January 28, 1899.1.
THE CHINESE EMPEROR'S CONDITION
CHINA, OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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contracts with that concern no foreign cable could be allowed to land on any British territory on the route to or in the The Company, already unmed, together Far East unless by special arrangement. with the Great Northern, also enjoys ex- clusive rights and privilege in China. There could be no objection French laying a cable of their own from to the
leave the other end in deep water, and us Haiphong except that they would have to
nor in any way injure British interests it that would be of no use to themselves may be concluded that no such enterprise proposed German cable much the same will be undertaken. If we turn to the result is arrived at. A cable might con ceivably be laid from Germany to Kiao- chow, but the physical difficulties in the way, if the cable could not touch, on any British soil en route, would be enormous, and the absence of all intermediate traffic would not only place any return upon the capital out of the question but would pre- clude the possibility of the cable's earning even its working expenses, so that a heavy charge for operation and maintenance would Governments have any right to complain have to be met. Nor do we see that Foreign of the circumstances. British enterprise and industry having established a profitable enterprise, and one possessing political im- portance, it is not to be expected that either the British Government or the Com- panies concerned should be anxious to encourage foreign subsidised Companies formed for the purpose of cutting the talists wish to have an interest in the cables original enterprise out. If foreign capi- they can buy the shares of the English Com-
by the gentry or officials, and there may have been an incendiary who applied the spark in the first instance in the case before Daily Press, 24th January.) The fiction of the ill health of the Emperor goes, there seems nothing to connect the But, so far as the published account KWANG SU is still being kept up by the officials with the outrage and destruction
called Government at Peking. His en- forced seclusion
subsequently wrought. There had evident is to be continued inde ly been some difficulty in getting the wine fuffely, it would seem, to suit the plans and opened, for it is stated that the third at pleasure of the Empress Dowager. The old lady has now for some months tasted of the officials with a body of some forty soldiers tempt was made on the 8th instant, when two sweets of power, and the taste lingers plea santly on her venerable pal te. The coup cluded the propitiation of the guardian were present at the ceremonies, which in- état planned by her with her supporters spirit of the mountain. The Company had was successful, and the risks now possibly appear less grave, than they did when the stition, but apparently it was not sufficient. gone to this length to meet popular super conspirators lingered doubtfully on the The spirit may have been propitiated, but brink, The Government published an Im the people were obviously not placated. perial Decree on the 9th January to the The officials then committed the grave following effect: As We are not in good mistake of withdrawing the soldiers, one "health, all Court ceremonies, festivals, and that will probably cost them dear. This "banquets usually held during the closing encouraged the local rowdies and their fol- *moilth of the Old Year and the opening lowing to attack the mine stores, which were month of the New Year are hereby com- stored at a temple in charge of Mr. RENNI- manded, to be, discontinued until further Orders, with the only exception of New SON, the mine manager. He was entirely con unsupported, and was therefore compelled Hear's quay, on which
to fly to save his life, which was unques wallpresent Ourselves at the head of thePrinces, Dukes, Nobles, and high ter stuck manfully to him, but was of course tionably in danger. His Chinese interpre Ministers of the Court at the Huang unable to do anything to prevent the sack chich Throne Hall to pay our New Yearing of the Company's property, which fol- congratulations and obeisances to the lowed on their flight into the bills. The Empress Dowager." According to the translater, of the above, the Throne Hallis stores and property destroyed by the mob were of the valne of about $10,000, and a seldom used, and its high flow designation claim for compensation for this loss is being (Huangschich)" Acme of Imperial Excel- laid before the Trotai by Mr. PLAYFAIR, the dence gives its selection on this occasion British Consul. The mandarins will have peculi significance. The Empress Dowa- ger has eliosen the Throne Hall in order to be collected in the district, and some further to pay this little bill, but it will probably emphasise in the minds of the nobles and aggravation thereby entailed. The incident onicials her supreme authority. The poor might have been entirely averted if a force panies on the open market, and they may Young EMPEROR is to be trotted out on New
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Year's Day to do the Usurper homage: His Majesty is, in short, to take a personal share in his own degradation. The plea of ill health put forward is, moreover, generally believed to be fictitious. A foreigner who saw the Emperor KwANG SU quite recently reports that he was apparently in excellent health. Any plea is, however, seemingly good enough now to suit the turn of those in power at Peking. The saving of face hardly appears to be regarded as a necessary operation. Since they are entirely un- ashamed, it is unnecessary to make auy really decent excuse. The old fiction is quite sufficient for the purpose, seeing the it has enticed for the Representatives, of the renty Rowers, for the Tributary States, for the Viceroys of the Eighteen Provinces, and for the three hundred millions of sheep like, subjects of the Son of Heaven. The change, a great and notable one, has been theitly acquiesced in; the crimes and craeities with which it was attended have been silently condoned, and, to crown all, the ladies of the Foreign Legations have been received in audience by the Usurper and baye accepted presents from her hands! Is therefore to be wondered at that the Empress Dowager "should" wax bold in dealing with the subjects of the Dragon
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Throne?
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NAIVE OPPOSITION TO MINING ENTERPRISE.
Daily Press, 24th January.) The experience of the Pao-Wo Mining Company at Nin: Si-kong, near Ningpo, of thealisposition of the populace towards new enterprises for opening up the mineral re-
of soldiers had been maintained in Nia be assured that they will thereby get much sided and the inhabitants become ac- Si-kong until the excitement had sub- better interest on their investment than they would by sinking their money in a Company customed to the presence of the min- formed for the purpose of competing with
theexisting Corpaniɔ ing company and its operations. There was really no excuse for the withdrawal of the of place, however, to suggest to the latter I pay not be out military seeing that sufficient warning of the that they should not abuse the favourable temper of the populace had plainly been position they enjoy by exacting extortionate given before the propitiation ceremonies rates, or they may alienate the sympathy were performed as a sop to the geomantic that should be their chief support. As it Cerberus of the place. It is to be hoped is, indeed, the mercantile community would that this little episode -happily, through welcome competition if an alternative and the timely escape of Mr. RENNISON, un-independent route could be found for an- attended by bloo shed-will be taken to heart both by foreign concessionaires and by the Chinese officials, and that whenever hostility on the part of the natives to a railway or a mine is either manifested or suspected an armed force may be provided as a precaution. There is no occasion to deal harshly with the villagers, but they must, if necessary, be taught that they have ment of the country. no power to block the way to the develop-
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FOREIGN POWERS AND THE TELEGRAPH CABLES.
(Daily Press, 21st January.) A short time ago one of our Tonkin con-
other cable, whether British or foreign but along the route of the present British lines it is not to be expected that foreign Com panies should find facilities placed in their
way.
THE OCCUPATION OF MANILA AND THE SPREAD OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
(Daily Press, 21st January.) There are those who hold that English is destined to become the universal language. Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, when distributing the prizes at Queen's College a couple of years ago, half confessed himself a believer In the doctrine and urged it as a reason why Chinese boys should devote themselves to
the study of English.
temporaries had an article complaining that
ossibly most of the the telegraphic cable between Haiphong many millions who own the language as and Hongkong was in the hands of a
their mother tongue cherish sentimental British Company and urging that the ideas of the same kind, though reason Government, even if the cost had been must tell them that there is little prospect greater, should have seen that the enter of their realisation. Seeing that English prise was confided to a French Company. has not yet wholly displaced Welsh and We note also that the laying of a Gaelic within the confines of the British German cable from the German coast to Isles it may be inferred that it is not likely Kiaochow has been advocated. Our French to displace all other languages. English, have over- however, is the chief commercial language looked the important fact that the British of the world, in travel it is more useful than Government has granted a virtual monopoly any other, and its use is daily extending. to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Com- The recent Hispano-American war will ex- pany, and that under the terms of the raise a strong influence in this direction.
sources of China should prove useful to and German friends appear to foreigleyndicates and capitalists. As a general rule the people are quiet and peace able, enough in their attitude towards for eigners unless their prejudices are aroused
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