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November 5, 1898.1
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. tion. Lord SALISBURY has done right in "the medical world." Some sympathy must driven back from Shameen had there dec lining to discuss the question, seeing that be entertained with the brilliant young "been only a small force of the residents the French case rests entirely on hairsplitting avant against whom the finger of scorn is "collected to repel them. During the and casuistry. As the Echo de Chine says, thus pointed, more especially as he showed "forenoon a number of gentlemen, mostly an occupation must be effective in order himself when in Hongkong to be morbidly"Germans, collected together, and, being secure international recognition, and sensitive to anything savouring of criticism, “armed with about ten rifles, another ten by no stretch of the imagination could however friendly might be the spirit in M. MARCHAND's occupation of Fashoda which it was offered. The personal element
or so being armed with swords, turned out be considered effective. Had it not been for in the matter is of no consequence, how
"upon the rabble, who cleared off like smoke "before the wind, scrambling through the the success of the British arms against the ever; what is of importance is the "creek into the town, not waiting for this Dervishes he and his following would have illustration afforded of the danger that “small band to come to close quarters with been wiped out of existence or at best would may arise from laboratory experiments. "them." It is a matter for congratulation have had to fly for their lives. As to the An inoculated rat or mouse escapes and an that on the present occasion a display of Berlin treaty, it could not have occurred to epidemic may be started that may cost force was
as made in time to obviate any anyone that an attempt would be made by any thousands or hundreds of thousands of human danger that may have existed of the mob of the signatories thereto to so wrest the mean- lives. The same result may be brought invading Shameen. Even if ing of its language as to make it read as about even without the escape of the dis-
f the the safe danger was small it was better to be on though one Power would be justified in filch-eased animal, say by a healthy animal com- side. It is probable also that the Chinese ing the possessions of another that had tem- ing sufficiently near to the inoculated animals' authorities would not have acted so promptly porarily lost control over them owing to re- place of confinement and carrying the germs as they did had they not seen that the bellion. e
can imagine how France would of the disease away with it. A Commission Shameen Volunteers were prepared to shoot protest
such a reading of the conven-
has been appointed to conduct a scientific in- if necessary. tion if it were sought to apply it in any case vestigation in connection with the plague in against herself. It is reported from French India, and the danger of the disease being sources that Lord SALISBURY no longer bases spread by means of laboratory experiments the Anglo-Egyptian claim to Fashoda upon the is no doubt one of the points to which its anterior rights of the Khedive, but on the attention will be directed, seeing that there right of conquest over the possessions of the are now two instances on record to prove Khalifate. We cannot believe that the that the danger is not a remote or imaginary report is true, though no doubt the right of one. If experiments in the cultivation of conquest is in itself a sufficient justification the plague bacillus are necessary, as no of the Anglo-Egyptian claim. It would be doubt they are, they should be conducted a strange doctrine indeed if a victorious only under the most stringent regulations. army could be deprivel of its contingent As matters stand at present there is nothing rights of conquest by some flying column to prevent any doctor or amateur investiga of another Power hurrying on in front and tor conducting experiments in his own house entering formal appearance without any
and inoculating any number of animals, sufficient frce to maintain its positions. however insufficient may be the safeguards It is stated in Reuter's telegram of the 27th against the escape of the inoculated animals October that the French have agreed to or their being approached by animals of their evacuate upon subsequent compensation. own kind running free. In two cases out- It is to be hoped, however, that Lord breaks of plague have originated from scien- SALISBURY will not consent to give com-
tific laboratories in which the bacillus was pensation in any shape or form, however under cultivation; it is not inconceivable nominal it may be. France's claim is entirely that other outbreaks whose origin has not factitious; to recognise it in any way would been traced may in reality have been started simply be to encourage similar claims in the in the same way. future, and we have had too many of them already.
SPREAD OF PLAGUE BY SCIEN-
TIFIC EXPERIMENTS.
(Daily Press, 3rd November). On the 23rd October, Reuter telegraphed that a doctor's assistant at the laboratory for the culture of the plague bacillus at Vienna had died of plague and that two nurses had been attacked. As there has been no further telegram in reference to the affair we may assume that the measures which would in ordinary course be taken to prevent the disease spreading have been effectual. The incident, however, coming so soon after the spread of the disease from Dr. YERSIN's laboratory at Ngatrang, affords a striking illustration of the danger of experimenting with the plague bacillus. At Ngatrang, in Aunam, the disease is still raging, according to the latest Tonkin papers received, notwithstanding the pre- sence of four doctors, two of whom have been sent from Cochin-China and two from Tonkin, and the coasting steamers calling at the port carry European passengers only. The Avenir du Tonkin, in concluding an article on the quarantine regulations enforced, says: "The plague has been “introduced to Ngatrang through Dr.
YERGIN'S Institute. More than month has passed and it has not been stamped out, notwithstanding the cele
·
a
brated serum whose curative virtues were youched for in a letter from Monseigneur "CHAUSSE. We are thus becoming, in “Annam and Tonkin, the laughing-stock of
THE DISTURBANCE AT CANTON.
(Daily Press, 4th November.) The residents of Shameen seem divided in opinion as to whether the recent distur- bance on Canal Road should be described as a street row or a riot, and also as to whether there was ever any danger of an attack on the Settlement. The affair did not come to much, and what might or might not have happened under other circumstances must remain a matter of conjecture; but everyone must agree that it would have been the height of imprudence had the foreign com- munity neglected to prepare themselves, so far as their resources allowed, for any emergency. The
sneerers at the precautions taken should refresh their memories as to what took place in 1883. On that occasion no idea was entertained of an impending attack on Shameen, but a row arose in the morning on the steamer about to leave for Hongkong and a mob col- lected, which, rapidly increasing in numbers, made for Shameen, where they commenced to loot and fire the foreign residences. The character of the mob on that occasion was similar to that of the mob which assembled the other day. In the account of the affair which appeared in our columns at the time we read that "the attack on Shameen was partly from motives of revenge, urged on by crowds of rowdies always to be found “among the lower classes of Chinese, whose "chief object was plunder and mischief. They seem to have been a huge crowd com- posed of contemptible materials-boys “and roughs — who would have been easily
THE UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINES.
(Daily Press, 4th November.) It will be observed with satisfaction from the Reuter's telegram published to-day that the United States Commissioners at the Paris Peace Conference have demanded the ab solute cession of the Philippines. Spanish sovereignty over the islands has been so severely shaken that even if America with- drew it would be impossible for Spain to re- establish her rule in Luzon, and even in the southern islands her position would be pre- carious. The sensible course therefore is for the conquerors to take over the whole archipelago, which will be not only to the advantage of the natives as ensuring to them the blessings of peace and good order, but also to the advantage of the world's commerce, for the resources of the islands will now be opened up and legitimate enterprise allowed free play. The form of government, we take it, will be modelled on that of the Indian and Malay States that enjoy British pro- tection, autonomy being granted to the natives to the fullest extent that may be deemed possible. Some amendment of the United States constitution may be necessary to admit of the administration of colonies on these lines, but it will not be the first time that that historic instrument has undergone amendment. Whether any com- plications with other Powers will ensue remains to be seen, but if so the United States, having once declared her intentions, will see the matter through.
THE POST OFFICE. (Daily Press, 31st October.) Captain HASTINGS, in giving his decision in the Post Office cases at the or Thursday, used very plain language in Magistracy respect of the management of that important department. Want of direction, he said, was abundantly proved and the lack of sys- tem clearly shown. "The Postmaster- "General frankly admitted his innocence of most of the internal economy of the Post Office, stating that when he wanted in- "formation himself he always went
Mr. SOLLY." When the new Governor arrives it is to be hoped that one of the first duties to which he will apply himself will be the placing of the Post Office on a more satisfactory footing. Skilled professional direction is required in the Post Office as much as in the Legal, Medical, Educational, or Public Works departments, and we can only hope for efficiency when properly trained men are engaged. While the
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