854
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the
opinions expressed by our correspondents.]-
THE INTRIGUES ON THE MAINLAND.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS ANDU
SIRI observe that shortly after the publi- cation in your paper of a communicated article. giving particulars of the duplicity of the Chi nese officials in regard to the cession of territory on the adjacent mainland it is discovered that the Triad and other societies are calling in their members with a view to a rising in that district; then that discovery is followed by the discovery by the principal provincial officers of the fact that there are prepartions on a large scale for rising against the Chinese Government and that the enlistment of men was going on merrily, the bonus first paid for rebel recruits being now found unnecessary on account of the num- bers presenting themselves for enrolment. Are not these the usual tactics of Chinese officials when discovered in rascality ? Perhaps it is merely a coincidence. Possbily their dupes are turning on them.
Hongkong, 23rd October, 1898.
ALERT.
THE MANCHUS ON THEIR LAST LEGS,
memorials and literary works the source of his pilfered information,
immense amount of dân * oribed, and the matter
When the firemen parent that their on
He is vain, egotistic, conceited, and selfish, He thinks nothing of making sarcastic and insulting remarks about Westernized Chin ese, English scholars, compradores, i.e., in his speeches and writings,
He envies the progressive aims and learning of English-speaking Chinese, whom he regards with a selfish eye, he being the leader of a party of Chinese scholars.
He is too biassed and conceited to associate with Westernized Chinese, and if he does associate with them it is merely for self-im- provement.
shrewdness of the diplomat and statesman.
He is lacking in the skill, deliberation, and
WHY HE IS DISLIKED BY PROGRESSİVE
CHINESE SCHOLARS.
1. Because he is egotistic, biassed, vain, conceited, and selfish,
2-Because he tries to " ape "Confucius and his disciples.
3. Because he believes that he and his pupils are the equals if not the superiors of Confucius and his immortal disciples.
4.--Because it is a shame for a man of his superficial attainments and reputation to at tempt to rival the great and good Confucius.
5.-Because he permits his pupils to style him "The young Confucius" ie, the "Modern Sage."
Of course his claim to such a title is most absurd and ridiculous. The Chinese nickname him" Din Hong," ie., "The Mad Hong.
WHY HE IS DÍSLIKED BY WESTERNIZED CHỈNESE.
flames from spreading the
in the grasp of the flames being long yond all hope. All the available hose laid on, but as the hydranta were all and the ground between the lines of b ing houses at a tremendous temperattire this
'was not an easy matter, Several lengths of hose burst with the heat and two of the firemen
!!
got rather badly hurt at the start, Mr. Evérall's face being severely burnt, while a red hot nail attached to a burning beam penetrated Mr.. Algar's hand. So intense was the heat that two other firemen had to be carried swayinya fainting condition, and it was onl withi difficulty that the firemen could get within fighting range of the fire at all.- Houses and walls were toppling down in all directions" and. altogether the scene was a lively and terrible one for a couple of hours. But gradually the menu- mastered the fire-fiend and steadily encompassed his attempts to break through their lines, as ifit was not till after three hours' arduous work that a visible impression could be seen and then only when about 150 houses or upward had been laid ‹ in rains. Even now the Chinese assistants of the firemen are hard at work with half a dozen" lines of hose steadily playing upon the debris, About 150 houses with Municipal numbers have been completely destroyed with numberless smaller nooks and crannies wherein the nativesli. pack like sardines. All sorts and conditions of dwellings and shops are involved in the common | ruin, which cannot involves loss to the un-i
though a little over one fifth part of this is in sured. The largest blocks destroyed belonged to Messrs. Iveson & Co., who are insured with the Royal for about Tls. 24,000 Another blook, belonging to a Chinawoman, is registered in the name of Dickswell and is insured for Tls. 2,000, but as there were over 50 houses on her lot that sum only represents a tithe of her loss. The insurance losses are not yet quiter made up, but the China Fire bas Tis. 7,000 and that over 1,000 persons are rendered homeless i by the conflagration, the origin of which usual, unknown, except that it is supposed to
ave broken out in a tobacco or cigarette shop. at the corner of Canton and Hoopeh Roads China Gazette.
1.-Because he is egotistic, biassed, vain, con- fortunate people of much less than Tls, 200,000*-
2. Because he has formed a party of Chinese scholars, who, by the example he has set, are full of conceit and selfishness, which is de-
trimental to reform.
3. Because he and his pupils pilfer the in- formation contained in translated works without acknowledging their indebtedness to the author
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “ DAILY PRESS.” SIR, Very few foreigners seem to have grasped the important fact that we, în China, are on the verge of a great struggle between the two strongest factions in the country. Two-ceited, and selfish. thirds, or more, of the Chinese officials are drawn from the two provinces Hunan and Nganhui, and there is intense rivalry between those of each of these provinces. The Hunanese have of late espoused the reform movement, although only recently bitterly opposed to it The Nganhai party, under the lead of Li Lung chang, have got, temporarily, the ascendency through assisting the Empress Dowager in get- ting rid of the Emperor, Kwang Su; and they are now availing themselves fully of it by wiping out all their enemies as opportunity offers, the principal leaders of the Reform Party receiving their chief attention at present; they are em- boldened in their course of wholesale extermina tion by feeling that they have Russia at their back.go
The Hunanese, however, are made of stuff which will not quietly submit to be entirely supplanted and they will have none of Russia's blandishments, being intent on preserving China for the Chinese. They are quietly pre- paring to weld together the rebel bands oper- ating in the provinces of Szechuen, Kwangsi, Kwangtung, Kweichow, Fokien, and elsewhere under the one banner and they will openly defy the usurping Empress and her Nganhui fol- lowing. They have the sympathies of Japan
and the aid of Reformers all over China.
It will be interesting to note what course
the British Government will take when the struggle begins in earnest. One thing is cer tain, viz., the capital of China must be removed from Peking to the Yangtze Valley if China is not to come completely under the sway of Rus- sia or else to be kept in a turmoil of intrigue.
OLD CHINA HAND.
Hongkong, 24th October, 1898.
KANG YU-WEI AND HIS CHARACTERISTICS:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS,
15
SIR-In connection with the crisis, the following facts concerning Hong Yau-wei will
be of interest to your numerous readers
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAN.
He is a man of rare intelligence, and is blessed with a highly retentive memory,
He is a bright Chinese scholar. He cannot read, write, or speak English.
He is a ravenous devourer of translated works and papers.
*****
He is an admirable compiler and essayist He has never confesssed his indebtedness to foreign or Chinese authors and translators, i has never quoted in any of his numerou
and
and translators.
4.-~Because he and his senior pupils have continuously made sarcastic and insulting re- marks about the learning, &c., of Westernized Chinese, English scholars, compradores, &c., in their contributions to their party papes and magazines in Shanghai and Peking.
|
the South British Tls. 2,000. It is estimated
PENNY POST.
of State for the Colonies to the Officer Ad The following despatch from the Secretary ministering the Government, dated from Down. ing Street, 80th August, 1898, is published in the Straits Settlements Government Gazette :---
Where did Hong Yau-wei obtain his store of information from, I wonder ? Didn't Foreign- ers and the Westernized Chinese place all the information in his hands in the shape of trans- him the progress of the world. Hong Yau-wei lated books, &c. In fact they have taught never dreamt in the days of his prosperity that he would one day fall flop from the top of the ladder which he had so daringly and rapidly climbed. He has fallen, but little do the Chin- ese sympathise with him. Strange to say, but in accordance with Resolutions adopted at the.... Sir, I have the honour to inform you that... chagrining to Hong Yau-wei, who should be recent Conference on postage within the British friend him in the days of his adversity but a Empire, Her Majesty's Government, and the in conceited ignorance, thought fit to regard as the letter postage rate between such parts of Hongkong compradore, one of those whom he, Government of Canada, have agreed to reduce unworthy of his exalted estimation. Yours the Empire as agree to accept the reduction to truly,
Id per oz. The representatives at the Con- ference of the Cape, Natal, and Newfoundland also agreed to the reduction, but the formal adhesion of their Governments has not yet been received.
THE MODERN TRUTH FINDER. Canton, 21st October, 1898.
GREAT FIRE AT SHANGHAI.
.
ago, The Windward Islands, via:-Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent, The Leeward Islands (which comprise Antigua, St. Christopher and Islands). And I have also agreed on behalf of Nevis, Dominica, Montserrat, and the Virgin
Cyprus.
2.-I have agreed to the adoption of this rate Shanghai, 24th October. on behalf of the following Colonies:-Hong. Between half past four and five o'clock this kong, Straits Settlements, Ceylon, Seychelles, morning the alarm called the firemen out to the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast Colony, No. 4 district. The scene of the fire was in the Lagos, Gibraltar, St. Helena, Fiji, The Falk populous neighbourhood where Canton, Che-land Islands, Turks Islands, Trinidad and Tob-- kiang, and Hoopeh Roads meet each other and when the firemen reached the scene of the out- break the flames had a firm hold upon all four of seething flames, which surrounded fire corners. An immense area was simply one mass
hydrants, gas lamps, and everything else, over a space of 16 or 18 mow, while the houses at the four corners were long beyond all hopes of saving. We are credibly informed that the fire broke out at about 3.45, at which" hour the Chinese began removing their goods and chattels and no one thought of giving the alarm, whilst no police constable appeared upon the scene till the flames were made out, through the heavy morning fog, by the drowsy watch man at the Central Fire Tower, just about 4.38 m. To this delay in giving the alarm the
3.—It is proposed that the new rate shall introduced on Christmas Day next; quest that you will take the necessary measures for adopting it as from that date, and inform me as soon as possible when this has been done
Between the Colony under your adminis tration and the United Kingdom.
b.—Between the Colony under your admi tration and the rest of the Colonies mentioned above, and also
c.—Between the Colony under your adminis
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