460
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
were
I
We refer to
[December 16, 1897.
EL
be even
.eu-
publish a spirited Why should I The writer sup
military Power it is to be expected that the connection with the celebration. Included protectorate being established that would proportion her expenditure bears to the in the additions
representatives be equally agreeable to the islanders. If national income should be greater than in of the Press, though what any of the United States Government can make up other countries that have already made them had done outside the scope of their mind: on the subject they should do so good their position. Exceptional expendi- their ordinary journalistic duties we are quickly. Delay is not likely to lead to any ture is a sacrifice that such a country is at a loss to conceive. The recognition of settlement of lifferences of opinion, and called upon to make and we cannot doubt their work, such as it was, will, however, no may develop new difficulties. The British that Japan will be willing to do so and to doubt be highly appreciated by them Of Government are not disposed to raise ob- submit to the necessary taxation to the the omissions mention is made of several by jections to the annexation of the islands by extent of the financial ability of the nation. a correspondent whose letter appears in an- the Stars and Stripes, but are more inclined But while this heavy taxation exists the other column. It is rather a delicate task to approve it, and no other opposition is likely duty of avoiding all wasteful and im- to comment on personal claims in such a to be serious. The Washington Govern- provident schemes for promoting a fictitious matter, but probably the exclusion of the ment ought to be able to find some method commercial activity becomes even more clergy will strike most people as rather re- of satisfying Japan that the interests of imperative than under ordinary circum-markable. As to Dr. CLARK, we fail to see Japanese subjects would be safeguarded un stances. Protective duties and bounties our correspondent's point. If work that the der American administration, and Japan-
esc immigration might impose heavy burdens on the nation that Jubilee entailed indirectly on various in- adopts them. Germany, for instance, by dividuals, both official and non-official, couraged when a strong Government had her sugar bounties has made a present of were to be taken into consideration, there been established. A supply of labour must many millions of pounds sterling to Great would be no end to the matter, It was be obtained for the sugar plantations from Britain, which the German taxpayer has right that the list should be confined to some source, and as Chinese are in great had to pay. Incidentally the West Indian those who directly participated the disfavour in merica, the Japanese might colonies of Great Britain have been brought arrangements for the celebration and be welcomed in Hawaii. The trouble pro to the verge of ruin, but that, does not highly as we appreciate Dr. CLARKs probably is, however, that Japan had begun to benefit Germany at all from a commercial fessional attainments and his services to regard the islands as a small preserve of her point of view. With the coming into force the colony, we cannot see that any claim own, and is unwilling to surrender the pros- of the new treaties Japan will become to some can be properly advanced on his behalfpect of possible future dominion there. extent a protectionist country and in the mean- to the particular decoration under potice. time she is throwing a considerable amount There is one gentleman, however, who was
THE NAVY LEAGUR. of money away in shipping bounties. Her unmistakably entitled to a gold medal if best policy would be to adopt free trade, any one was, but whose name is conspicuous
In another column we pure and simple, and abandon all bounties. by its absence from the list. By this means her prosperity would be pro- Mr. WICKHAM, the Manager of the Hong little homily on the text moted and the nation would be the better kong Electric Company. It will be re-join the Navy League?" able to bear the strain imposed by the heavy membered that owing to an unfortunate expenditure for military and naval expan-addle the Government abstained from sion. Although a prompt acceptance of this view is scarcely to be expected it is satisfactory to observe that there is in some directions evidence of a more liberal feeling than prevailed some time ago. In the course of an article on the tenure of land by foreigners the Japan Mail says. "When a victorious war suddenly raised "the country to an unexpectedly high posi- "tion among the Powers of the world, there naturally grew up a mood of over-weening “self-confi·lence, and, at the same time, the
large sums of money distributed "the lower-middle and lower classes, as well as the artificial stimulus that enterprise and speculation always receive at such times, helped to convince the people that 'they had
no need either of foreign capital or foreign co-operation.
But "the receding tide of unreal prosperity and "fictitious affluence is now beginning to lay "bare the hard facts of the situation, so that thinking men perceive that material ic expansion without capital is not more possible in Japan than it is anywhere else, "and that capital must be sought abroad." Under a liberal regime foreign capital, will flow into Japan in a copious stream but the best. means of promoting the national prosperity and developing the country's re- sources would be the frank adoption of free trade.
+6
"
among
THE JUBILEE MEDALS AND THEIR RECIPIENTS.
Of the gentlemen who received Jubilee medals at the hands of H.E. the GOVER- NOR on Saturday probably there were many who wondered what they had done to deserve them. On the other hand, some gentlemen not included in the list may possibly wonder why they were omitted, and the public may perhaps also entertain some curiosity on the same point, As a matter of fict we believe the medallists' list was confine to members of the Com- mittee with the addition of a very few gentlemen who were supposed in some way to have ran Loral conspicuous assistance in
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joining in the illuminations on the evening of the second day, and the celebration which opened so successfully ended in disap- pointment and indignation. The position however, was to some extent retrieved by Mr. WICKHAM, who, when he heard of the unfortunate determination of the Govern- ment, had the Queen's statue illuminated on his own responsibility. It would have been little short of an affront to Her Majesty if, when Her subjects were so enthusiastically illuminating in Her honour, IIer own statue had been allowed to remain in darkness. Amongst individual services rendered in connection with the Jubilee celebration Mr. WICKHAM'S appears to us to stand out pre-eminently and to be de- serving of special recoguition.
TE UNITED STATES AND HAWAII.
con-
In his Message to Congress, President M'KINLEY is stated by Reuter to have recommended the definitive annexation of Hawaii. This recommendation-will meet the views of a large party in the United States, but it will also excite a good deal of opposition. It is argued by those who oppose the acquisition that the islands are of no value to the Republic, that they are too far distant to be protected without a large naval force, and that their posses- sion would definitely embark the Republic on a new policy opposed to its stitution and interests. Moreover, there is a desire among a large section of the American people to avoid friction with Japan, whose opposition to the step appears to have in no way abated. At the same time the advocates of annexation have also a strong case. The major portion of the trade of the islands is with the United States, American citizens form the largest section of the foreign white population, excluding the Portuguese, who have little influence, and there is more American capital - than any other employed in the development of the plantations. The provisional govern to stand too feeble up is alone, and there seems no chance of a joint
ment set
plies a conclusive answer to the question and we would commend his, arguments to the attention of all Britishers who have not yet joined the League. To residents in the Far East, who have the importance of maintaining a strong Navy brought home to them so closely and so frequently, the objects of the League ought to appeal with especial force. The subscrip- tion is a small one and the bulk of the money raised goes to the parent association, the local expenditure being trifling. It is not for the purpose of increasing the funds that more members are sought, but for the creation and focussing of a healthy public opinion ou a subject of vital importance to the Empire, namely, the maintenance of a strong and efficient Navy,
HỒ: GKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
Sir
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on 8th December in the Council Chamber. Present :-
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, WILLIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
Hon. J H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General). Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master).
L
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Super- intendent of Police).
SMITH (Colonial
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hou. T. SERCOMBE Treasurer).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. Ho KAT.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hou. WEI A. YUK.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
THE GENERAL'S ABSENCE. His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR explained to attend the meeting owing to official duties. that H.E. Major-General Black was naable
FINANCE,
Financial minutes Nos. 26, 27, and 28 were referred to the Finance Committee, and the Finance Committee's report (No. 11) was adopted.
T
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