The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, OCTOBER 6TH, 1884.
THE reluctance of the Government to adopt extreme weasures for putting an end to the present unendurable state of affairs in this Colony is understandable if somewhat unsatisfactory, Exeter Hall to a very large extent controls Downing Street, and sentiment has in no small degree em. asculated the Ordinances which have been made for the administration of justice in Crown Colonies having a mixed population, British officials are expected to govern al- most by moral suasion, and any severity isapt toeliciteitberastern rebuke from the Colonial Office, or a number of unpleasant inquiries in the House of Commons. By pandering to sentimentalism Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY! made many supporters in Parliament, and secured freedom to work incalculable mis- chief here. When the late Governor sue- ceeded in getting the punishment of flogging practically abolished he deprived this Gov. erument of half its power to repress disor- der. We are not advocates of the lash as an ordinary punishment; there is a certain amount of brutality in it that is revolting to the feelings, and it is questionable whether public flogging has not a hardening effect on the minds of onlookers. But experience has proved to demonstration that in this Colony it is absolutely impossible to properly con- trol the criminal classes without this punish-
ment.
Chinese criminals understand the argumentum baculínum better than any other. They have been disciplined by the bamboo for centuries, and with them it is a far stronger argument for order than a term of imprison- ment. Some of the most intelligent and in- fluential Chinese in this Colony have also strongly advocated, in our bearing, a return to public flogging, One Chinese gentleman, who thoroughly understands his countrymen, assured us that floggings administered in- side the Gaol lost more than half of their efficacy, as the criminals will not adınit hav- ing undergone the punishment when they come out, and the deterrent effect of what is not witnessed becomes almost nil. He ex- pressed the opinion that floggings should always be awarded for crimes of violence, and should be administered on the spot where the crime was committed.. If this were done the offence of earring-spatch- ing, now so common, would soon be put s stop to. Similarly, no doubt, if a dozen! of the leaders of the present riots were triced up to triangles in some public thoroughfares and treated to a few dozen lashes the moral effect would be quickly ap parent. These riots are, we still believe- though we observe with great regret the spread of a violent anti-foreign feeling among classes of the Chinese from whom some- thing better might have been expected-due to the incitement of some few mischievons spirite, and if these men were once arrested and an example made of them, the riotous
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spirit would quickly die out. The majority of the cargo-boat people are not only willing but anxious to resume work, but the rabble still endeavour to intimidate them and drive their craft from the Fraya Irie DV however, bigh time that the Authorities- decided to take uncompromising action with a view to restore order in the Colony. They cannot any longer allow mob rule in British territory; at all coats the dictation of a few mischievous persons must be put down. The cargo boat strike is ended, but the reign of disorder is not over. Efforts should now be made to bring the fomenters of distur-! bance to speedy justice, and to arrest aud deport the rowdies who have led the van in the riots.
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THE STRIKES AND RIOTS. From the hour to which time our last report recorded proceedings--2 a.m. ou Satur- day--nothing of any great importance has happened in the way of rioting or deeds of violence. All Saturday night the
all
place was perfectly quist, the streets round the Recreation Ground, Gap-street, &c., which had been the scene of so much violence and tumalt but a few hours before, being quite de- serted and empty, perhaps even more so than on ordinary occasions. In some houses thore was a display of lanterns to keep up the religious festival. In spite of the prohibition of the az.. thorities to hold the usual dragon procession on Friday, there was something of a procession that uight, there being two large illuminated paper dragons, and a lot of fancy lanterns, carried by the usual rag tag and bobtail, with an escort or guard of coolies carrying bamboo poles, apparently ready to resist any attempt to stop the thing by the authorities. There was no collision, however, and the procession was not sean for long, there boing probably too many bodies of police and military patrolling about the streets. Ample means were taken to maintain order and peace during the night. As we have said, a large force of the Buffs was quartered in the main hall and adjoining parts of the Tung Wak Hospital under the cotamand of Ma jor Howarth, so that they were in the midst of the troubled part, ready to turn out in a moment for any outbreak. The Chinese were kept away from the doors of the place by police, & Astach- Iment of whom were on duty there under Inspec- tor Grey. Mr. Wise and Mr. Mackean, Police Magistrates, were also in the Hospital, ready to give their anthority to any proceedings which might be deemed necessary in case of an outbreak. Pickets of Buffs and police patrolled the streets with only moderate intervals between each, and as there were some grounds for apprehending attempts at incendiarism, the fire engines and members of the Brigades were all ready to turn out at a moment's notice. Happily there was EO call for their services, and no rousing of peaceful people by the alarm of the fire bells. Afloat also protec tive measures were taken, the harbour being well patrolled by the launches and gigs of the Water Police under Inspector Cradock, the crews being armed to the teeth.
Though all passed so quietly during the night, the rowdies were astir the next morning early and on the lookout for any cargo boats which might be disposed to go to work again, and
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