able and capable of liquidating any loan raised on its behalf. So far as the Mint is concerned there-fore, increased taxation is not justified. So far as the Contribution is concerned, increased taxation seems still less appropriate. This pay-ment is unjust in a dozen different ways, no one has a good word to say for it, and we need not waste any arguments denouncing it. All admit that it ought to be removed, that the colony is entitled by every legal means in its power to resist it and induce the Home Government to relieve us of the burden which it imposes. For this reason the Colo-nial government would be more than entitled to pay it by means of a loan throwing all responsibility which is not fairly theirs on the future. There is a clear boundary be-tween the cases in which people are entitled, and those in which they are not entitled to temporise,—between those in which they are doing right, acting nobly in grappling with difficulties, and making sacrifices to overcome them; and those in which such a policy is uncalled for. When a man finds himself in difficulties by his own fault, when he can clearly see that it is his own extravagance or idleness or neglect that has brought upon him obligations which he cannot meet, that is a case in which he is bound to work with desperate energy, making any personal sacrifice to clear himself of liabilities. When, however, by the occurence of circumstances altogether unforeseen, by the action of others, whom he resisted all the while, in spite of his own earnest exertions throughout, he finds himself in difficulties, that is a time for rejecting the unjust claims upon him by the help of the laws provided for his protection. With a government, new taxes take the place of the increased exertions and sacrifices in the case we have supposed, and loans take the place of an appeal to protective laws. Our difficulties are none of our own making; they are on the contrary the result of grossly unfair conduct of which we have been the victims, and our government would be fully entitled to prove practically the injustice of the contribution by raising a loan to pay it.
In the first words spoken on a subject of this kind while it is altogether fresh it is impossible to deal with all its sides, and we have said nothing of the proposed financial measure, on its own merits. It is certain however that a very wide spread objection to Stamp Acts is felt in the mercantile community, that the prosperity of the colony has been largely due to the fact that trade has not been hampered hitherto by any imposts whatever, and that the introduction of the new measure will be regarded as an interference with commerce, will be viewed with great dislike and with distrust, as the thin end of the wedge. There is a great deal in favour of stamps as taxes in a country where there is to begin with a complicated fiscal system, but when they constitute the first introduction of measures calculated to burden trade, the historical associations connected with them are not favourable to their chances of being well received.
191
China Mail 28th July 1866
It is at all times a pleasing duty for the Journalist to record events that reflect favourably upon those in power. It is not by any means a rule that persons in positions of responsibility acquit themselves, even under ordinary circumstances, in a manner to call forth general approval. On the contrary, half the press of the civilized world is employed, at least a moiety of its time, in pointing out shortcomings. Deeds of omission or of commission; want of tact; deficiency in judgement; and weakness or vacillation, where strength of mind and determination are required. We are, therefore, most happy to observe the clear statement of His Excellency the Governor, delivered at the meeting of the Legislative Council yesterday; and to mark the general satisfaction it has given to the community of this Colony.
It is not to be supposed that any man, however talented, however great his attainments, or however varied and extended his experience can be introduced into a strange sphere of action, with a most responsible position; ruling persons who have been many years on the spot and are acquainted with the necessities and peculiarities of the people; exercising an influence, for good or evil, that is all powerful and must lead or coerce very many others—it is not to be supposed, we say, that one in this position can during the first few months of office give satisfaction to everybody, or even to those who were from the first disposed to show every leniency and make every allowance for the peculiarities and difficulties of the position.
We regret much that a little more patience and a little less acrimony have not been observed with reference to Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL. The new Ordinance relating to Piracy, and the plain yet comprehensive statement made by his Excellency yesterday will do much to remove that feeling of antagonism and dissatisfaction which was, we believe, beginning to spread itself somewhat diffusely among the residents of Hongkong.
With regard to the Ordinance there will probably arise differences of opinion in reference to some of the minor details, but the broad fact that its main features are calculated to check materially the progress of that Hydra-headed monster—Piracy, and bring to justice not only pirates themselves, but those who knowingly instigate, assist or harbour them, will not only add to the popularity which Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL—in spite of his detractors, has already acquired; but a feeling of security will extend itself among the sea-faring portion of the community; and not only will that feeling be confirmed, but the more tangible and beneficial fact will be established, that the security is not a matter of feeling or imagination only but a positively achieved and experienced reality.
ble and capable of liquidating any loan raised on. its behalf. So far as the Mint is concerned there. • fore, increased taxation is not justified. So far as the Contribution is concerned, increased taxation seems still less appropriate. This pay- ment is unjust in a dozen different ways, no one has a good word to say for it, and we need not waste any arguments denounce it. All admit that it ought to be removed, that the colony is entitled by every legal means in its power to resist it and induce the Home Government to relieve us of the burden which it imposes. For this reason the Colo- nial government would be more than entitled to pay it by means of a loan throwing al responsibility which is not fairly theirs on: the future. There is a clear boundary be- tween the cases in which people are entitled, and those in which they are not entitled to temporise,-between those in which they are doing right, acting nobly in grappling with diffi culties, and making sacrifices to overcome them.: and those in which such a policy is uncalled, for. When a man finds himself in difficulties by his own fault, when he can clearly see that i it is his own extravagance or idleness or ne- gleet that has brought upon him obligations i which he cannot meet, that is a case in which! he is bound to work with desperate energy, making any personal sacrifice to clear himself of liabilities. When, however, by the occur ence of circumstances altogether unforeseen, by the action of others, whom he resisted all the while, in spite of his own earnest exertinos throughout, he finds himself in difficulties, that is a time for rejecting the unjust claims upon him by the help of the laws provided for his protection. With a government, new taxes take the place of the increased exertions and sacrifices in the case we have supposed, and loans take the place of an appeal to pro-! tective laws. Our difficulties are none of our own making; they are on the contrary the result of grossly unfair ocuduct of which we have been the victims, and our government would be fully entitled to prove practically the injustice of the contribution by raising aį loan to pay it.
In the first words spoken on a subject of this kind while it is altogether fresh it is im- possible to deal with all its sides, and we have said nothing of the proposed financial measure, on its own merits. It is certain however that. a very wide spread objection to Stamp Acts is felt in the mercantile community, that the prosperity of the colony has been largely due to the fact that trade has not been bampered i hitherto by any imposts whatever, and that the introduction of the new measure will be re- garded as an interference with commerce, will! be viewed with great dislike and with distrust, as the thin end of the wedge. There is a great deal in favour of stamps as taxes in a country where there is to begin with a com. plicated fiscal system, but when they con- stitute the first introduction of measures cal- culated to burden trade, the historical associa- tious connected with them are not favourable- to their chances of being well received.
191
'
China Unil 28th July 1866-
A
Ir is at all times a pleasing duty for the Journalist to record events that reflect fa- vourably upon those in power. It is not by any means a rule that persons iu posi tions of responsibility aoquit themselves, even under ordinary circumstances, in a manner to call forth geueral approval. On the contrary, half the press of the civilized world is employed, at least a moiety of its time, in pointing out shortcomings. Deeds of omission or of commission; want of tact; i deficiency in judgement; and weakness or vacillation, where strength of mind and de- termination are required. We are, there- fore, most happy to observe the clear state- ment of His Excellency the Governor, de- livered at the meeting of the Legislative Council yesterday; and to mark the general satisfaction it has given to the community of this Colony.
It is not to be supposed that any man, however talented, however great his attain- ments, or however varied and extended his experience can be introduced into a strange sphere of action, with a most responsible position; ruling persons who have been many years on the spot and are acquaint- ed with the necessities and peculiarities
of the people; exercising an influence, for good or evil. that is all powerful and must lead or coerce very many others--it is not
to be supposed, we say, that one' in this
position can during the first few months of
office give satisfaction to everybody, or even
to those who were from the first disposed to show every leniency and make every allow- ance for the peculiarities and difficulties of the position,
We regret much that a little more pa- tiency and little less acrimony have not been observed with reference to Sir RICH- ! ARD MACDONNELL The new Ordinance re- lating to Piracy, and the plain yet compre- hensive statement made by his Excellency yesterday will do much to remove that feel- ing of antogonism and dissatisfaction which was, we believe, beginning to spread itself somewhat diffusely among the residents of Hongkong.
With regard to the Ordinance there will probably arise differences of opinion in re- ference to some of the minor details, but the broad fact that its main features Are calculated to check materially the pro- greas of that Hydra-headed monster-Pi- racy, and bring to justice not only pirates themselves, but those who knowingly ins- tigate, assist or harbor them, will not only add to the popularity which Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL-in spite of his detractors, has already acquired; but a feeling of se curity will extend itself among the sea- faring portion of the community; and not only will thst feeling be confirmed, but the more tangible and beneficial fact will be established, that the security is not a matter of feeling or immagination only but a positively achieved and experienced rea- lity.
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