THE RECORD OF THE YEAR.
eves
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[January 5, 1901.
events in its history have ever made. One | see that there was something not altogether of the most remarkable points is the wrong underlying the "Boxer" movement, absolute unexpectedness of the storm. It that there was an assertion of their country's may be said that there were no warnings rights even in a people so usually thought given before it was ready to burst. To a devoid of patriotism as the Chinese,
the
all the inhabitants of the British certain extent blame for our ignorance must methods adopted were of course hope
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(Daily Press, 1st January.) When we wrote, exactly one year ago, on the record of the year then just ended, the
of Empire, as well as those of a great number be laid on the representatives of the Powers lessly mistaken and barbarous, but the of other people, were turned steadfastly to- at Peking, whose duty it was to watch for protest nevertheless remains on record ward South Africa. The Transvaal and such warnings. But, though we have some that even in China might does not con- Orange Free State forces were on the full right to censure the incompetence of the stitute right. The policy of spoliation, every har tide of their success. For nearly three intelligence departments at Peking, it must whereby China has lost almost months the struggle conducted by the in fairness be admitted that the signs of bour worth having, the best part of Shan- garrisons of Ladysmith, Kimberley, and danger, of which we now hear and which the tung, and the Liao-tung peninsula, has had Mafeking had been watched anxiously by foreign Ministers at the time regarded lightly, its natural fruit. Those who protest so the British world. Lord ROBERTS, with were deceptively small. At the very end much about the integrity of China cannot Lord KITCHENER at the head of his staff, of the previous year-on the 31st December, in future help themselves to the best parts was on his way out to the Cape to repair 1899-the Rev. S. M. BROOKS was murdered of her Empire on which they can safely lay the errors of other generals; and large rein- in Shantung by the "Boxers." Tardy and hands. It may be said that Hongkong owes forcements were being hurried out. Serious partial reparation was made for this, but its existence to a similar act of spoliation. as was the state of affairs, we doubt whether the infamous Yu HSIEN, who as Governor But Hongkong when taken over by the was a valueless islet, ignored more than a few spectators of the war of the province fostered the anti-foreign | British imagined that at the end of 1900 there and anti-Christian tendencies of the govern- entirely by China and never likely to be would still be daily fighting in South Africa, ed, was nevertheless appointed to Shansi in developed by her. Its occupation does not that reinforcements would still be asked for, March, in spite of Lord SALISBURY's protest. stand on the same footing as that of Kiao- and that Cape Colony would have barely The murder of the unfortunate Mr. BROOKS chow, Port Arthur and Newchwang, Kwan- escaped a most serious peril in the last had, however, called the attention of the chauwan, or Weihaiwei. Unfortunately, it fortnight of the year 1900. But for all Ministers at Peking to the existence of cannot be said that the robber policy is that the Boers are still able to keep up an strong anti-Christian societies in Shantung finished yet. Few indeed believe Russia's effective resistance to British arms, the year and Chihli, and an Imperial Decree de- promises about Manchuria; Russia has just past has seen a vast political change in nouncing them was demanded on the 27th always been lavish with promises. It would South Africa. The Transvaal Republic and of January, which was, after the usual hardly come as a surprise if the new century Orange Free State are no longer on the map. obstructive tactics of the Tsangli Yamen were to see the Powers acquiesce in the South Africa is British to an extent to had been exhausted, accorded at the begiu-stripping of Manchurial from a helpless which it has never been before. Except for ning of March, the publication of it in the China-one more item added to the bill the Portuguese on the East and the Ger- Peking Gazette being further delayed until which China's rulers have forced her to mans on the West, all the country is under the 14th April. The Ministers proceeded meet. The new régime which is promised one flag. The organisation of this territory, to ask for more stringent measures against with the restoration to power of the Em- it is true, is expected to take years; it is as the Boxers, but as late the 21st peror KWANG HSU will require to be very hard a task as Great Britain has undertaken. May Sir CLAUDE MACDONALD (in a firm if it is to compensate for all that the The work of finishing up the war is in the letter to Lord SALISBURY) thought the usurpers have lost for China. But for a hands of Lord KITCHENER, to whom Lord danger at Peking itself exaggerated. A regenerated Empire, with the Powers de- ROBERTS on his departure handed over the week later the Peking-Tientsin line was termined to abide by their professions, much
were send.
may be possible. The materials for pros- supreme control. When the actual fighting broken and the Ministers is over, there remains the politic settle- ing for guards for the Legations. The perity at least are at hand, if the right in- too struments can be found with which to work. ment, the question of rewards and punish-subsequent progress of events is
In Hongkong the disturbances which have ments, the meeting of the enormous bill, and familiar to need repetition. It is but a
so shaken China have barely been felt To- the cure of all the evils which come in the short time ago that we were reading of the train of a prolonged and bitter war. It is, capture of the Taku Forts, Admiral Sex-wards the end of the summer the so-called we repeat, as hard a task as Great Britain has MOUR's expedition, the two sieges of Tien- Triad Rebellion in Kwangtung succeeded ever undertaken. But for our willingness to tsin, the heroic defence of the Legations at in causing some anxiety here as to undertake it we are not without a great re- Peking, and the allied advance on that city safety of the frontier of our New Territory, turn. The past year has seen a consolidation and the rescue of the besieged foreigners. For but there was never any serious danger of of the Empire which nothing but the period four months now we have been watching the troubles across the boundary spreading of danger through which we have passed the attempts to arrive at a settlement with on to British soil. The activity of the could have brought about. The tie between China, and it is just eight days since the police in the hunting down of Triad Society the Mother Country and the Colonies is now Powers presented their demands to the men here has borne good fruit, and Hong- stronger than it has ever been. It is, how- Chinese plenipotentiaries. It is a heavy kong has been peacable, though various ever, assuming a different character. The charge which the Chinese Government has events have contributed to make the year The arrival of some of the Colonies in playing their part in the defence to meet and a heavy reckoning to pay. By memorable. of the Empire have established a claim for the ignorance and corruption of the reac- heroes of Ladysmith at this port naturally a voice in its affairs which justice readily tionary party, nearly all of whom are Man-created no little sensation, and so in_a admits. It will not be possible in future to chus, the Chinese Empire has been brought different way did the call of H.E. LI look on Canada, Australia, and the others to the lowest depths of degradation which HUNG-CHANG on his way north. Commer- who have come to the assistance of Britain, it has ever reached. Once before was Peking cially the year has been one of prosperity, merely as conveniently distant countries to in the hands of foreigners, but never was in spite of the serious influence of the which to send our more adventurous spirits the Imperial Court reduced to such humilia. Northern troubles on trade, which, however, -and our failures-as lauds from which to tion as in its flight from the Sacred City has been less than might have been expect- draw our food supplies, as sources of in- last August. Since then all the old Chinese ed. Signs of growth, even in the shape comes on which to return home to rest. The address and diplomacy have been exerted to of new piers, are not wanting, and on we may congratulate our- Colonies have become integral parts of the escape from the consequence of misdeeds the whole
"Ppear to be as far Empire, and nothing will do more to em- against foreigners sanctioned and rewarded selves, though we
ever from any practical cure for phasise this than the consummation of the by the governing clique, but the inevitable | as great Australian federation, which next now confronts the conquered and it remains the overcrowding problem, and house-rent year will be an accomplished fact. How far to make reparation. With the end of the and the price of food continue to be oxor- the British constitution may have to be modi- century there is called for a change in the bitant. With regard to the public health, fied to be applicable to the new state of attitude of China toward the outer world, we have unfortunately suffered another year affairs, no one would care to prophesy; but which alone can guarantee her continuance severe epidemic of plague, for the third this year 1901 is the first of a century which as an Empire. She cannot stand among in succession; but in other respects our cannot but see at no very distant dates the peoples of the world unless she also health-bill has been very clean. Public certain developments of the very highest recognises the march of events. But with interest is very much engaged in the ques- importance in the relation of Britain and this lesson to China there has been another tion of malarial fever, as even our own her off-shoots over the face of the globe. lesson to the Powers, which we trust will columns alone bear witness, and local For China, the past year has been one innot be forgotten. This lesson is that the experts are strenuously doing their share in most painful and startling contrast with behaviour of foreign nations toward the the study of this very important question, its predecessor. A cataclysm has swept Chinese Empire will no more bear inspec- which still, though not by any means in the Lok of over the north of this old Empire which tion than that of China toward foreigners, degree as once it did, touches our life on promises to leave such marks as no previous It is not only Sir ROBERT HART who can this island very nearly. There is no
the
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