52
ther small stores in which wine might be bought, are forbidden to sell to soldiers. There were 4,000 of them in Manila when the Americans took possession, and the Filipinos were and continue a most temperate people.
BANKS, SCHOOLS, ETC.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND painted, perhaps they might still be hostile every- | where. Improved acquaintance has doubtless had something to do with encouraging the natural desire for peace. Conversely, it has disclosed that the new colonists, not counting | the Tagalogs or the tribes untouched by civ- ilisation, comprise many bright, likeable people whose instruction in ways American will be most interesting to watch, especially as they seem eager to be instructed.
The Commission had to deal with the banks, which took a course that threatened a panic last year. They are not yet brought around to straight banking methods, but the value of the check put upon them, by preventing them from creating a scarcity of currency by export- ing it, is recognised by the business community. which now awaits with satisfaction the time when American institutions may supplant the colonial system heretofore tolerated in these islands. A school system has been devised and its operation started. There is no reform that seems to interest the people more. Its limita- tions for the present I have defined in another letter, but the opportunity for general educa. tion which it affords and the great promise which it holds out for the development of native talent, receives unstinted commendation every where. There have been minor tariff regula- tions, through military and special orders, pending the operation of the revenue tariff schedule adopted early in the year; the civil service law has been put in force, reports have been submitted in relation to mines, forestry and public lands. internal improvements, fran- chises, militia and police. Work on the code of sivil procedure, on the civil and criminal codes on banks, currency, registration of titles and on public health have been completed, or will be ready to submit for final approval shortly. All of this work is to be added to the adoption of laws under which municipalities and provinces have been organised, and plans formed for a central government, which will set in motion provisionally complete civil machinery,
The publicity given to the consideration of these various subjects, the diligence with which
|
[July 15, 1901.
view to
plunder, or induce the villagers to swear brother- hood and join their society with starting a fresh rebellion. The rebel chief is Wong 8s Kün. On the 21st or 22nd of June Pun Pui Kai, the commander of the regimenta in Yam Chow, went with some soldiers and tried to capture the robbers, who numbered several hundreds, mostly Triad Society men. They had a fearful fight from morning till evening. The robbers were strong and were quite able to resist the Imperial troops. The latter were defeated and had to beat a retreat. The number killed and wounded is unknown.
A COTTON ENTERPRISE.
THE PRELIMINARIES ACCOMPLISHED. Establishment of civil government over the greater portion of the archipelago in a little more than one year after the present Commis-
As the cotton towels and napkins imported sion began its work may be considered only as a basis for future development. The system from abroad command a large sale in Canton, cannot become complete or fixed until Congress some enterprising merchants have started a shall convert provisional plans into permanent company, selected a place in Honam, sent for ones, define the province which insular govern-machinery from abroad and employed workmen ment may occupy, and shall make equally plain to imitate the manufacture of these foreign the prerogatives in respect to insular affairs goods. which it may intend to reserve to itself. Foundation for a rule that may be styled popular has been nearly laid, however, and there is not much risk in the prediction that little of it will need to be rebuilt.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 6th July.
THE FOURTH.
The Glorious Fourth was fittingly celebrated in Canton. The U.S. Consulate was tastefully decorated with large lanterns and fresh flowers. and from noon to 2 p.m. there was a reception. At noon a salute of twenty-one guns was fired from the man-of-war Monterey, and the ships of war and other vessels were gaily dressed in bunting. The Stars and Stripes were flying on the U.S. Consulate and other private residences in Shameen. At night there were
FOOCHOW.
The Foochow Echo of the 29th June has the following items:-
Mr. L. A. Mackinnon, of H. B. M. Consulate, eft on Wednesday for Santu, and will be absent lfor some weeks. Before returning he is to visit, we understand, Fah-ning and other missionary stations in the vicinity,
One of the passengers by the last trip of the Haeshin to Shanghai was Mr. Reginald Tower, Secretary of Legation at Peking. During his short stay here be was the guest of Mr. P. E. O'Brien-Butler, H. B. M. Consul.
steamy heat, the weather at the close of the Between heavy rains, thunderstorms and month is not agreeable. If sickness amongst the natives may be gauged by the length of their noisy procersions, there can scarcely be less than there was last year at this time-the time of a large consumption of unripe fruit.
Of recent improvements
individual members of the Commission have illuminations and fireworks, and the Monterey | community, few, if any undertaken by the
followed up their assignments, and the visible benefits already accruing from the outlook for civil government could hardly fail to produce a beneficial effect.
THE COMMISSION TRUSTED.
No better tribute need be paid to the Commission than to say that it has inspired a constantly widening trust that the new govern-
was especially to be noted for her attraction and brilliancy. She was beautifully illuminated with coloured lanterns, and the letting off of rockets of red and green colour called forth great admiration, as well as exclamations from the celestials. Owing to a false report, which appeared in the Chinese newspapers, that there was going to be a dragon-boat race manned
commend them- selves more to the public than the purchase and demolition of the shops in the street leading from the hill to the Hongkong Bank premises and to the Foochow Native Hospital. The street is widened and a very cramped corner done away with, while the street itself is now a continuous one with that leading to the Amoy
ment is to be wholesome in its principles and by foreigners, a large number of flower boata Road and so to the Foochow Native Hospital.
methods, looking closely after the common welfare and prosperity. There must be many adjustments to suit the peculiar and diverse wants here presented, and new problems must doubtless be worked out. Whatever the variations of opinion may be as to the conclu- sions of the Commission, its industry and the full and fair hearing which it has been disposed to give on all the subjects before it, have certainly extended the Filipino horizon and prompted native intentions whose sincerity is not yet to be doubted. The contribution of other agencies, civil and military, need not be underrated in ascribing to the diligence and earnestness of the Commission a good share of the credit for bringing about such pacification of the islands as has occurred.
THE PEOPLE AND THE SETTLEMENT.' Definition of native motive will not be complete if it fails to take account of the general desire of the people for peace. Nearly everything that the Commission proposés is mere abstraction to the masses, and quite beyond their power to comprehend it. All can understand, however,
say from 40 to 50, and other small boats were hired at pretty high prices by Chinese, who together with their families had been anchored opposite Shameen in expectation of seeing the dragon-boat races; but they were sadly disappointed, and had to leave between 4 and
5 p.m.
GAMBLING GAMES IN CANTON.
Canton is the largest gambling centre in the world; besides fantan, waishing, white pigeon, * keeper, and shanpew lotteries, there is a sort of game known as Town-gan (i.e., ox-fighting), which is something like dominoes. The player at such a game if he loses all his money may stake all the clothing that he wears on his person; if he loses all his clothing and shoes the gambling master would give him some paper to round his loins or a suit of old and dirty wrap clothes in exchange for the one that he wears. If he loses again he may pawn his person for so much money and be allowed to con- tinue playing, and if he loses again the gam- bling master may order him to be kept in prison in a place outside the gambling-house. It is
very
Business in the tea market continues on
limited scale; prices, as yet, not having fallen to a level to lead to more extensive transactions. The settlements of Congou to date are only 73,000 half-chests against 197,00: half-chests last year: the stock is 128,000 half- chests against 112,000 half-cheats last year. The export to Europe is 3,854,412 lbs. against 5,180,198 lbs. last year.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The P. & T. Times of the 29th June con- tains the following items:--
The Chinese are taking over the policing of Peking on July 1st.
The German and French Ministers are said
of Chinese troops. to have taken exception to the return to Peking
Lofa and Yangtann, and we believe the Chinese The 3rd Bombay Cava'ry have returned from are now preserving order in those districts.
telegraph operators to Honan, where the new Sheng Taotai has already despatched a staff
of
the concrete misfortunes that have visited them, popularly said in such cases that "the ox is in / lines will be in operation in a few days' time,
prison," there being many such oxen in prison. Then the man may write to his family or friends to beg of them to send money to redeem him from imprisonment.
THE BRIGANDS AGAIN.
R.
The officers, and N.C.O.'s and men of the
W. Fusiliers courteously circulated a card of thanks to the ladies of Tientsin for decorating the graves of their comrades on the 17th inst.
Two regiments of soldiers have been discover- ed in Peking, says the Je Je, one belonging to Prince Tuan and another to Kang Yi, and one of the Foreign Ministers has demanded that The Governor of Kansuh is trying to get the Imperial sanction to change the coinage they be dispersed and not fed with tribute rice.
and institute one and two cent pieces and 2 csak pieces for the province in the same way as has
the burning of towns, the waste of lands, and the burdensome tribute forced to support insurrection. They are tired of it all. "Any change would be welcome, for none could make life more irksome than it has been. Unfavourable as opinion may be of the Tagalogs, who inspired
Yum Chow is in the district of Fong Shing and have controlled native action, those still in the province of Kwang Tung lying between inclined toward sweeping condemnation of the Kwangsi and Tonkin. Ever since Tonkin be- Filipinos should consider that truth is not a native product, and when the other thing was ment have placed garrisons of soldiers there
came a French possession the Chinese Govern sown in ignorance it is not to be wondered that to watch the frontier. But the hillsand mountain it found fertile soil. When from whatever fastnesses of Yum Chow are covered with deep motive the people were led to fear that their forests and high trees, and the robbers are beautiful islands were threatened with a tyranny making their headquarters in a place called | been done in Canton. worse than that from which they had revolted, Sup Man Shan (1.8., hundred thousand hills).received from Peking to the affect that the The Je Je states that a telegram has been the moderation of the rebellion becomes the Every now and then they boldly sally forth to natives around Proting are again giving most remarkable thing about it. The territory here is certainly worth fighting for, and fight-
trouble, and the Chinese troops have been un- ing long and hard. If in brushing against the
able to suppress them. It is reported the French troops are going out to settle the trouble, Americans the people had found them as bad as
* Keepew is a lottery of shop-names to the number of 120, while the shampoo is a lottery almost the same as the white pigeon lottery.
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