caste, f feeling, of life, of literature, of geographic position-in short, in all ways, the necessity of keeping the races of humanity separate. " And to this M. AUBERT, whom we have already quoted, adds:-"Their happiness will be better assured, if they dwell on the continents (Daily Press, December 16th.) assigned to them by ommiscient providence Recent telegrame indicate that public than if they are transplanted to other con- attention in the United States and in Japan tinents in the interests of lucre. The yellow is being again focussed on the vexed problem races can no more change their skin than of Japanese immigration into the States on can negroes; the leopard cannot change the Pacific Slope of America. The Californian | his spots. The Japanese, by their Legislature has introduced a measure aiming physique, their religion, their age-long at the exclusion of Japanese from the public traditions, their ideas
on family life, schools of the State, providing for the are quite different from the whites." segregation of both Japanese and Chinese, It is such arguments as these that and imposing other restrictions hurtful and influence public opinion in America, but is offensive to the dignity of Japan. Only a is very curious to see the argument of year or two ago, when public sentiment geographical distribution used in defence in California wa aroused over the con of a white America, The emigration tinually increasing influx of Japanese, the from all parts of the world to North Government of Japan, in order to avoid America has been one of the most remark- ill-feeling between the two nations, volun- able facts in contemporary history. In a tarily resolved to forego a privilege to which single century the population of the United Japan was entitled by treaty, and placed a States has grown from five millions to eighty restriction on emigration to America. But millions, thanks to immigration (rou other recently the view has been advanced in the coutinents"in the interests of lucre. " Japanese Press that the time has arrived recent writer on this subject has point dout when the removal of this inconvenient regu- that in the beginning of the nineteenth lation should he demanded" on grounds of century the arrivals were chiefly from the equity and international morality," for the British Isles, and in the first place from denial to Japan of the enjoyment of the full Ireland. Towards the second half of the privileges of the Treaty is regarded as un- century the greater portion was furnished fair and a slight to the nation. When by Germany and Scandinavia. Recently, consequently the recent agreement made and specially during the last few years, the between Japan and the United States was principal centre of emigration has been the published. there was undisguised dissatis- Carpathian district, Galicia, Hungary, aud faction in Japan over the omission of any the various Slav districts. From Tran- reference to the emigration question. In sylvania the movement spread to Roumania one of the leading papers the Government and across the great plains of Hungary to was taunted with having laboured to secure the south into Slavonia and Croatia, and if a statement of policy in regard to matters the current continues to follow the same which scarcely called for a formal declara-course the Balkan States may be expected tion, while the one problem demanding in the near future to contribute their full immediate attention had been completely quota. But America draws the line at ignored. Other papers, however, recognised Asiatics. Some years ago many of the that any agreement dealing with the im-
now used against Asiatic migration problem în America would immigration were used against the Slavs. require to be ratified by the Senate, and It was said of them that they would Lot this was put forward as the reason for the assimilate with the settled population, but omission of the matter from the recently the Slavonic races have shown a peculiar published agreement. At the same time aptitude for assimilation and the result, was announced unofficially, but with a have been entirely satisfactory, And when confidence which gave the impression of we take the evidence afforded by the official inspiration, that a separate Protocol Eurasians in Japan we can find small sup- on the subject was under negotiation. This, port for the American view that assimil- if it be a fact, suggests that Presidentation is impossible in the case of the ROOSEVELT had a very special reason for Japanese. Then there is the argument that denouncing the action of the Californian the low rates at which the Japanese are Legislature. The President described the prepared to work displaces white labour. measure not only as a piece of folly" but This is, indeed, the principal inspiration of as an "inquity." Whether he regarded it as the anti-immigration movement on the iniquitous solely on account of the fact that Pacific Slope, and the Japanese Govern. the legislation would justify Japan in ment may be assumed to have recoguised accusing the United States of "bad faith, the force of the argument when it restricted or whether the term is intended to cover the migration of Japanese subjects, for merely the policy of segregation, the brevity America. The reply to the underliv. of the telegram does not enable us to decide. ing argument is that experience shows The great argument which is considered to that the scale of living among Japanese justify America in excluding Japanese, is settlers tends to level up, not down, and that they do not "assimilate." A recent that the Japanese settling in America
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arguments
Few of us realised that Lady Lugard was so ill as she has been, and it was with something statement that his wife had been dangerously. like a shock that we read His Excellency's
ill and was still in a serious condition. Fortunately later news is more hopeful and I am sure it is no mean platitude when I say we all wish her a speedy recovery.
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So we are to lose Mr. Brackenbury very soon, He leaves for Central Africa on the 23rd instant. If he makes as great a name for himself as his uncle, Sir Frederick, did in Africa his pro-
motion will be assured. i
The American Baseball players returned from Manila on Friday and left for the United States the next day. They go home with interesting views on sport in the Orient, and I have no doubt the inevitable interviewers at San Francisco will obtain some good "copy." I can however, anticipate their comments on cricket
Say, said one of the visitors at Hongkong. Hongkong, ain't it? Why the only bally feller "Cricket is a great game in the other day,
on the ground who does anything at all is the bar boy! Waal, Iguess and calcalate that in the States-
'You'll spoil it by comment " interrupted one of the
further listeners,
States is an excessively serious business. I Sport with the professional baseballer in the understand that no member of the team which came out on this picnic earns less than $500 gold a month during the baseball season, and some of them receive over $1,000.
After the unsatifactory debates in the
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Legislative ouncil and Sanitary Board it was
interesting to notice an old Chinese women (who appeared to have solved the problem of the hour), draw a small bottle from the folds of her dress and spat into it. On enquiry I ascertained from the old dame that she had adopted this means some years ago on being informed that she was suffering from phthisis. I do not offer this as a solution of the spitting nuisance, but it struck me that it would result in benefit to the persuade those phthisical patients who receive community if the public dispensaris could treatment at their hands to refrain from spitting in the streets and use a small bottle instead. It certainly is a new use for the bottle.
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What a surprising success the Corinthian Yacht club have made of their concern! It looks as if they are going to eclipse the older club, new one design The inauguration of the
Hayward Hays" has been a huge success and will no doubt give a filip to yachting in these waters. Lord Dudley, at the opening cruise of the Australian Yacht Club, remarked that the secret of most yachting clubs' success was one design classes and his opinion is borne out in this Colony. Unless the Royal Hongkong Club adopts this or some other scheme to waken up their members the new pavilion is likely to become something of a white elephant,