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sequences. The Tariff Bill has been tried, it is found wanting; but when the next election takes place it will be seen that it has exerted a most potent influence upon the future policy of the Democrats and materially strengthened the free silver platform. Then the promises of President McKinley's Cabinet will be assessed at their true value-even if they are not already fully appreciated by the moderate silver men, who were only induced to record their votes on the distinct understanding that the Cabinet would arrange for an international agreement on the Silver Question. We hope, therefore, to be in a position to deal with this question when the time shall come, fully prepared to speak those things which we know and to testify of that which we have seen; hence our visit to Peking. Returning to the Tariff Bill, we were convinced before we left the United States, and have been greatly strength- ened in our belief since we were in Japan, of the folly of the Bill, as exemplified even in the taxing of straw braid, silk, tea, matting and other peculiarly Eastern manufactures and pro- ducts; and all wo have seen in China has only added to our objections to the measure as a specific for the ailment under treatment. We visited the Ming Tombs and also the Great Wall; we saw what China had been, we are convinced what she may yet be if she now seizes this her latest golden" opportunity placed before her by the adoption of the gold standard by Japan.
While at Peking and thereabouts, we saw something of railway construction and equip ment, and can thoroughly congratulate our Chinese friends on the excellence of their judgment in that now they have at last decided to have railways they are profiting by the experience and experiments of the past, and are going to run their railways on the most approved modern principles.
"We leave here for Hankow in a couple of days, but Senator Cannon returns to the United States direct from here. On returning from Hankow, Senator Dubois and myself will re- sume our investigations in Japan.”—Mercury,
RUSSIAN PROGRESS IN MAN- CHURIA.
KIRIN, A RUSSIAN GARRISON TOWN,
That Northern Manchuria is falling fast into the hands of Russia is ouly too evident to any- one who may have recently travelled through that part of China. The advance guard of some thirty Russian officers and men arrived in Kirin in Russian buggies and Chinese carts at the end of August, since which date they con- tinue turning up in fives and sixes, thus rapidly transforming the Chinese provincial capital into a Russian garrison town. They are quartered in the different large hotels in the city and they have come to stay, as their wives are on the way to join them. They say it is on account of the railway that they come so far south. but according to the latest survey the line is to run from near Poltavy and pass throngh the cities of Ninguta and Patuna and will not touch Kirin at all, in fact the nearest point will be some 800 li off. This line, known as the Chinese Eastern Railway (after all what's in a name!), was officially commenced on the 28th August at Stanista, in the presence of Governor-General Soubotisch and Chinese mandarin Tai, together with Russian and Chinese local officials. The money for the undertaking is all found by the Russians. They have a very good excuse for bringing troops into the country, for some two months ago a small party of Russians crossed the border and one was killed by a shot from a Chinese robber, so they intimated to the officials that if they could not protect their guests then the necessary steps would be taken by the Russians themselves, which at present are being carried out to the extreme. The smarter Chinese are studying the Russian language as hard as possible; they foresee the near future. The school opened in Kirin is crowded; the teachers are Chinese who have resided many years in Siberia and are said to speak Russian well. Every foreigner who turns up in any of the big cities is at once put down as a Russian; frequently he will be addressed in this tongue by a celestial who wishes to show his ability. Some Russian mer-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
chants brought goods to Kirin in steam launches via the Amur and Songari rivers. The Go- vernor-General at once prohibited the landing of the cargo on the plea that Kirin was not a treaty port. A wire was at once sent to Vladivostock and in a few weeks a high Russian general arrived in another launch, anchored off the Governor-General's yamen and demanded that the Russian merchandise be landed and sold without any interference. It is needless to say the Chinese official had to "climb down." The Russians are all over the country, making sketches and taking ob- servations just wherever they please; they are thus busily engaged in the outskirts of Kirin. It is well to note that a high British official, a soldier, has found it convenient to spend a few month's holiday in this particularly interesting | (at present) part of China.
ROBBERS.
fOctober 7, 1897.
NEWCHWANG, Three months have made a great change in the appearance of this place; the fine hospital is nearly completed and the assembly rooms are in the same stage. An iron wind-mill for grinding wheat and sawing purposes, imported from America by an old resident, also helps to improve this desolate port. besides giving the Chinese a good deal of amusement. On the night of the 23rd a terrific north wind swept over Newchwang, such as has not been known for many years, damaging property to a considerable extent. Some hundred feet of brick wall, enclosing Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s compound. facing the river, were razed to the ground. Huge trees were uprooted, and in the river beau-boats were capsized. The next morning's daylight showed only too plainly what havoc had been wrought in the short space of a few hours. The little settlement was covered with debris from trees and houses. Strong iron burs were bent out of shape by the wind. The wild geese and duck were evidently startled by the storm for they could be seen in thousands during the forenoon, going in all directions.-China Gazelle correspondent.
MACAQ.
| FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.j
Macao, 1st October. As I mentioned some time ago, the Govern- ment voted the sum of $7,500 for the dredging of the harbour, and this sum is now being ex- pended, or rather thrown away. The dredger at first was set to work near the steamer wharves, but about a month ago was trans-
ferred to the entrance of the inner har-
The further North one goes the more dis. turbed seems the country. The people are poor, and therefore turn their bands to robbery and brigandage, although there are decidedly traces of rebellion as well. These bandits are well armed with rifles and swords and are generally mounted; but whence they are supplied with ammunition, &c., is a mystery. Abore five months ago, the Russians sent a cart contain- ing 1,200 taols of silver to Kirin under escort of five armed representatives of a Chinese insurance or guarantee company. Robbers were encountered and the whole of the silver was seized; during the scuffle one insurance man was killed and two others wounded. Now the Russians are pressing the Governor-General of Kirin to make the loss good; he in turn comes down on the poor insurance company, although it is a known law in China that their responsibi- lity ceases as soon as a man has been killed which is a proof that they have done their duty, The most laughable robbery took place last China new year when the Governor-General himself sent à large consignment of silver to his home and the whole was captured. This silver being ill-gotten gains, he could not send an escort, nor dared he mention anything about the robbery, nevertheless it eventually leaked out. The officials are using very stringent measures to capture these brigands, as a result, every day cartloads of them, youths, middle- age and grey haired men, heavily shackled with iron chains and wooden stocks, may be geen entering the city from all points of the compass. Some natives say that about two thousand are beheaded annually, whilst others compute that three to four thousand in the one city of Kirin alone would be more correct. To give an instance; during one week in August batches of thirty-two, then ten and afterwards twenty-seven were decapita-morning the royal standard was hoisted at Go- ted, but a month previous to this there was a vernment House and was saluted by Monte Fort. Chinaman in Kirin dare not venture outside the by the Moute, Barra, S. Francisco, and Mongha record execution of fifty-nine. A very wealthy At twelve o'clock another royal salute was fired city walls, for he asserts that he would be im- Forts. At balf-past two there was a reception at mediately captured and held for a high ransom. Such is the state of the country up North; the natives are very insolent and ill-natured; a Rus- sian occupation would perhaps be the best thing which could happen, as it might stay an other wise very probable rebellion.
MOUKDEN,
Natives report that the Governor-Generat has ordered from one of the Shanghai Docke for the sum of Taels 14,500 one shallow drafs steamer and also a launch for navigating the Liao river, the vessels to be delivered in the spring, the Dock Co. undertaking to repair any breakdown for the term of two months, Robbers are also very plentiful in the province of Feng-tien and executions are of more frequent occurrence than hitherto, averaging about five heads a day in Moukden. week ago they caught young rebel chief (that is
what he called himself) together with his wife, concubine, two daughters and a son. If he will insist that he is a rebel then the whole family will suffer the death penalty, but should he confess that he is merely a robber that disgrace will only fall on himself. The crops of millet, wheat, etc., between Knan-chen-tsz, Kirin and Moukden could not be better than they have been this year; probably on account of the exceptionally dry season.
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bour, where it has since been working, but it may work and work for ever, but it will not do any good if things continue as at present, for close by the colony's rubbish is being dumped by the conservancy contractor's men. On the left side the dredger is at work, in the centre are anchored the two men-of-war, and on the right, some thirty or forty metres from the west side of Lappa village, the colony's rubbish is being dumped and is forming up into small islands. It is like a children's game, and soon the whole harbour will be silted up. Who is immediately responsible for allowing the continuance of this state of things I can- not say, but I should think some responsibility mast rest on the Harbour Department to re- port any thing tending to injure the harbour. The Leal Senado is responsible for the disposal of the town's rubbish and ought to be called upon to exercise proper control over its con- tractor.
The King's birthday was celebrated this year with much display. At eight o'clock in the
Government House, after which divine service was held at the Cathedral, at which there were
present all the public servants, the Consuls, and the Commander and officers of the British gunboat Phoenix, which had come
over for the occasion. The Phenix and the other vessels were all duly decorated. After the service the feu de joie was fired, and the Monte Fort responded with a royal salute. In the evening the town was illuminated and a soiree was held at Government House, which
was most successful and enjoyable except that the temperature was not very favourable to dancing. It was about half-past three when the guests left.
It is said that the action brought by the Fernandes family against Cassum Moosa, an Indian cloth seller, for an alleged debt of $4,000, has been decided in favour of the defendant, on the ground that the Court had no jurisdiction. The Fernandes family, I hear, are now going to proceed in the Hongkong Court. Cassum Moosa had his ship closed for about nine months by order of the late Chief Justice, Dr. Fornellos, and the question now is, who is going to in- demnify him, for he will no doubt claim damages.
The Shanghai Antumn Regatta is fixed for the 25th and 26th inst., to be held at Pootung, the races finishing at the Signal Station.
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