The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1895-02-14 — Page 4

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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

"Fine for offences against secs. 58 to 69."tinople in 1829, had he wished to do so, but he It seeins impossible that the penalties can refrained on grounds of policy; and prior to be intended to apply to sections 54, 55, and the outbreak of the Crimean war the Em- 36, which authorise the Public Works De-peror in conversation with the British Minis. partment to take down dangerous buildings ter said: If an Emperor of Russia should at the owner's cost in cases where the owner “one day chance to conquer Constan" cannot be found or neglects to render his “ tinople, or should find himself forced to property safe himself. The only person

occupy it permanently, and fortify it who could offend against section 56 is the "with a view to making it impregnable, Director of Public Works and it can hardly" from that day would date the decline of have been the intention of the Government “ Russia. If I did not transfer my residence that that official should be dealt with in the" to the Bosphoras, my son, or at least my way that Messrs, BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE" grandson, would. The change would have been dealt with.

certainly be made sooner or later; for the

RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

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暮暮

[February 14, 1895,

"be entitled to a vote for the Imperial Par- "liament if residing in the United Kingdom. "Indeed many of us are householders and therefore voters in the United Kingdom, having to keep up two establishments, one at home and one here. Much less then should foreigners, who amount to one- third of the nominating body as at present constituted, have a preference over us "in political matters." They claim the "inalienable right of Britons to contri "bute to their own Government" and, that British subjects resident for twelve months previously within the Settlement Bosphorus is * warmer, more agreeable, and being members of the following asso-

LO

In the

"more beautiful thau Petersburg or ciations might be added to the present po- "Moscow; and if once the Czar were to takeminating body with advantage to tho com- The January number of the Contemporary up his abode at Constantinople, Russia munity-Members of the Bar of the Straits Review contains a paper by Canon MACCOLL" would cease to be Russia. No Russian Settlements, members of the medical profes- on Russia and England, in which the writer" would like that. There is not a Russiansion who have taken their degrees in the seeks to show that the two countries have who would not like a Christian crusade for United Kingdom, Masters of Arts and no opposing interests, that a Russian inva-the delivery of the Mosque of St. Sophia; Bachelors of Arts who have taken their sion of India would be opposed to Russia's "I should like it as much as any. But degrees at any of the Universities in the self-interest, that the fear of such a design|« nobody would like to see the Kremlin United Kingdom, members and associates of is simply a political_nightmare, and that transported to the Seven Towns." | the Institute of Civil Engineers, members Russia does not even desire the possession of This, says Canon MACCOLL, has been the and associates of the Institute of Mechanical Constantinople, which would also be opposed settled policy of Russia, as expounded by Engineers, members of the Penang and Pro- to her self-interest. We may perhaps her leading statesmen and newspapers, from vince Wellesley Planters' Association, mem- accept the Canon's conclusions, but the the time of NICHOLAS to our own. But, bers and associates of the Engineers' Institute arguments on which they are founded do not he ‘adds, there is one argument against of Penang, and members and associates of the appear very convincing. It might have been Russia's possession of Constantinople which Penang Marine Association. The sugges- predicated of almost every great conqueror readers all other arguments superfluous, in- tion appears worthy of consideration, not that his designs were opposed to his coun-asmuch as it is decisive-the argument of only as regards Penang, but this colony also, try's interest, as the result has generally impossibility in the present condition of the so far as regards the principle involved. proved them to be, but such designs have political world. If England gave Russia carte Whether a wider constituency would result nevertheless been carried into effect. A war-blanche to occupy Constantinople there are at in the selection of better representatives like and ambitious Czar, desirous of military least two great Powers and several small ones | may perhaps be doubted, for hitherto the glory, might not take the same view of Rus- which would step immediately to the front number of candidates who have offered Bia's self interest that Canon MACCOLL does and put a veto on such acquisition. The themselves for election has been very limited and might make light of the difficulties that Powers he refers to are Germany and Aus- and the probability is that even had the elect to the Canon seem so insuperable. It is tria, Roumania, Bulgaria, and Servia, and ing bodies been differently constituted pre- necessary that Russian policy should be we have, in fact, been all these years cisely the same men would have been se narrowly watched by England, for Russian foolishly pulling the chestnuts out of the lected as members of the Legislative Council. aggrandisement means the closing of ports fire for other people to our own serious That, however, is merely a matter of specula- and the shutting out of English trade, and of risk and damage.” But when Canon Mac- tion; it might happen at some period of the the earth hunger of Russia history affords COLL goes on to speak of Russia in the role colony's future history that the community only too conclusive proof. Nevertheless it is of deliverer of oppressed nationalities we might be divided on a question of principle desirable that cordial relations between the cannot but recall the persecutions of which and that candidates representing opposite two countries should be cultivated. England Russia has herself been guilty. the bitter sides might present themselves. must be prepared to protect her own territory oppression of the Poles, the Jews, the Roman contested elections that have hitherto and her own interests without relying on Catholics, and the various dissenting sects. taken place, whether by the Chamber of Russian promises complaisance, but, her So long as this policy of persecution con- Commerce or the Bench of Justices, own position being man secure, it will be tunes there can be little real cordiality on the the matter has been decided by the sound policy to abstain from unnecessary part of the liberty loving people of England personal qualifications of the candidates, no terference with Russia in the extension and towards the Russian nation, There seems division on a question of principle having development of her empire. As Canon MAC-some hope, however, that the new Czar, with arisen. Should public opinion on any grave COLL SAYS,

"Russia is bound to find a free out abandoning his autocratic power, intends question ever become sharply divided, how- outlet to the sea, and if she is forbidden it to accord more liberty of conscience than has ever, we must suppose, if there is any truth at the Dardanelles, she will take it in the hitherto prevailed in his dominious. And at all in the doctrine of government by ma- Persian Gulf. For my part I see noin any case Russian rule, however defective, jorities, that the man best qualified to ad- objection, from the point of view of British is superior to that of the Turk. As to the vise the Governor would be the one who interests, to her having it in both places.general relations to be maintained between commanded the confidence and support. Granting that Russia can have no possible England and Russia, our policy should be, of the larger part of the community. motive for troubling us in India or else- while not neglecting the efficient protection Under any circumstances it seems where, if we do not wantonly frustrate of our own interests, to avoid, as far as pos. anomaly that the selection of members to fill "her legitimate aspirations by foolishly sible, all interference with those of Russia. the seats in the Legislative Council to which

fighting the battles of other people, the

appointments are not made by the Govern- ment directly should be entrusted to bodies which are themselves only to a limited

jex- tent representative. Most of the members of the Chamber of Commerce are also Justices of the Peace and so have the opportunity of vot- ing in both capacities, while professional men who do not happen to be Justices of the Peace have for the most part no opportunity of voting at all. Lawyers, doctors, architects, and engineers do not as a rule join the Chamber of Commerce and they are not all included in the list of Justices of body referred to is of course the Chamber the Peace, solicitors in fact being ineligible of Commerce. The signatories to the letter for appointment as Justices, while retail It is interesting to note what Canon are apparently not themselves members of trade is almost entirely unrepresented.. MACCOLL has to say about Constantinople. the Chamber, and they urge that they are Some change, therefore, would seem desir- Nine out of ten Englishmen regard the entitled to representation. "We hold," they able, but instead of increasing the number Sultar's capital as the goal of Russian au- say, "that no member of the Chamber should of Societies or Associations that may take bition. Nothing of the sort, holds the Canon," have a preference over us, the under-part in the election, as suggested by the and he says there is no doubt the Emperor signed, in selecting a nominee for the ap- Penang paper, it would be better, we think, NICHOLAS might have occupied Constan- "proval of the Government, as we would all to make the constituency the same as tha

THE ELECTION OF A MEMBER OF COUNCIL BY THE CHAMBER

OF COMMERCE.

Russian fleets in the Indian Ocean and the "Mediterranean Sea would have every induce. "ment to cultivate the friendship, none to "provoke the hostility, of the fleets of Eng- "land." By endeavouring to keep Russia shut in from the sea England only culti vates the ill-will of that country and adds to A representation has been made to the the danger of the dogs of war breaking loose. Governor of the Straits Settlements by a The rapprochement which has taken place number of Penang residents concerning what within the last few months must from every is termed the unrepresentative nature of the point of view be regarded with satisfaction cody which in that Settlement now nominates and that it may continue premanently a member of the Legislative Council. The must be the fervent hope of every lover of peace.

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