1881-08-30 — Page 2

A. S. WATSON & Co. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DRUGGISTS,

GENERAL CHEMISTS,

AND

Manufacturers of the following AERATED WATERS, viz: SODA, TONIC, SARSAPARILLA, AND POTASHI, LEMONADE, GINGERADE, RASPBERRYADE, AND PHOSPHORIC CHAMPAGNE. Deliveries in Town and Harbour from

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--

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SHANGHAL

CANTON.

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THE

Songkong Telegraph.

HONGKONG, 30TH Avgust, 1881.

As we have safely got over our "baptism of fire," not much worse for the harsh things said of our rather unique style of resenting injuries, we

can

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH-TUESDAY, AUGUST 30TH, 1881.

deal of importance to certain exclu- sive interests or privileges which have heretofore been conceded to "prin- cely houses," but which in these advanced days, having been found detrimental to Imperial and general interests, would not be tolerated by _the_Government or by the commu nity. It will be better to recognise at once that the old days of Tory domination in Hongkong have departed, never to return; that there are more interests to be considered than those reprosented by two three wealthy and influential business houses, and that, in fact, this colony will in future be governed for the best interests of the empire, and to the advantage of the general body of the people.

Mr. Johnson's motion to have all the available papers referring to Chi- nese emigration laid on the Council table was a sensible and eminently practical one. Some doubt docs ac- tually exist as to the precise legal meaning of contract emigration, and it is desirable in the interests of the many different parties concerned that the exact definition of the term should be universally known. To this extent, we willingly go with Mr. Johnson, but not one step farther. Probably without knowing it, the honourable gentleman, as soon as he begins to dilate upon the question of Chinese Emigration, in its broad bearings, morges his identity as a re- presentative of the people into that of a bigotted partisan of exclusive interests. Is Mr. Bulkeley Johnson acquainted with the actual value of Chinese emigration to the best in- terests of Hongkong, presuming that it was perfectly free in every re- speet? It would appear not, from his remarks at the Council table, Mr. Johnson is assured that 58,000 passengers were passed by the Health Officer from January to July of the present year, and he knows that the inward stream falls in volume little short of the outward one. He then says:-

now devote our attention to matters of more general interest, re- serving the expression of our final opinion on the libel proceedings, "Let us glance for a moment at which have really become a cause the bearing of this great traffic upon célèbre, until a more favorable oppor-our prosperity. That each passenger tunity. A few days ago we expressed who ships from here draws his our intention of dealing in detail with supplies from the Colony, and that the more important subjects discussed the vessel which conveys him is at the last meeting of the Legislative fitted out here, are but a very small Council, and we now propose devoting part of the advantages which our a few lines to the questions raised by trade reaps from the traffic. The Mr. F. Bulkeley Johnson in asking passage-money paid forms so impor- for certain papers to be laid on the table referring to Chinese emigration from this colony.

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or of the benefits present and pros- pective which it confers upon the Chinese Empire."

suspicions that the 836 free emi- grants might not quite come up to the lawful requirements of the Im-, This sounds all very well to the superial Act and the Local Ordinance, perficial observer, but as a matter of and under such circumstances he fact it is simply begging the ques- took the commendable precaution of tion. Of course the emigration of satisfying himself by a thoroughly Chinese from Hongkong is a good independent examination. That he thing for passenger brokers, owners has been abused for this step means and charterers of steamers, and a lot actually nothing, at least outside the of small fry who are hovering round, anxious to sell their own grand-

Colony, there our idiosyncracies are throughly understood and impar- mothers if they could realise a profit tially judged. thereby; but in what way does it affect the Imperial or general inte- rests of the colony? As H. E. the Governor truly said, "Hongkong was established as a great depôt of Brit- ish trade with China," and we cer- tainly cannot find any existing evi. dence that it was ever intended by the British Government to become the home of scandalous abuses in connection with the peculiar forms of so called Chinese emigration, which in years gone by disgraced Macao, to such an extent as to call for the intervention of the great Eu- ropean powers, and which, but for the prohibitive measures adopted by our Government both at home and in Hongkong, would soon make our little island the scorn and bye-word of civilised nations.

The

Wo learn that th Cable is interrupted.→

The steamship Oceanic the Cosmopolitan Dock last nig the British barque Carlotta was un German steamer Hesperia will dock at docked at Kowloon this morning. The the Cosmopolitan on Thursday.

As

showing strength of the sun at the present time, the extraordinary an instrument was placed in the sun's rays yesterday at Messrs. Falconer's, in the Queen's-road, and indicated during the afternoon 140 degrees of

heat,

Four inquests on dead bodies were opened yesterday before the Coroner first, a Chinaman, was found dead in a and the same jury in each case. The lane, and the enquiry was adjourned; in the second case, a boatman, aged 53, who appeared to have suffered from abscess of the lungs, the jury found "death from natural causes"; the third was that of a Chinese girl, who fell over from a sampan, and, not being able to swim, was drowned-verdict "accidental death"; and the fourth enquiry was adjourned for further evi- dence, as an opinion was expressed that the post mortem had exhibited signs of opium-poisoning.

We have no difficulty in under- standing that the head of the house of Jardine, Matheson & Co. has no sympathy with what Mr. Bulkeley Johnson terms, the economical here- sies of our Australian brother on the subject of the immigration of Chinese labour. How could it be otherwise? The traditional policy of this eminent firm has never run in this groove→→→ outside their own business. Australasia object to be ousted from a vantage ground which they occupy solely by the untiring labours of years, by hordes of a race different in caste and colour; aliens in every possible acceptation of the term; birds of passage perfectly useless for the future of such a country as Australias, besides being the repre- sentatives of the most exclusive Docs Mr. Bulkeley Johnson know country on the face of the globe--

In referring yesterday to the Tele- anything more about Chinese emi-and this Mr. Johnson sweepingly had been a good deal of hard swearing graph libel case, we remarked that there gration beyond the paying business denominates an economical heresy, it opens up to owners of steamships, a social antipathy. This appears a

throughout the case. It is morally cer- charterers, and a crowd of dealers in striking inconsistency when consi- Fraser-Smith, or Mr. De Souza delibe- tain that either Mr. Wicking, Mr. human beings ? It would appear dered in conjunction with the pogi-rately committed perjury. To refer to not. Has Mr. Bulkeley Johnson ever tion of the Chinese in Hongkong. one instance, Mr. Fraser-Sraith stated on seen hundreds, nay thousands of poor The Chinese are gradually edging the oath that Mr. Herbst of the well known Chinese, seduced from their native foreigners out of the colony. It is firm of Heuermann, Herbst and Co., lands by specious promises, under- likely enough that many of us at pre- Queen's Road, was in Do Souza's office going a life of slavery, a living death sent in Hongkong may live to see our

when Mr. Wicking came in on the oc. on the guano deposits off the Peru- entire active trade, banking and a cer-

casion of the celebrated interview, vian coast? Has he ever seen the tain portion of our commission busi- whereas Mr. Wicking deliberately same race working in gangs like ness excepted, in the hands of the swore, and repeated his oath, that Mr. slaves throughout the Republies of Chinese. In what spirit has this

Herbst was not there at all. One of these two statements must be false. South America? Has he ever seen Chinese invasion of our British de-

Not only was Mr. Herbst present when the treatment these patient sons of Han have had to endure in Cuba, and

Mr. Wicking came in, but he heard in the various parts of the Pacific

view. most of what took place at the inter- coast? Doubtless he never has. The whole extent of knowledge which the honourable member actually possesses is limited to the fact that these poor wretches, herded like sheep on board ship, are a remunerative speculation in Hongkong as a living freight, and on this shallow ground he ventures on statements and premises which are absolutely astounding. The re- ference to the revenue derived from the Opium Farm, and the re- diculous assertion that the prohibi- tion of Emigration to the Colonies would altogether stop this source of income, were too well answered by the Governor to require our atten- tion; and as we confess our inability to comprehend what the honourable member meant by "administrative hihilism," we are contented to leave him master of the situation.

pendency been accepted by the fo- reign community? We all know quite well, what has been said and done; but we do not remember any of our leading statesmen or The "no bounce" episode in the re- merchants having charged them-cent libel case was incorrectly reported selves, for persistently opposing Chi- in both our local contemporaries, al- nese aggression by all legitmate though the mistake was not altogether means with having encouraged eco-attributable to the reporters. The fol- nomical heresics, with being advocates of social antipathies. The Austra- lians are the best judges of what their own requirements are. They do not want the country to be over- run with Chinese, and they have taken measures to prevent what they consider an intolerable nuisance. This question surely concerns the Colonics for more than it can effect Hongkong, so that the futile pro- phecy of Mr. Johnson that the stop page of Chinese emigration to Aus- tralia would cripple trade and dimi- nish the number of steamers running, hardly goes for much, as the Austra- lians will scarcely care to abandon their own ideas and projects to oblige a few interested shipowners.

The duty we owe to the Imperial Government and to the Government of China, as well as to our Australian brethren, cannot be misunderstood. Governor Hennessy's admirable speech on the whole question should at once set him right with even his bitterest opponents, as he has already only followed noteworthy precedents, and in no single instance has he ex- ceeded his powers.

That some good

lowing is a correct report of what ac tually occurred. The witness (Mr. view in De Souza's office, said "Mr. Fraser-Smith) after relating the inter- Wicking thou left the office." The Judge, sotto voce and laughingly asked, “Are you sure you did not turn him out, Mr. Fraser-Smith? Witness:- "I felt inclined to." The witness then proceeded with his statement :-" Mr. Wicking was very pale" and was about to add and appeared much excited-whon the late Hon. T. C. Hayllar, QC,, with that graceful cour- tesy which afterwards so eminently characterised the two or three columns cf abusive and privileged "Billings....

which, for want of a better gate name, he denominated "a long ad. dress," bellowed out no bounce." How far he was justified in his vulgar

"

ttempt to attract attention our readers can now judge for themselves; but then Q.C.'s and learned barristers are privileged to coarsely insult and bully

witnesses-that is when the witnesses are simple enough to stand bullying without retaliation,

tant a portion of the vessel's earnings that cargo can be carried by emigrant ships on very cheap terms, and in We have no intention of following consequence a business in merchan- the example of the leader-writer in dise springs up which would other the China Mail by showering on Mr. wise be not possible. But more than Bulkeley Johnson a load of meaning this, a Chinaman, like an English- less, contemptible adulation, which man, carries his customs about with to a man of his character must be him, and his very wants in the simply sickening; but, although we country of his adoption lead to an are unable to concide with Mr. importation of produce from China Johnson's expressed views on this which has to be paid for by an ex- Can any one doubt that the action vexed Emigration question, we con-port to China of the products of taken by H.E. the Governor in stop sider it to be our duty to congratulate industry abroad. Reciprocal trade ping the emigration to the Hawaiian the honourable gentleman on the is like a passion which grows by Islands was absolutely called for? independent position he is evidently what it feeds on, and we have only Even Mr. Bulkeley Johnson admits prepared to maintain on all matters to study the figures of the rapidly that it is the duty of the Hawaiian likely to affect the present welfare increasing trade between this Colony Government to disprove the allega and future progress of this colony. and China and the countries in which tions which called for His Excellen- We have differed with Mr. Bulkeley Chinese settle to be satisfied of the cy's interference, and it is generally, Johnson on the Tramway proposals: trath of my statement. As an illus-known, and never has been disputed we are totally unable to endorse his tration of the value of the trade which opinions on Chinese emigration; arises between this Colony and the but we are honest enough and fair places to which Chinese emigrate, I enough to acknowledge that in both may remind the Council of the instances he has pleaded his cause revenue derived from the Opium powering eloquence could only lead will eventually accrue from the dis- Chiarini's circus, gave their first per- with rare ability, and with an evident Farm, amounting I believe to about desire to act honorably and liberally $200,000 annually. The main por- equally towards the Government of tion of the trade on which this this island and the general body of revenue is raised. is carried on with the community at large.

Australia and California, and if emi- After a careful perusal of Mr.gration to these countries were to Bulkeley Johnson's able speech, we cease the trade would cease also. In are forced to the conclusion that his fact the large proportion of our trade comparatively short sojourn in this is with these countries; it is stimu- colony has filled his mind with im-lated by the flow of yoluntary emi-ed up all doubts as to the legality of practicable theories, which a thorough gration, and I do not hesitate to say knowledge of his subject will even-that for the local Government to tually dispel. Again, it is apparent interfere vexatiously with that emi- that, as a member of a limited gration would be to adopt a policy autocracy, which since 1841 has little short of administrative nihilism. usually had its own way in every- I have taken no account in what I thing connected with the manage- have said of the enormous value to ment of the general business of this our mercantile marine of the Chinese colony, Mr. Johnson has attached a passenger traffic-this is obvious

excepting by interested parties, that the laws of this Colony had been recklessly set at nought,

course all Mr. Johnson's over-

to the Glamis Castle question, and emigration to the Australian Colonies, and with all due respect, we think the honourable gentleman was not in many respects-quite- so effective as he might have been. We have already had our say on the Glamis Custle question, and Go- vernor Hennessy has effectually clear-

his action in the matter, apparently to the chagrin of a large number of wealthy and enterprising monopolists, who for many years past have dis tinguished themselves by making a practice of identifying their personal interests with those of the Imperial Government. As Mr. Johnson ob- served, His Excellency had grave

cussion is an absolute certainty, and an authoritative expression of opinion from the Attorney-General as to the actual meaning or definition of a contract of service when applied to- this particular system of Chinese emigration, will at once dispel the many erroneous impressions and be liefs which undoubtedly exist.

The English and American Variety Combination Company, a troupe of acrobats and gymnasts recently with

night, and are probably the best in formance in the City Hall Theatre last their line that have appeared in this Colony for many years. The perfor

mance commenced with the comical not "The Giants," by the Walhalla

Brothers, and this was followed by some tail vaulting by Mr. John Smith, who threw himself over eight chairs placed in a row; this was child's play to this artist, and had he more room LOCAL AND GENERAL,

than the stage afforded he no doubt could have improved the number of The German steamer Hesperia, Cap-chairs by a dozen or so, so easily did tain G. Petersen, which arrived hero he take all there was room to put bo this morning from Honolulu, reports fore him. The most sensational part fine weather to 146" W., from thence of the programme was the trapèze act. to Bashes Channel experienced con- of Mr Joan Vorlottio, whose flight and stant gules from E. and S.W. with hoavy son; from thence to this port

fine weather,

return were very neatly executed, and his somersault in mid-air brought warm applause; the balancing act on a high