August 18, 1900.]
task. But a spirit of curiosity to see what she could be so intently engaged on led others first to take a furtive look, and finally to set themselves down as watchers in their turn. First came France, herself engaged in a similar task on or about her southern fringes. Then Germany sniffed the breezes of the wide Pacific, and com- menced to nibble about China's coasts, and was quickly followed by Russia, who had no- ticed something particularly fascinating about the apparently barren steppes of northern Asia. Then little Japan smelt a sweet savour arising from her broad seaward plains ; and finally America, her next-door neighbour, thought it hard that she alone should be left out in the cold. | None of them pondered what the oyster herself was thinking of. She was but a mollusc, it was true, and a mollusc's sensa- tions are not very acute, and might fairly be left out of consideration. But thongh the oyster's senses were not very acute, nor her nervous system very highly developed, she had still some primitive organs of sensa- tion, and the grains of sand that each had left irritated her-how she in her semi- developed condition did not quite under- stand; so by a sort of reflex action she determined to get rid of the offending particles. Of course, if her mental faculties had been developed to the same extent as her merely sensual ones, she would have seen the impossibility of the process, but who ever knew an oyster to reason? So with one great convulsive effort she tried to cast out the offending particles, but burst herself in the struggle, and now lies strand- ed and helpless on the beach an oyster indeed, still luscious, but for ever deprived of the power of rehabilitation.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
and control his own conduct. But how, out of the motley and snarling group who would assume the task, are we to find an honest and unbiassed man fit for the pur- pose? We confess we can find no reply. Next as to the seat of government. No sensible man would suggest its being re- vived in Peking, the city of crime and intrigue. But, as we suggested, where is our sensible man to be found? Even more than Peking as a capital, Nanking enjoys the prestige of former greatness, and is moreover in the centre of the Empire and in the heart of the Chinese people. England were to propose Nanking, Russia, But if who has hitherto been the gainer from those very intrigues that have disgraced Peking, would at once refuse it, as too central and too accessible. Again, as to the head. Those who valued the future well-being of China, and desired to see the Empire revived on civilised lines, would at once say, Restore the young Emperor KWANG HSU, who alone amongst the statesmen of China saw the evils that were eating into her as a canker, and was prepared with a remedy. who values the
But
future well-being of
119
and TuxG FUHSIANG; for such wretches no punishment can be too hard or too degrad- ing, and it would be well that what were done were done well, and done publicly.
THE MESSAGES FROM PEKING.
(Daily Press, 13th August.)
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It is with mixed feelings that the messages other column from Sir CLAUD MACDONALD will be read which we publish to-day in an- and Mr. CONGER to their Consuls at Can- ton. It is satisfactory that there is once and undoubtedly authentic despatches from more a possibility of receiving ungarbled the besieged garrison at Peking. Moreover, it is now possible that messages may get though to the Legation from Canton, the Imperial Chinese Telegraph Service having expressed its readiness to accept such mes- sages at sender's risk and to attempt to forward them by courier via Tsinanfu to the capital. But the purport of the two messages received in Canton on Saturday affords none too much of comfort to the anxious. Sir CLAUD MACDONALD announces China, except as an heir values a rever-supply in the Legation. On the 21st ult., on the 6th inst. that there was ten day's food sionary estate? Not Russia, not France, not Germany, not Japan.
as will be seen from the message received in theory the United States, and in practise we reproduce elsewhere from our Shanghai Perhaps in Tientsin on the 27th ult., the text of which England, because she has had experience morning contemporary, he reported. that in her history of the effects of absorption, there remained only food sufficient for a and would prefer being spared the necessity. fortnight at most. Presumably, therefore, Russia would fear lest the reforms introduced a small extra supply was got in, or else by the young Emperor should run on Eng- economy enabled the available stock to be lish lines. France would fear lest he might spread out over a longer time. But even if block her insidious march into Yunnan, and there be sufficient food to last to the 16th ruin her ricketty baby of a Colonial Empire. inst., i. e. next Thursday, it will be seen While Germany would dread the effacement that both Ministers do not exagerate affairs of the Teutonic tongue, were that blessed when they say But it is characteristic of the lower crea- word hinterland to fall out of use.
Situation desperate." Sir tion that the lower the form the more speak not of Italian idylls of a fruit farm in escort the garrison to Tientsin, but signi- We CLAUD records a fresh Chinese offer to tenacious it is of life, and the garglionic life Fuhkien, of Japanese police in Chekiang, ficantly adds: "Remembering Cawnpore we of the oyster is no exception. The oyster is nor of Belgic rails and Belgic locomotives refuse offer." there, indeed, to all intents dead, yet of everywhere, because these are things which those around no one dares to begin the of themselves are not pressing, unless as feast. Each thinks his own capacity suffi- the ugly rush that is apt to finish up a too cient to bolt the tempting prize, but in the festive entertainment, but we have said face of his neighbour each shrinks from enough to show the nature of the task undertaking the task. Nor is the hesitancy before us. Fortunately the one Power, that aught but natural, for each feels that the consistently-consistently because she has first that begins will have to face in mortal had experience of the vanity of the other combat, not one, but all his neighbours. course-is disposed to act from motives Yet something has to be done, and that beyond the mere territorial ambitions of the quickly. The first thing is, of course, to moment, is in a position to exercise some hurry up to Peking, to collect the disjecta authority in the settlement, and this affords membra, and to look after the morsels the one bright ray of hope through the un- ejected; but it is only too evident from the pleasant atmosphere of hate and base in- muttered growls and occasional snarls that trigue that looms around. The Ministry, meet one's ear that the concord that prevails and with the Ministry, the Country, has is much the same which rules amongst a declared that England will be no party to pack of wolves in pursuit of a lonely traveller the partition of China, and that China must on the steppe. The sensible proposition that be left for the Chinese. If the nation be the advance should be left to one of the determined to see out this programme, and Powers on behalf of the common interest, use its influence and power to induce order with, of course, proper guarantees, did not amongst the gnashing crowd, it will deserve, meet with acceptance amongst the hungry and will doubtless gain, the universal ap- crowd, each of whom feared to lose the tit-plause of the nations, whom it will have bits, so all set off together with a whoop and a shout. Looked at in the abstract, the work is not that of sensible men; but who ever yet found a man "sensible when an oyster lay before him on a plate ready opened, waiting to be devoured?
ties make the offer in good faith—which no Even if the Chinese authori.
rantee a safe conduct through the hordes of; one is likely to believe-they could not gua- the worst ruffians in the Empire which hold the country between Peking and the advance guard of the Relief Force, now we trust well on its way forward from Yangtsun toward its goal in the capital. Mr. CON- GEE's message ends, more hopefully than our
hold on indefinitely, whatever happens. But own Minister's, with the promise to this is beyond the power of the Ministers of half-heartedness of the Chinese-Manchu the Powers to promise. It depends on the troops, and, as we said on Saturday, on the chance of disunion among the authorities at Peking, whether the Legation can hold out much longer. There are not wanting many to prophecy that a collapse of the enemy. will now take place; but to judge by the exceedingly sanguinary struggle at. Yang- tsun on the 8th instant, such optimism hardly seems warranted. It is better, how- ever, that the soldiery and “ Boxers" should saved from a wicked, and what is worse than wicked, silly internecine conflict, where-they should fall back on Peking and try to remain to oppose the Relief Force than that in all shall have lost, and the would-be prey shall be found after all to be a mouthful too huge and bitter to be swallowed.
wreak their vengeance on the little garrison of Europeans, Americans, and Japanese there. It is impossible to predict what will But (and above all) let us not in our happen, but the defence of the British Le- But leaving our simile to one side, what administration of justice again forget re- gation for these many weeks has been so is really to be done now that the display of venge for punishment. Let us have no wonderful an affair that it seems hardly too mere savagery at Peking has rendered im- destroyed Summer Palaces, as emblems of much to hope that the extreme anti-foreign possible the continuance of the present our imbecility, and our inability to adminis-party has abandoned its belief in the invul- administration? A lesson as to the really ter the first principles of right and reason. nerability of the I Ho Chuan for a better- barbarous basis of the pretended civilisa- But let us on the other hand be held back founded respect for the courage of the tion of China has been given, which it would by no principles of mere expediency or foreigners. be well for us not to forget nor to attempt sentiment from the most condign punish- to gloss over, and this naturally leads to ment of those individual actors who have the first conclusion. Whatever government | brought about the present state of affairs. we establish in China can only be, as it The Empress Dowager, the truculent Prince were, in a go-cart till the infant can walk Tuan, and his supporters Li Ping Here'
hama has risen to 9 yen a ton, and thus a steamer The rate for the charter of ships in Yoko- of 2,000 tons cannot now be produced for leas than 18,000 for a month,
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