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to misguide them, the masses of the people may be trusted not to make trouble. They wish to pursue their quiet ways undisturbed. If they may be reasonably protected in that effort, they will be quite satisfied to let those who will make the money and manage the politics of the islands.
cases.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
so far experienced only in isolated (The intimacy between constabulary and people expected to make political schism for selfish ends, and plots against the common welfare, impossible. Free discussion, general enlighten- ment upon matters of public concern, the ren- tilation of differences of opinion, and other In a force of 4,000, not more than 200 of the interchanges compatible with orderly govern- insular constabulary will be Americans. They ment will never be discouraged. If allegiance will have their commanding offices. There be loyal and unquestioned, details of political will be a chief, four assistant chiefs. each conduct will not come under official dis- in immediate command of considerable ter- | pleasure. the constabulary is specially en- ritory, and from one to four inspectors joined not to interfere in municipal or provincial for each province. Non-commissioned offices elections. A constable may vote in his province, and the ranks will be filled by natives. but he must not be an election officer, or solicit There will be from 15 to 150 men to a pro- votes, or himself be a candidate at any election. vince. When the constabulary project was first All the duties which the law assigns to the bronched, many thought it a good plan to constabulary are intended to attract rather than contide the peace interests of no province to repel loyal and orderly sentiment in the meu from that province. It seemed as if provinces. The municipal police will be strangers would be less influenced by local permitted to proceed with their work unham environment than friends, and that if men pered, except in case of inefficiency or miscou- watched their own neighbourhoods, they might duct. Provincial inspectors are required to lead in unruly sentiment rather than carb it. examine municipal police conditions and to Since the most important function of the report upon them. This does not warrant constabulary will be to keep the government officious assumption of superiority, and if both in the closest poss ble touch with public feel-insular and municipal bodies do faithful service, ing, those in authority concluded that a con- one should supplement the other so efficiently stabulary strange to the masses would be less as to insure smooth running of the official likely to know such feeling or to enjoy con machinery. The constabulary will be expected fidences in regard to it, than would men toward to have reliable sources of information as to whom neighbourhoods entertained a friendly movements of political concern in the provinces, relation. If a neighbourhood were bent on and to inform the government of the progress mischief or were approached by schemers, a of counsels that invite dissension. It can hardly strange constabulary would either be kept in be hope that malcontents will subside at once. ignorance of it, or it might as readily fall in with Stern measures of suppression may now and it as a force not strange. On the other hand, then be necessary. If the people really want were the force loyal and alert, it would be much
prace, however, and wish opportunity to satisfy more efficient, both as an agency of restraint, themselves by actual trial of the purposes of and arrest, than if it had excited the resentment government to deal fairly by all interests. the of the people by coming in from another pro- constabulary can help them to such a trial by Appointments on this basis would thus keeping the field clear of disturbing elements. carry not only an expression of confidence and impose on appointees a fealty not otherwise perhaps to be inspired, but they appeal to local pride and honour. Provinces are thereby im pelled. from considerations of sentiment, to keep good their credit with authority.
vince.
The constabulary will be composed of picked men, chosen for character, intelligence, and courage. Drill will be as thorough and as regular as in the army, and discipline as well ob erved. The rate of pay is high enough to induce a good quality of service, and there can be no doubt that the pay will be promptly distributed, instead of piling up arrears, as occurred in other times. Under. inilitary rule in Manila, the police organisation here was as creditable as in any city in the United States, having been chosen from volunteer or regular soldiers of conspicuously good record. Many of these men have entered the constabulary as provincial inspectors. The higher officers have done themselves credit in the army. Applicants among the natives were so numerous as to make easily possible the most careful selections.
The duties of patrol to be performed by the constabulary are intended to keep under close watch at all times and in order the various pro- rinces, so that travel, business, and living will be safe in every part of the islands. Brigand- age, always a widespread curse, will be relent- lessly hunted. With bandits, as with insur- rectos, the natives are most tolerant. They would like to run them out, but dare not of their own initiative for fear of clan feuds or revenges. White troops could never rely on native help in tracking them down or disposing of them. Such hope as may be encouraged in respect to this form of lawlessness must rest upon acquaintance with local conditions, and it can be furthered only through an agency like the constabulary, enjoying the confidence of the people in its various fields of work and having certainly behind it ample force to carry out its purposes. Soldiers have had too much to do of a disagreeable nature in the last few years to make them an acceptable element in provincial life. When it is known, as now it should be, that the military will keep hands off in civil affairs, but that it will be at civil call, at the instance of native authority, for the suppres- sion of disorder, and that such call will be prompted by the constabulary, white troops may come to be regarded as allies rather than as meddlers in native affairs. Therein lies the prospect of a cordiality of relation,
It is hoped that the constabulary may serve as a link between government and people, to the end that improved acquaintance may put them on a good footing toward each other. Those in authority believe that, once convinced of the beneficent intentions of government, the people will become devoted to it. There 1s as little doubt that authority can be exercised with clearer intelligence when it shall appreciate better than now the motives and aspirations of those to be governed. The task of bringing the two into sympathy may well engage talent of a superior order. to which the constabulary alone could hardly be equal. That body is to have a most important part in preparing the people, by simple, practical example, for the great popular lesson which it is hoped to teach. If good behaviour can be insured until the masses shall be convinced that their interests and those the government are identical, and hence are to be served only by peaceful, orderly relations, the chief problem in the Philippines will thereby be solved. No work in that direction can at present be so effectual as that devolving upon the constabulary.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P. & T. Times of the 9th inst.:
The River Improvement works are a great sight at present. Both the large cuttings are in hand, and no less than twenty-two thousand men are at work on them.
We note with pleasure that a subscription, list has been opened under the auspices of the B.M.C. on behalf of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The men lost nearly all their kits in the recent fire; in their prompt action to save the horses from a ghastly fate they deliberately ignored their own gear, and we are confident that Tientsin will see that they are not losers by this. The politeness and efficiency with which the men do their tiresome and exacting police duty have given them a strong claim on our gratitude; we say nothing of the social obliga- tion we owe them, as we are confident Tientsin needs no fillip to perform a duty which is of the nature of a pleasure.
His Majesty's Minister is making a tour of the Consular Ports and will visit as many as he can before the closing of the Pei-ho naviga- tion. He is understood at presert to have gone up the Yangtsze and hopes to be back in Peking about the 6th prox. We hope His Excellency
[November 23, 1901.
will try to ignore the so-called pressure of normal business and make an annual trip to To say nothing of the good effect the Litoral. of change on health, the Capital is such a p'aco that no man should stay there long. We have never known a man long resident in Peking whose moral fibre did not require brucing up. We devoutly hope that Sir Ernest in his itinerary will not keep exclusively to the Con- sulates. He will often find the air more bracing in the Hongs of his own folk.
The P. and T. Times has a leading article and several other references to the late Li Hung-chang. In the editorial the writer says: -“ Li lived and died a great opportunist, living from hand to mouth. let us adil in justice that he did more to stave off the inevitable than any other Chinese statesman of his Our contemporary age could have done." states that the old Viceroy's death-bed was attended by his two sons Lord Li and Li Ching Mei, and cautions its realers not to believe the certain crop of rubbish and lies that will gather round the last few days of the life history of the dead statesman.
M. Pethick
The death of the old Chung Tang, says the same paper, will tell on his fidus Achates Mr. W. Pethick, who, we regret to hear, is still in far from robust health at Chefoo. at one time contemplated writing the life of the Viceroy Li, and was understood to have cellected a vast amount of material for the purpose. It is to be hoped that in due time this work will appear. No other foreigner since the Jesuits' palmy days has ever been so much behind the veil which hides the Chinese official mind from our scrutiny. The history of China in decay has with the irony of events, cohered round the personality of the one man who tried to gal vanise her into new life: the story of this life, if told with candour and philosophic insight, will be one of the most fascinating biographies
ever written.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinious expressed by our correspondents.]
SAILORS AND RICKSHA-COOLIES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PEE88." H.M. Dockyard, 15th November. SIR,-Commencing in the same way as "One who Knows." I was particularly struck by a portion of his last paragraph, in which he states
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If the coolie sometimes tries to make a good thing out of a maudlin bluejacket he is only paying back old scores." Your correspondent evidently thinks that two wrongs make a right, and that because the ricksha-coolie is fleeced (and I may state that-with twenty months' residence ashore here-the civilian element are greater signers in this respect than Jack) he is perfectly free to make up his deficit out of the pockets of a drunken sailor.
Now, Sir," One who Knows" evidently wants a little plain talking to. There are, roughly speaking, some 13,000 Naval men in Chinese waters, and the author of that letter has in my opinion grossly insulted them as a body: he has also by his letter practically called the Rev. C. Bone a liar, and then finishes by hiding his identity under a nom de plume. I personally really do know, and can as a sailor add my testimony to that of the Wesleyan Chaplain, that the bluejacket is systematically fleeced, as only occasionally coming ashore, and in most cases knowing nothing whatever about fares, he generally gives the coolie what he asks for.
Yours, etc.,
ARNOLD E. HENWOOD.
am
TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."
U.S.S. Princeton, 19th November. SIR,-Owing to the irregularity of the receipt of the daily papers on board a man-o'-war, somewhat tardy in noticing that letter in the Press under date of November 14th, champion- ing the cause of the ricksba-coolie verzus Jack ashore, written by some unscrupulous individual who cowardly voices his sentiments under the nom de plume of "One who knows," and in reply to his bare and thoughtless assertion, I beg to make a statement in defence of myself and shipmates.
L
It is a well known fact that generosity is Jack's greatest attribute, and in view of that
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