CO129-213 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [12] — Page 192

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requiring to send word for reinforcements from Hongkong, was met by a flat refusal, based upo an order just received from the Viceroy of Canton forbidding the forwarding of any Enligh message. A joint note has been signed by the representatives of all the foreign powers, hold. ing the Chinese Government responsible for the incendiarism, robbery and violence, and it is to he hoped that a full indemnity and the exam.; plary punishment of the offenders will be firmly insisted on.

But if "Foreigners" (the name by which all others than native Chinese are described) are to be influential with China for the fartherance of! commerce and civilisation, they must hold together. It surely is not well that differences should be fomented in Europe in order that France may be distracted from her purpose in Cochin China. Yet it would appear to be the sot purpose of some writers to endeavour, if pos sible, to bring about a renewal of hostilities between Germany and France, and destroy the amicable relations between France and Spain. This is not at all as it should be. A renewal of the struggle in Europe would be a scandal aud dis- grace to civilisation. A. serious contest between France and China npon this Cochin China affair is improbable in the last degree, Ite issue is certain beyond a shadow of doubt. Further subjugation and acquisition of territory seems the natural and unavoidable sequence of the jux- taposition of civilisation and barbarism. The British settlers have felt this necessity in all quarters of the world. It is, at the present; moment, forced upon as in Australia, and Go- vernment will have to yield to it, sooner or later,Į however unwillingly. Why may not France do the same? French newspapers may well com plain that the opposition which France receives in Cochin China, from the influence of the Chinese Government in Pekia, is owing to the encouragement given in England to China, and the disencouragement which our former allies aro receiving at our hands. The Chinose Govern. ment would probably be able to make out A much better title to the possession of the British Islands than they can to any right or interest in Cochin China. The records simply show the receipt at sundry times of friendly presents which it has suited the Chinese Govern- ment to set down as tribute paid. Just in the sanie way presents from the British Government to the Chinese have been entered to our credit in account as tributs humbly offered. Though the! high officials know full well that Britain is not a tributary of Chian, they constantly and per- sistently endeavour to instil this notion into the minds of the people, and overy anneession which is made to native prejudices and every effort upon our part to meet the wishes of the hinese, is distorted from its true meaning, and inter- preted into an act of becoming subraission. On the last occasion of serious trouble in China it was

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deemed the part of wisdom on the part of Great Britain to take sides with the Chinese Govern- ment against her subjects and to permit Colonel Gordon to lead on to victory the Chinese troops, which there is little doubt would, but for his marvellous influence, have been defeated in their struggle against the Taepings. This action on the part of the British Government was a matter of deep sorrow and regret to the whole of the foreign communities in China; and they have bad good reason to deplore it ever since. We indeed can but feel ashamed of any participation in a fiendish slaughter, which in its immediate aud more remote consequences has cut short the lives of over 100,000,000 of China's inhabitants, It may well be hoped that, whatover our interests in China may be, the British Government will pause before it again commits itself to such a companionship in arms. The fault was not with Colonel Gordon, than whom few men have shown themselves so nobly disinterested, but the fault lay with the Government which permitted its soldiers to render aid to a power as capable to. day as it was twenty years ago of perpetrating the most cowardly, shameful, and inhuman atro- cities. The same condition of things may arise to-morrow. Some of the war correspondeutz now in Tonquia have expressed themselves in terms of the bighest admiratien on witnessing the courage and determination manifested by the Black Flags mpos the field of battle. Those Black Flags, so called from the huge black banners by which their troops are distinguished, are the remnant of the old crushed out Taspings, whose mem- bera still exist in large numbers throughout the Empire, though concealed like other secret societies. Of theso the White Lily is the most formidable. There are also the Yellow Flags. Of the Mohommedans, who have in times past been a terror to the Government, it is estimated that there are 20,000,000. It is impossible to see, even with the best information, what will be the future of China, and most obvious thing at all is the narrow limit of our knowled re of this won trous country and its more wondrous people. One thing, however, is clear that a day of fearful reckoning will surely and may soon and suddenly come between China's rulors and If not the oppressed millions of her people. from foreign aggression this will come abmit from within. It is the present policy of the Chinese Government to stave off by all possible means this catastrophe, Oareaormous interests in the preservation of the status quo unfor- tunately rouder it very difficult for us to take a dispassionate view of the position. When the time does arrive for a struggle with the present effete and unprincipled government, it is to be hoped that the spread of popular information apon the subject may serve to save us from ra. peating the orime of strengthening a false government in fastening folters on its peoplo.

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