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September 29, 1897.]
at rest. The balancing movement in face of heavy winds is much less than that of a boat in calm water, much less than in a well made carriage in the street or in a railway car. On the other hand, the most violent tempests, and they are violent enough in the Bay of Biscay, do not provoke any interfering movements On.. the superior platform, the rigidity of which may be compared to that of a fixed bridge of the same span. The Nervion bridge has been open to public traffic since 28th July, 1893. The points of embarkation and debarkation are made level with the road- way. In conclusion M. CHOLLET says
It is needless to dwell any longer on the considerable advantages that will accrue "here from the realization of such a work. Pootung will then rapidly extend; Shang- hai, now too congested, will extend to the left bank of the Whangpoo. It should be easy to provide the pylones of the bridge "with essentials in order to give access to "the superior platform, where a magnificent promenade may be established from which people will enjoy an incomparable panorama. It is certain that the realiza- "Lion of this project would rally the suffrages of every inhabitant of Shanghai "without any distinction of nationality and "that the erection of a bridge 'à trans- "bordeur' uniting Pootung with the left side of the Whampoo should mark a "memorable epoch in the history of Shang- 'hai.” 4 The subject has not much immedi- ate concern for us in Hongkong at present, but in a few years hence, after the rectification of the frontier and when the slopes of Mirs Bay shall have become the favourite residen- tial area for the European community, the feasibility of providing some means of communication across the Lyeemoon Pass which would enable residents to drive direct from their house to their office may possibly present itself for consideration. In the meantime, if the Shanghai community should adopt M. CHOLLET'S scheme, the carrying out of the undertaking will be watched with considerable interest.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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"her fingers at her. Finally, in Formosa "she has not proved her administrative capacity, or succeeded in bringing the "island completely under subjection. Turn- ing again to domestic affairs, the finances are found to be in disorder, and the devel- opment of industrial enterprises is checked "by want of capital." As the Hochi says, this is a discouraging outlook, but none the less it bids its countrymen not to lose heart. This is certainly the right spirit in which to take things: first to recognise mistakes and grasp the real situation; then to set to work to improve it. Japan has been start- ing off to run when she was only able to walk with safety. She has been waxing ar- rogant towards the Western Powers when she should have been conciliatory. Such an attitude would not have been irreconcil- able with the maintenance of the modest dignity of the victor in a great conflict, and it would have retained for Japan the con- fidence of the West. This has undoubtedly been estranged to a considerable extent by the high handed attitude adopted on several occasions by the Japanese Government. Steps like the offering of a bounty on silk ex- ported direct by Japanese--a measure in- tended to take the business made by European merchants out of their hands by a stroke- gave the French reason for dissatisfaction and made the Austrian Government pause over the conclusion of their proposed new Treaty. It is quite possible that by such acts as this
showing the cloven foot-Japan has her self deferred the completion of the work of treaty revision for some years. Confidence is a plant of slow growth, and once destroyed, it is a tedious work to coax it into new life. The little side peeps afforded through the columns of the Japanese native press into Japanese ambitions have also served to, arouse the distrust of Hawaii and of the United States. The great influx of Japanese immigrants into the island until they threatened to out-number all other races combined, when taken in conjunction. with the vapourings of some Japanese papers, not unnaturally caused some mis- giving to the Hawaiian legislators and even stirred the United States Government to Inflated as the Japanese nation unques- action foreign to the constitution of the tionably are by the decisive triumph of their Republic. Had the Japanese pursued their arms over China, and swollen as many of old steady course, no alarm would have their journalists are with consequent pride been raised, and the question would probably and importance, there are not wanting in never have arisen It is right for Japan to the island Empire men who realise that this be prepared for her own defence; it is self importance may be grievously exag- reasonable that she should form a strong gerated, and national growth more than Navy; and it is only fair that she should balanced by increase of national responsibili-be credited with the progress she has made. ties. Among others the Hochi Shimbun has been administering a wholesome douche to those who seem to imagine that Japan has bounded at a stride to the position of a first- class Power. Contrasting the facts of Ja- pan's situation with the aspirations she en- tertained at the close of the recent war with China, the above named journal says:- "She imagined then that she had made for herself a name and established a title to the world's consideration, but her record at present does not bear out that idea. "In Korea, her influence has waned, and the "fruits of her victory have slipped from her grasp. In China, she has made a fine treaty, but the profits of its privileges are likely to be enjoyed by others. In Europe, the French scem disposed to "recede from the treaty already concluded "by them, and Austria-Hungary is raising "all kinds of difficulties. In America, pro “hibitive rates are imposed on articles of Japanese manufacture, and the annexation "of the Sandwich Islands without regard to her conventionally acquired interests is contemplated. Even little Hawaii snaps
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JAPANESE VANITY.
But it is a mistake for the Japanese to suppose that, because they have beaten China, they are now capable of dealing with Western Powers on equal terms. They have yet much to learn before, even in material matters they will be on a par with the great Powers of the West, and they will do well to take the warning of the Hochi Shimbun before they become involved in any outside difficulties. The Tokyo Govern- ment have quite enough to do to adjust the currency-which they have just changed for a gold one-and attend to the work of internal administration, to say nothing of solving the problem of how to deal with Formosa, without becoming entangled in a dispute with a foreign Power.
authorities have been informed of the discovery, The Foochow Arsenal and Naval Dockyard by a prospecting expedition sent out by them into Chunchou prefecture, of rich coal and galena deposits in the Anch'i district of that prefecture. The coal deposits are said to con- tain sufficient to provide fuel for the Arsenal for at least fifty years.-N. C. Daily News.
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THE UNITED STATES AND THE CUBAN WAR.
The patience of the United States in con- nection with the civil war in Cuba is evidently evaporating. What is practically an ultimatum to Spain has been given by Mr. WOODFORD, the United States Minister at Madrid. The American Representative, in an interview with the Spanish Foreign Minister, informed him (we are told by Reuter) courteously but firmly that if the war in Cuba was not finished by the end of October the United States Government would consider themselves justified in taking measures for securing the independ- ence of the island. This may seem short notice, but as a matter of fact the American Government have shown'no little considera- tion for Spain and exercised considerable restraint over legislators, the Press, and public opinion in the States. So far back as February, 1896, the Washington Senate passed a resolution recognising the Cuban insurgents as belligerents, and in April following the House of Representatives, by a large majority, approved the resolution. There was great excitement in Spain, where the organs of public opinion declared that war with America would be preferable to submitting to foreign interference. How- ever, matters calmed down in Spain, and President CLEVELAND, on his part, assumed for the nonce a position of masterly in- activity, neither approving nor disapproving the Senate's resolution. In December last, however, the Senate and the Committee of Foreign Relations adopted a joint resolution requiring President CLEVELAND to recog- nize the autonomy of Cuba. Again a fresh storm of recriminations broke out, and threats of hostilities were made in both countries, but the President with the aid of Secretary OLNEY tided it over, and the excitement of the Presidential election quickly supervening removed the question for the time from the region of practical politics. But it is a matter that cannot be long ignored, for the relations between the United States and Cuba are naturally in- timate owing to the republic being the chief market for the productions of the Pearl of the Antilles, and. to the geographical situation of the island, in close vicinity to the American coast. The sympathy felt for the Cuban insurgents in the United States is also very great. They have been sadly misgoverned, and while fighting for free- dom from tyranny, have shown, by the great sacrifices made, and by the gallant struggle maintained so long against the whole might of Spain, an invincible deter- mination to win their independence at all costs. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that Spain has made enormous sacri- fices to bring back her colony to subjection. She has sent, at different times, upwards of 150,000 troops to Cuba, sufficient, one would think, to reconquer a much larger Kingdom than Cuba, and has made several changes in the command, but the Cubans still hold out, and outside the towns they command most of the country. In December last Senor CANO- VAS stated that Spain would rather succumb than yield independence to Cuba, but was willing to grant her an autonomous admin- istration provided the rebels would first lay down their arms. These terms were not accepted, however; fighting has gone on ever obtained some important successes. The since, and latterly the insurgents have
ultimatum given to Spain by the United States will put fresh heart into the rebels it will also spur the Spanish Government on to fresh and supreme efforts to stamp out resistance, so as to deprive the Washington
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