June 12, 1895.|
SPAIN AND JAPAN.
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war to convoy them thither. The Spaniardslerce the Manila Government should wastefully, and a committee of experts
THE TAIPINGSHAN RECONSTRUC. TION SCHEME.
▲ POINT OF PROCEDURE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. [develop the resources of Formosa and to in the district will be valuable and will no solve some troublesome questions connected doubt be appreciated, but if patchwork Russia is not the only Power that has with its administration to wish to pick a would have sufficiently served the purpose. viewed the rise of Japan into the position of quarrel with Spain. But though there is it ought to have been adopted, for the colony a great nation with concern and secret ap-little danger to be apprehended of Japan is not in a position to spend large sums of prehension. By the acquisition of Formosa, assuming an aggressive attitude towards the money unnecessarily. It is difficult to Japan has now become a near neighbour to Philippines it is quite probable the latter understand what objection there could havej Spain, whose splendid but ill governed will bye and bye find in Formosa a been to the appointment of a committes of possession of the Philippines forms almost a rival in some of the products for which experts to consider the question
Such a continnation from Formosa of the lengthened the Philippines have been famous. The soil committee could have made its report within island chain commencing with the Kuriles of the Beautiful Island is extremely fertile, a fortnight, so that the importance of avoid- in the north and running down right into and in the hands of the Japanese is pretty ing delay could hardly be urged in opposi- the Java Se. When Japan, in the vigour certain to be better utilised than has been tion to it, and the objection would seem to of her strength, smote and crippled the huge, the case hitlierto. The Spanish owners of have rested simply on the natural aversion inert Chinese Empire, reducing her to a the Philippines will do well not only to to the submission of governmental schemes quivering mass of pulp, there were not want encourage and foster the cultivation of to public consideration. Even from the ing observers of the deadly game who were sugar, hemp, tobacco, and other products, point of view of those who favour total de- ready to draw a contrast between the youth but also to reduce the heavy tariff and molition a committee might have proved use- ful, lusty energy of the Empire of the Ris-revise their most odious Customs regula-ful, for it is said that in Mr. COOPER's scheme ing Sun and the decadent languor of priest- tions, which seem to have been specially de- a too liberal allowance is made for streets ridden Spain, and to hint how comparatively vised in order to catch unwary shipowners and lanes, involving an unnecessary sacrifice simple a task it would be for Japan to invade and masters tripping with a view to plunder of valuable land. If total reconstruction is and take possession of the Philippines. them. Numerous reforms are needed in the to be carried out we would not be disposed Under existing circumstances what, indeed, administration in the Philippines, and with to argue in favour of adopting a parsimonious could be easier than for Japan to throw a pushing, enterprising, and civilising neigh-policy in fixing the width of the streets, thirty thousand troops into Luzon? She bour such as Japan ready to compete in but an estate may be cut up economically or has the transports and she has the men-of-
no time in setting their house in order. might have lent valuable assistance to the have no fleet in Asia that could effectively There are many matters in which the Spanish Government in determining how much land oppose the Japanese fleet, and their army in Government could gather hints from Japan should be devoted to streets and how much the Philippines is not large. The military with much advantage, and notably is this to building purposes, in what directions the forces of all arms in the group only num-the case with regard to customs regulations, streets should run, and the class of houses ber about 12,000 men, of whom nearly which are so onerous and vexatious as greatly to be provided for. 4,000 are natives. Two first-class cruisers, to check the growth of trade in the Philip- the Reina Cristina and the Castilla, and pines. three third-class cruisers form the prin- cipal vessels of the squadron. There are numerous gunboats, but they are chiefly
It would conduce to the better conduct of small craft, more adapted for the preserva-
the business of the Legislative Council if tion of order among the islands than to The Legislative Council on Thursday the official members had some knowledge repel a foreign foe. No doubt a considerable adopted the report of the Public Works of parliamentary procedure. At the meet- volunteer force could be formed, and the Committee with reference to the reconstruc- ing on Thursday the Hon. E. R. BELILIOS port of Manila would be protected by tor-tion of Taipingshan, the report being a moved an amendment to the motion for the pedoes, but the defences would hardly avail simple recommendation that the scheme of adoption of the report of the Public Works to long keep at bay the victors of Port the Director of Public Works be carried out. Committee on the subject of the recon- Arthur and Weihaiwei, with their large The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, himself a member struction of Taipingshan. The amendment fleet and numerous transports.
of the Public Works Committee, was the was not seconded, and therefore was not open It is true that Spain has at the moment only dissentient. The hon. gentleman sug- to debate, one of the standing orders of the "The mover '> of any probably a larger fleet than Japan, but it is gested as an alternative that a committee be Council being that doubtful whether she could send the vessels appointed, representative of the community,
"motion or amendment may speak in sup- out in time to avert defeat at sea. She to associate themselves with the Director of port thereof; but no further debate shall possesses one fine battleship, the Belayo, a Public Works and conjointly give a report on "be allowed, whether the Council be in Tessel of 9,900 tons, and has six fast the best means of dealing with the property. "Committee or not, until the motion or and powerful steel cruisers of 7.000 tons It is possible such a committee might have "amendment be duly seconded." In de- each, but some of these are, we believe, still approved of Mr. COOPER's scheme, or, on fiance of this rule the Director of Public uncompleted, and with the exception of two the other hand, it might have suggested Works was permitted to reply to Mr. BELI- LIJS. A little relaxation of a rule of that or three other large cruisers the remaining an alternative scheme which would have forty-two vessels of her fleet consist largely proved less expensive to the colony and kind is, however, advisable at times, and of small gunboats. On the other hand the would at the same time have sufficiently no exception can be taken to its relaxation Japanese Navy is destitute of large battle-satisfied all sanitary requirements. The on the present occasion. But while in- was allowed, and wo think ships with the exception of the Chen-yuen cap-committee could have done no harm and dulgence tured from the Chinese. But Japan has ves- might have done much good. The Govern- rightly allowed, to an official member, this sels on the stocks, and in a very short time willment, however, did not want such a com- was immediately followed by a gross be quite abreast of Spain as regards ships.ittee, nor did the unofficial members, injustice to an unofficial member. It is pro- Her population is considerably more than with the exception of Mr. BELILIOS himself, vided in the standing orders that although double that of Spain and her fighting power and the amendment found no seconder. a member may not speak more than once on therefore greater, while Spain has the dis- The Public Works Committee, it may be any question " any member may explain advantage of being about ten thousand mentioned, consists of the Director of Public himself if he has been misapprehended in miles from the possible scene of action. Works, Hon. C. P. CHATER, Hon. E. R. any essential statement." Mr. BELILIOS That the change in the political situation BELILIOS, and Hon. A. MCCONACHIE. Mr. rose for that purpose, after Mr. COOPER had has not passed unobserved at Madrid we CHATER was originally of opinion that spoken, but was at once met by a declaration have proof in the fact that the Spanish total demolition was unnecessary, and that by the Acting Attorney-General that "the Government have ordered out to the Philip-oginin was shared by Mr. MCCONACHIE, "hon. member was quite out of order." It pines one or two additional cruisers and but both gentlemen have been converted to might have been thought that the Governor, have sanctioned the enrolment of another Mr. COOPER's views. On the other hand, with his long experience, would have been in native regiment. At the same time they have Mr. BELILIOS, who orginally favoured total a position to decide a point of order for him- declared themselves satisfied of the pacific demolition, is now of opinion that such a self, but His Excellency did not overrule and even friendly disposition of Japan, and drastic measure is unnecessary. Under these the Acting Attorney-General, and so Mr. it has been stated that the Japanese Recitcumstances it would have been satisfactory BELILIOS was not allowed to explain himself. presentative at Madrid hastened to offer if an independent committee of gentlemen Quibbles might of course be raised as to Rasurances of his Government's peaceful dis.fully conversant with property had been ap- what constitutes an explanation and what position. For our part we feel confident that pointed to consider and report upon the should be considered misapprehension in an at no time has the Japanese Government matter. There is no doubt that, as Mr. CHATER essential statement, but if the case had been ever entertained the aggressive designs so expressed it, Mr. COOPER'S Scheme will confer less clear than it was it would have been freely amputed to it by certain writers, upon the city a new district properly laid out | more gracious had the Government given who have been far more anxious to create and open to light and air, while any other the benefit of the doubt to the minority a sensation than to point out a real practical | scheme could only have been of the nature of of one and allowed him to make bis danger. Japan Will have enough to do to patchwork. The improvement to be effected | éxplanation ever-if not strictly in order,
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