Page
May 10, 1909.]
I
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
a
377
CHINA'S NAVAL AMBITIONS.
(Daily Press, May 8th.) Imitation, it is said, is the sincerest form of flattery. Great Britain, Germany, France, Austria, America and other countries present with building up their armaments, are concerning themselves at
and what more natural than that China, to whom those countries are supposed to stand
as
1
that the Sultan's words could not be trusted, ness that exists in this direction; and it I have not to look further than Ireland to and that it would only lead to a renewal of cannot be denied that to some extent this is form some idea of the diffialty that has to disorder were he again to be restored to true. There have been abuses on the part be contended with. By all accounts at the power, so it was arranged to quietly depose of those in authority which have been a present time there are parts of that country him, taking care to respect his person while sufficient cause for common action on the where the government is simply paralysed depriving him of the means of renewing his part of those who were subject to them; and by secret associations, and where a man who intrigues. In all former cases of deposition common action in a country where anything incurs their displeasure is as helpless as any in Turkey the deposed sovereign has bad to in the form of opposition to the governing who might be denounced by similar societies pay the penalty of his misdeeds with his officials is severely visited, is likely very in China. In Italy, in Russia, in France life. It was evident, however, that in the soon to take the form of secret conclaves, to some extent, and even in so steady-going case of Sultan HAMID, the man himself was and these to lead to the formation of secret and sober a country as Germany, among the almost too insignificant to be made the political associations. Once these last are so called socialists, similar combinations have object of mere revenge. Still it was clear formed, it is almost impossible to deal with of late years been causing much uneasiness that the new government could not afford them directly; and the only course which and the wisest statesmen are unable to make to permit him to carry on with impunity can be adopted to bring them to an end is much headway against them.
We ought his old intrigues; so it was decided to send to remove as far as possible, any bona fide not therefore to be much surprised if the him under strong guard to Salonika, a grievances which have brought them into Chiuese who have special traditional difficul- district known to be strongly constitutional, existence. This, even, is uo easy task. ties in regard to administration should be and keep him there in honourable captivity. When a system of combined secret opposi unable to do what much stronger Govern. Another man than the sometime Sultan tion to authority has been well established, ments are powerless to effect, and should be HAMID would probably resent such treat- a force is at once evoked which ere long tempted in a way to " hold a candle to the ment, but there is no reason to suppose that obtains a dominant influence in the secret devil," and to abstain from adopting rigid HAMID will, beyond the momentary annoy-society itself. The more temperate members methods which might possibly lead to mis- ance of finding himself debarred from his soon lose all power, and the loud blustering chief greater than that agaiust which they old game, feel any indiguity, at his new desperades are those who are most listened
were directed. position. For some thirty years it was only to;" who are able to exert most power over what he had inflicted on his own brother and the other members and who force their heir presumptive, RESAID Effendi, and it action into the most dangerous directions. İ has been the traditional fate of every near This is perfectly well known to the Chinese relative of the Turkish reigning house to be themselves; and the wonder is that people either put to death, or, if the reigning of SO practical and common-sense monarch were of milder disposition, to be character are so readily attracted by such blinded, or at the least imprisoned for life. societies and so prone to form them wherever To be shut up with the favourites of his they may be. Iu Singapore such societies harem in a palace at Salonika, will probably have existed for a long time past, and have strike this last degenerate section of the caused the Government no little trouble. house of Osman as not far removed from Of late years we have not heard so much of tutors and paragons, should seek to the height of human felicity. Sultan HAMID them as formerly, but they are still there follow their example? For many years is now in his sixty-seventh year, so that his and may at any time be an element with
now China has been urged to follow in the happy fate is little likely to meet with much which the Colonial authorities may have to paths which the western nations have trod sympathy at home or abroad. It is to be deal. During the short period that the for some time, and they have been held hoped that with his inclosure one pretext for Chinese have been in the Transvaal they
up to ber as examples to be copied, Continental intrigue will be removed off the began to form their inevitable associations, with of course certain limitations. China board. His successor who has seemingly though fortunately no doubt from the fact has lagged in the march of progress, learnt wisdom in the hard school of ex- that the Chinese were a constantly changing and she has been urged, and is still perience, is hardly likely to venture on the population, they did not do much harm being urged, to quicken her pace and take same dangerous sea that has brought there, beyond endeavouring to back up the a more honourable position in the vanguard his brother "to an ignominous if Indians in their claims for full recognition of civilisation. Occasionally however, the personally pleasant enough end. Sultan as British subjects-in which attempt, they question arises as to whether a certain MAHOMET V. has never displayed an unusual effected very little good for their Asiatic course, ostensibly selected as making for versatility of intellect, but on the other hand friends. Dangerous secret societies, such as progress, really attains that end-whether has been careful, with every temptation, those which exist in China itself, do not in fact it does not make for retrogression. to avoid being mixed up in dangerous fortunately seem to take deep root in the When, for instance, we read that China is political schemes; and this in Turkey's ex- various Colonies to which the Chinese re-ordering guns for all her forts, that she is hausted condition is a good omen for the sort-but the same tendency to combine contemplating the re-organisation of her future.
"agin the Government" is mainfested Navy, and that her army is being augmented wherever the Celestial goes, and this is no and rendered more efficient may we not ques- doubt one of the reasons why he is looked tion the wisdom of such enterprises and in the upon as an unwelcome visitor in many places. present state of China's finances describe It has been a favourite subject of discussion
In an ordinary way, however, such combina- them as quixotic? It is undoubtedly in the Far East how far the secret societies tions in the Colonies do not go beyond necessary to have forces adequate to police which exist so largely in China and in any intervene to put down some disturbance and to preserve peace, but it does not seem making it necessary for the authorities to
the country, to repress piracy and robbery place to which the Chinese resort, under- mine all effective government, and how far between rival factions, as with the "Ghee; advisable that China should proceed further it might be possible, by firm action, to put but in China itself the large secret societies mammoth fleet. Why should she engage
Hing
To-Pei-Kong" in the Straits
and endeavour to raise a large army and a them down. Experience seems to prove have long been a terror to the officials and in the same mad scramble as the western that when once a secret society has been
have often been able to set them at defiance. nations to possess standing armies whose num- fairly started, it is almost impossible by any With their temporising instincts the Chinese bers run into millions and to possess navies efforts of the Government to put an end to it. Certainly such has been the fact in authorities have been generally inclined, which cost vast sums of money? Already, China. All efforts made by the authorities
to look upon such societies when possible we see countries as surely at war with have really proved useless. In one way or
with a blind eye; and often to go so far as to each other as if the formal declaration had another they are evaded; and, if it is felt come to a tacit understanding with them, been made. The struggle at present dees that the measures taken against a given Needless to say such a policy too frequently not exact a heavy toil of life: the contest secret society are becoming somewhat forms an encouragement to them, and upon is meanwhile more like a game at chess. embarrasing to it, the name is changed and general principles is open to serious objec- Each watches the other's moves aud en- the opposition to law and order goes on as
tion. It is natural that a great deal should deavours to counteract them. Naval before. Many, who have had the wel-haye been said from time to time against programmes are made to counter-balance fare of China at heart, have despaired what seems on the surface unpardonable each other and although the relations of any improvement in consequence of this weakness; but, if temporising has often between the nations are nominally of the canker in the body politic, and, seeing the been carried too far by the Chinese, it must friendliest character, there is no gainsaying. enormous power which well-known secret in fairness be admitted that there has been the fact that they are involved in a conflict associations have constantly exercised, this
some excuse for it. When we consider how
as ruinous, as relentless, and'as cruel as War. feeling of despair would seem to be fully impossible it has often proved in European justified. It has been urged that the countries to deal with the same difficulties, Chinese Government themselves
we may make some allowance for the Chin.
SECRET SOCIETIES IN CHINA
(Daily Press, May 7th.)
a re
"
" and "
+
responsible for a great deal of the unsound-ese having equally failed to do so. Wel
The competition of armaments is almost as disastrous to social progress as the clash of arms. Instead of those countries being any u example to China they should be a warn o