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The Chinese Government can remove any official it chooses, and if it retains in power anti-foreign officials it must be held re- sponsible for their actions.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
August 15 1895.
away from fact, for many treatises have monster of a Government and try to wake been written against missionary effort, and it, shouting "Hi, there's somebody killed, amongst a community like that of Hong-" get up," the brute yawns, stretches itself, kong the feeling of the majority is decidedly and if the disturbance is severe enough may What is to be done, was a question asked opposed to the work. Our view in this part be induced to exert itself for a moment, and at yesterday's meeting. Strong and stern of the world is more immediately directed to then off it goes to sleep again, wishing measures were demanded, but the meeting China, and if it be admitted that there is foreigners and all their belongings were in did not proceed to discuss what these anything elevating and ennobling in hades. But it appears ridiculous to doubt its measures should be. But one thing stands Christianity, anything to make men's lives power. Over and over again the Government out very clearly, namely, that if the purer, to promote justice and mercy, then that was declared so impotent by some of the Peking Government is to be allowed to no country in the world stands more in speakers at Thursday's meeting has put continue in power and at the same time pro need of Christianity than China, a country down formidable rebellions. In the Taiping tection is to be secured for foreigners, the eaten up with greed and selfishness rebellion it was pretty nearly defeated and old gunboat policy must be revived and aud corruption and where the people was only saved by foreign assistance. But carried out more vigorously than ever without provocation can engage in such almost immediately following the Taiping before. Reparation for outrages must fiendish work as that of the Kucheng rebellion came the Mahommedan rebellion be exacted on the spot. To refer the massacre. Many, however, are to be found in Yunnan, which was suppressed by its cases to Peking for consideration is worse who do not believe that any regeneration of own exertious. That was followed by the than useless. When the cases get there, the country is likely to be effected by the work | Yinfei rebellion, which Wils likewise there they remain, and the whole in of the missionames, who impugn the sincerity suppressed, and then came Tso TSUNG- genuity of the Tsungli Yamen is expended of the converts that are made, and who cou-TANG's historic march across the Gobi in tergiversation and delay. It is imprac.demn the whole movement root and branch desert to retake Kashgaria, a difficult ticable to treat the Son of Heaven as a as a fruitful source of political trouble with-operation but successfully accomplished. friendly sovereign and at the same time to out any compensating advantages.
To say that a Government capable of send military expeditions to Peking to securo In view of such an outrage as that at Ku-feats of this kind is incapable of putting redress for every outrage, but it is quite cheng, however, all foreigners, whether down local auti-foreign movements is equiva- practicable and would be very effective to friendly to missions or not, unite in calling lent to saying that the greater does not in- send gunboats to the nearest accessible point | for swift and stern retri ution. not clude the less. Mr. JACKSON said that even to the actual scene of the outrages and because the victims were missionaries, but Western Governments had failed to put exact redress there. For the last twenty because they were foreigners. The occupa down secret societies, which is true enough, five years
we have been on the wrong tion of the victims is disregarded, but but Western Governments do not allow the tack. Pressure cannot be exerted on Pe- to allow the murder of foreigners to go un-Secret Societies to march out openly, with king direct, but it can be exerted very avenged it is felt would be to compromise banners flying and bands playing, armed effectively if applied through the provinces the safety of the whole of the foreign com- with swords and tridents, to slay women and by means of gunboats and small armed muuities in China. Whether it is wise that children. If, as reported by Archdeacon expeditions. It is true a gunboat could not missionaries should be allowed to go into the WOLFE, the Vegetarian Society at Kucheng well be sent to Chengtu, in Szechuen, but if interior or not, when they are there they has become too strong in numbers for the Ichang were occupied and the river blockaded must be protected. Thus it necessarily local military to control, it is owing to the above that point Szechuen would very soon
follows that the bible and the gunboat must supineness of the authorities in not checking be brought to reason. In the case of go together. Amongst missionaries them their excesses at the outset; and to deal Kucheng an expedition could reach the spot selves there are some few who deprecate the with the Society as it stands at present it without difficulty and exact reparation. The
use of force, who are prepared to lay down would be a simple matter to move up troops. case of Fatshan, too, presents no difficulty. their lives if necessary, and who, if they from elsewhere. What China suffers from is But in every case the officials ought to could be consulted, would earnestly condemn sloth and pride. She has plenty of strength - be made to feel the lash more severely any expedition, to secure atonement for their but is too lazy to use it except under pres- than their tools the common people. Mr. murder. Some well wishers of the work sure of the very gravest emergencies, and FRANCIS at yesterday's meeting spoke of the entertain similar views, and a correspondent she is too proud to admit or even to re- necessity of taking guarantees for the due whose letter appears in another coluum cognise that her system of administration execution of any sentence passed upon an
suggests that the use of military power in stands in need of reform. A revival of the official for failure in affording ade- connection with missions compromises the gunboat policy would be the best means that quate protection to foreigners. No better whole object of the institution. "If," could be adopted to bring her to her senses guarantee could be secured than the says our correspondent," on the murder and set her on the right course. Under firm person of the offender; let him be locked "of a missionary another were to take pressure the Government will develop plenty up in an English gaol for safe keeping, and "his place, and on his murder another, and of ability to do all that is required of it. not only will we have a guarantee that the "if so on the breach were ever filled by a sentence will be duly executed, but every "fresh zealot, the Chinese might learn to official throughout the length and breadth of the land will be particularly anxious to avoid ineurring a similar punish.nent. The effect would be more salutary than the chop- ping off of any number of heads.
respect and to listen to the message of such "brave gospellers, but if, on the contrary, "they learn to regard the missionary as the "forerunner of the gunboat they are scarcely "likely to heed his preaching." There can be no doubt, we think, that if that policy were adopted the cause of Christianity in China. would in the long run make more progress, But we are not concerned with the chris- tianization of the Chinese, but with the protection of foreigners, and the whole foreign community is injured by any wrong done to one of its members, whether he be a missionary or a merchant. It is impossible for the missionary to divest himself of his foreigu nationality, and as a foreigner he must be protected.
THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK DIVIDEND.
Shanghai Banking Corporation on Saturday At the meeting of the Hongkong and Mr. SHEWAN, speaking with reference to the amount of dividend paid, said that bona Phad not been given all their money to fide investors "would be glad to think they
BOATS. MISSIONARIES AND GUNBOATS. It was the late Bishop MAGEE, we think, who said that it would be impossible to conduct the affairs of the world according to a literal interpretation of the teachings of the New Testament.. According to our modern conception, if a man steals our cloak it is neither right nor politic to give him our coat also, which would be compounding a felony; rather should we take the thief, be- fore Mr. WODEHOUSE to be dealt with according to his deserts. Is the command to preach the gospel to all creatures to be THE ABILITY OF THE CHINESE GO. Bank admits of very high compliment, but
VERNMENT TO PREVENT RIOTS.
spend as they liked, and would rest con- **tent in the knowledge that the balance was "in the bands of a man who knows far "better than they do how to invest it "for them." This expression of opinion few will be found was greeted with applause, but
on consideration to give it their assent. The applause was given on account-of the implied compliment to Mr. JACKSON, whose management of the
very *
the statement that Mr. JACKSON knows regarded as equally non-binding ? Many
better how to invest the shareholders' money professing Christians seem to think so, Is the Chinese Government unable to for them than they do themselves is not though if they correctly described prevent riots and suppress the movements correct. The Bank's investments yield from themselves they might probably be more that lead to anti-foreign disturbances ? two and a half to three per cent., being all accurately classed as Agnostics. When Not at all. It is not inability but indifference made, very properly, in first class sterling the Bishop said at Thursday's meeting that and corruption that cause the trouble. securities, but in the Far East money can be he did not think there was anyone who Where there is not an actively hostile feeling more profitably employed, and an invest- would sit down to write against the propaga in high places towards foreigners there is ment is regarded as a very poor one that tion of Christianity in all the world His the most complete and absolute indifference. does not return at least six per cent. The Lordship must have allowed the current When an outrage occurs and the Foreign directors of the Bank have, we think, of his thoughts momentarily to carry him Ministers begin to kick the great lumbering exercised a wise discretion in not paying a
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