THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE QUEEN AND HER DIAMOND | crowded harbour, we have a striking illustra-
JUBILEE.
tion of the progress of the age. When Her Majesty ascended the Throne the island was little more than a barren rock, its scanty population consisting only of a few fishermen and farmers living in tiny hamlets. To-day the population numbers nearly a quarter of a million, the port ranks amongst the first of the world, all the elegancies and conveniences of European civilisation are here to be found, and the thriving colony affords to the Great Chinese Empire on the fringe of which it stands an object lesson in the advantages of a just Government and commercial freedom. But on this special day it is to Her Majesty in Her personal capacity that our thoughts turn, rather than to dissertations on the greatness of Her Empire. May She long live to enjoy the respect and affection of Her loving subjects and to draw still more closely those ties of national unity which She has done so much to establish and strengthen.
To-day the British Empire celebrates the completion of the sixtieth year of the longest and most glorious reign in Eng lish history. The many years of Queen VICTORIA's reign have been years of pro- gress in all departments of the national life, in politics, in commerce, in the arts and sciences, and in the social well-being of the people; and that Her Majesty may still long be spared to grace the Throne on which she has shed such lustre must be the fervent prayer of each and all of Her many millions of loyal subjects. The British Constitution is that of a strictly limited Monarchy, under which the occupant of the Throne reigns but does not govern, but the personal influence of a Sovereign possessed of strong individuality must none the less impress itself on the public mind and affect the currents of national thought and sentiment. In Queen VICTORIA'S case that influence has been exercised undeviatingly for good. Every movement for the social advance ment of Her people or for the alleviation of suffering and distress has had Her support, she has been an exempler of all the domestic virtues, the liberal arts and sciences have received Her fostering encouragement, and Her Court has been characterised by purity of life and culture of intellect. The beauty and loveliness of Her character have conquered all hearts and commanded the warm personal affection of Her subjects thoughout Her widespread dominions in the four quarters of the globe. In Her seasons of joy the nation has rejoiced with Her, and when the hand of affliction has been laid upon Her and She has had to mourn the death of husband or child Her people have sorrowed with Her as for a personal bereave- ment of their own. In affection for the Sovereign all parties and factions have united, around the Throne discord has been stilled, and Her Majesty has been the focus of all that is noblest and best in the nation. Her name will live in history not only as that of a good, but also as that of a great Queen, for though Her direct participation in determining the policy of the Empire has been limited She has by Her life and con- duct influenced in a remarkable degree the public mind, and has not only bound to herself the affections of the whole body of Her subjects, but has caused the flame of patriotism to burn steadily with an intensity that in previous periods of our history has seldom been equalled except spasmodically under the influence of war and great national emergencies. It would be ex- aggeration to attribute entirely to Her Majesty's influence the remarkable changes for the better that have taken place during the sixty years of Her reign, but where a frivolous or pleasure-loving nature might have opposed and obstructed the tendency for good, or at best have been apathetic towards it, Her Majesty has used all the influence of Her high position to foster and promote it. As the central figure of the glorious era that bears Her name, on this the day set apart for the celebration of Her Diamond Jubilee Her subjects are proud to yield Her the praise and glory so richly earned by Her queenly and womanly virtues. The occasion is one which will call forth from the ablest pens floods of historical summaries and statistical statements illustra- tive of the growth of the Empire, the increase in the national wealth, and the improvement in the general well-being that have taken place during the past sixty years, and here in Hongkong, the colony in which we reside, with its busy city and
But sorrow ever waits on joy, and in the Queen's mind as in that of Her subjects, the rejoicings of this day must be tinged with sincere regret that India, with its visitations of plague, famine, and earthquake, should be unable to join so completely in the festivities and outward manifestations of joy as would have been the case had the event fallen in a normal year; but the sympathy that has been shown towards the suffering millions and the ready and liberal response made to the appeals on behalf of the relief funds affords a most conspicuous illustration of the fact that the unity of Empire of which we speak is no mere form of words but a solid reality.
THE NEW FRANCO-CHINESE
CONVENTION.
The energy and activity of the Representa tive of the French Republic at Peking are certainly to be commended. It is undeni- able that M. GERARD has the interests of his country thoroughly at heart, and it is obvious that he does not intend to let slip a single opportunity for obtaining either real or fancied concessions for them in the Middle Kingdom. While the British Government have been engaged securing from China com- pensation for the injury done to British interests by the cession of a portion of the lately created buffer state in the Shan country between Burmah, Tonkin, and Yunnan, the French Minister, who has evidently kept himself fairly posted on what was going on, has been steadily at work endeavouring to wring from the Tsung-li Yamen for French citizens advant- ages corresponding to those which were demanded by the British Government. Another convention between France and China has, as a result of his efforts, been signed at Peking, which REUTER tells ns concedes to France fresh commercial and political advantages in the provinces border- ing Tonkin. It also "authorises the ex- "tension of the Kwangsi railways towards "the interior, which will allow France to penetrate Yunnan in the direction of "Yunnan-fu." Nor is this all. By a clause in the convention it is provided that "French engineers are permitted to work mines in the Chinese frontier provinces." It is rather difficult from this very brief summary of the concessions made to France to form a just appreciation of their real value. They may mean very much or very little. The Chinese Government undoubt edly intend them to prove illusory and valueless; the French may, by perseverance and some judicious bullying, contrive to
"
[July 1, 1897.
render them of some effect. The reference to the "Kwangsi railways" is reassuring to the minds of French engineers, no doubt, but as the Tonkin railways have first to reach the frontier from Langson, and are then to be made through a sparsely in- habited country-a-sort of Nowhere to Nowhere line-sanction being first obtained from the provincial Government and the necessary funds to be found by French capitalists on seemingly doubtful security,
may be many years before the projected line really reaches the interior of Kwangsi. Supposing, however, all initial difficulties surmounted and the iron horse snorting across Kwangsi, the extension into Yunnan would not prove either simple
or in- expensive. The country is wild, mount- ainous, and thinly peopled. The suppres sion successively of the Taiping and Mahomedan rebellions by the Imperial Government resulted in vast districts being wholly depopulated; and travellers describe what were formerly fertile valley's between the ranges as the abode of malaria, strewn only with the ruins of once thriving towns. It is true that Yunnan produces opium in large quantities, and that its copper mines are still very rich, while salt is abundant. The other mineral resources of the province are not inconsiderable, but there is an entire lack of enterprise among the natives, and the climate is in many districts very enervating and sickly. The permission accorded to French engineers to work mines in Kwangsi and Yunnan is no doubt meant in a Pickwickian sense by the man- darins, and would, if dependent on their complaisance, probably prove about as valuable as Article VII. of the Treaty of 1885, negotiated by M. PATENOTRE, which provided that China might have recourse to French industry when constructing railways. But if the Tsung-li Yamen regard the new treaty in the same- light, M. GERARD assuredly will not do so. In 1885 the Chinese bubble was not pricked, and M. PATENOTRE WAS glad to take a vague understanding where he could not extort a pledge. The new Convention is more explicit, and though the Chinese will find no difficulty in show- ing cause for interminable delay and ob- struction, the French Minister will never cease to insist upon the enforcement of the convention now he knows that by doing so his end can be attained. The concessions secured by the new Treaty will open the door to difficulties on the frontier and may pave the way for future conflict and possibly the ultimate annexation of Yunnan or a portion thereof. The Chinese Government have given certain rights and privileges to French citizens which they have hitherto steadfastly refused to all foreigners, and if they think that these will not be claimed or can at pleasure be denied they are reckoning without the host. '
THE LIGHT DUES QUESTION:
We do not know how the Light Dues Com- mission is proceeding with its inquiry, nor how the members regard the doctrine en- unciated by the officials, viz., that as the port exists for shipping the cost of govern ment should be borne by shipping, but we would venture to bring to their notice the decree by which port dues have just been abolished at Macao and the explana- tory note setting forth the reasons which have influenced the Government in taking that step. The decree, which is dated the 30th April last, contains provisions relating to other Portuguese possessions besides Macao, and is preceded by a long explana
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