308
stances to have been any, even plausible, foundation for the charge; but it is quite possible, as has happened in other cases, that the suspicion has engendered the thought. It has seldom happened in the long history of China that a Minister actually in office has raised the standard of revolt; and it is far from likely that such thoughts entered into YUAN's mind till they were suggested by those who were envious of his rapid promotion.
On the other hand, there is no evidence
that YUAN ever strove to make use of his
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
A
[October 11, 1909. OPIUM QUESTION IN THE
STRAITS.
of Government in China after the events of THE 1900; and no man could better have calmed the apprehensions of the foreign Powers as to the future of China. Whatever his
(Daily Press, October 7th.) attitude towards Reform generally, it was
Some interesting comments on the opium he who first rendered it possible, and it is not unlikely that had he continued in office question as it affects the Straits Settlements were made by H. E. Sir John Anderson, the task of the REGENT would have been
the Governor, in the course of his statement much simplified; so far we are willing to
on the Budget, which was introduced at agree with the would-be advisers of the Regency. To restore to power a Minister last week's meeting of the Legislative dismissed in the manner in which YUAN Council of the Colony, and in view of the fact that public interest in Hongkong is was dismissed is at the best a dangerous influence with the late DowAGER TSE HI experiment, and can only be successful with just now stimulated in this question by the Government's acceptance of a tender for to ameliorate the position of the EMPEROR; men of the loftiest moral character. As we
carrying on the Farm in this Colony for the and it was this that determined the present have said above, YUAN was above all things next three years, a reference to certain REGENT, on his assuming the reins of an opportunist, and opportunism and politi-aspects of the question in the Straits Government, to dismiss him with all out-cal moralty of the highest type are hardly Settlements will not be without interest here. ward signs of disgrace. Still, it must be consistent. We hope for the sake of China, When commenting a few days ago on the remembered that, contrary to all Oriental and of the REGENT, who has up to this unexpectedly high tenders received for the precedent, PRINCE CHUN did not inflict any proved himself not only an intelligent, but a Farm, having regard to the fact that the punishment, personal or otherwise, on YUAN well-meaning ruler, and whose chief defi- whole of the opium-smoking divans in the SHI-KAI, but treated him exactly as any ciency has been a want of initiative power Colony are to be closed next March, we European Minister who had lost the con- under extremely difficult circumstances, that fidence of his ruler is accustomed to be he will be able to introduce some semblance presented the view, which many people had held, that the steadily increas- treated. As a rule it is inadvisable that a of order into his at present very ill-reg Minister who has been dismissed from office lated household, and will be able to replace ing price of opium combined with the under such peculiar circumstances as OC- the veteran CHANG CHI-TUNG (whose death progress of the total abstinence movement, might in themselves have been regarded as curred in this case should be re-employed; was announced after these lines had factors calculated to reduce the business to and all the more so that the reasons were been written) by someone of the present the extent indicated by the tenders. Instead strictly of a personal nature. YUAN must generation. CHANG CHI-TUNG has all
of the closing of the opium divans resulting have felt keenly his supercession, and as, through life borne the character of
in a loss of six lakhs per annum, as the after all, he is but human, it is to be ex. loyal and upright Minister, against whom pected that he will continue to bear ani- not the most censorious has been able Government had all along been led to expect, the new contract which has been made ensures mosity against the head of the State. Alto- to establish any charge of peculation or un-
for the next three years a rental represent- gether it seems impossible that the two, the worthy motive. On the other hand, it is ing a loss on the present revenue of less REGENT and his dismissed Minister, should well to remember that CHANG has been by no
than 25 lakhs per annum. In the Straits ever be so far reconciled as to pull together means uniformly successful as an adminis- Settlements, on the recommendation of the for the advantage of the Empire, the more trator, and has more than once stood in the Straits Opium Commission, the Government especially as the coming back of the Minister, way of useful measures. Altogether it is has decided to take into its own hands the however others may be disposed to look on not going too far to say that some of the it, can scarcely, by himself at least, be failures charged to the Regency, have in all preparation and sale of opium, with the idea considered other than a personal victory over probability to be laid at the door of the that it will place the Government in a the REGENT. There is, besides, another aged statesman, so that his retirement, by stronger position to bring about such a gradual reduction of the smoking of opium element which, under the Chinese constitu- throwing more responsibility on the younger
as is demanded by public opinion." "The tion cannot be ignored. The present Ministers, may in the long run prove action taken by the Hongkong Government EMPRESS DOWAGER is an element in the advantageous to the administration. All will be equally as effective in that Government which, following immemorial through life old CHANG has been an ardent direction, but the experiment in the Straits prece lent, cannot be ignored; as widow of reformer, but it may be questioned whether will be watched in Hongkong with the late EMPEROR she is the legal guardian the r forms most favoured are those most much interest, for the view which of the child who now represents him. We called for. The most needed, but at the same know little of her, and opinions differ as to time difficult, and these requiring the most obtains here, as the result of experience of her capacity for undertaking any important courage and skill to bring to a successful both systems, is that, independently of rôle in the State; the one thing that is issue, are those connected with the finances revenue, the Farm has been the most effec- tive means of restricting and controlling the certainly known of her is, that looking upon of the Empire: these can only be carried traffic. How that object is achieved under YUAN as the agent of the late DOWAGER in out by an individual entrusted with almost the farm system is well stated in the interest the maltreatment of her husband, she is despotic power. No representative assembly permeated by the most intense hatred for that China can call together is equal to ing memorandum on the subject prepared some months ago by His EXCELLENCY the him. However little the REGENT may per the gigantic task; till finance is
GOVERNOR. For the moment, however, sonally think of her abilities, he has to sound basis representative government can
it is the financial aspect of the question consult her in all affairs regarding the be nothing better than a delusion and a
that interests us, and note the. personality of the new EMPEROR, even snare. Meanwhile, under the specious plea though he happens to be his son, so that of introducing representative forms, the statement that the Straits Government " is well aware that the opium revenue, although personally he might succeed in habit of tendering unasked-for advice, which working harmoniously with YUAN, the has been too easily accepted by the Govern- whether or not the farm system is adhered presence of the DoWAGER EMPRESS Would ment of the REGENT, has been instrumental to, is certain to decline from year to year, both from decreasing consumption and in. always act as a powerful element of disorder in leading it into difficulties with foreign crease in the price of the raw material." His about affairs where concord is most desirable. Powers. We may instance the growing EXCELLENCY remarked that the experience We may conceive a similar case had the tendency of instituting boycotts, especially of the last six years has proved that, even KAISER WILLIAM II. been compelled by a
affected by the so-called "Self-Govern with the farm system, the opium revenue powerful combination of officials to cecall ment Society of Canton the late PRINCE BISMARCK after his dramatic kindred institutions, going far to demor had ceased to be that certain, easy, and dismissal. Each measure of State could alise the whole Empire; while totally expanding source which it had been in the past. "It has been a constant and con- not have failed to be a subject of dispute irresponsible associations, like that of the
tinuous clamour for reductions or postpone- between EMPEROR and MINISTER till "one likin farmers in most of the provinces, are
ment of payments with threats of bankruptcy or other had succeeded in reducing in default of any regular financial govern- to insignificance the other. Then YUAN ment openly setting the Administration of aud widespread ruiu among the Chinese the Regency at defiance. Probably the population." The spread of the anti-opium movement and the attitude towards opium second "Mayor of the Palace." All these only measure capable of restoring good smoking of the leaders of the Chinese com- things are independent of the personal government is the entire abolition, lock, abilities of YUAN himself. We have always stock, and barrel, of the system. Attempt munity, HIS EXCELLENCY added, have un- been willing to allow that individually at reforming or checking it, can only result doubtedly led to a progressive diminution
in the consumption of op'u n. YUAN has been all round the ablest in the aggravation of the evil.
the Government may do, it is certain that of China's Ministers, and this whether
this diminishing tendency will continue.” It would be interesting to have accurate information as to the influence of anti-opium propaganda in Hongkong, apart from the
would have
we
!
returned to office as a
look to his management of home or foreign affairs. No man but he could probably have brought about the recovery
J
on a
and other
Bangkok has gone into mourning for the death of H.R.H. Prince Uruphongs, the youngest son of the King of Siam. Death was due to exhaustion from peritonitis.
we
"Whatever