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February 13, 1902.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
LORD ROSEBRY AND THE LIBEALS.
The
"and thus give the required pretext to Germany for unreasonable demands based upon fictitious interests." Dr. MORRISON, it will be seen, writes in no uncertain
(Daily Press, 3rd January.) bis opinion
than terms, and
There is as evidently a periodicity in party counterbalances the many alarmist reports strife as in all other things mundane. which have been circulated about the con-
so-called Liberal party in England afforded dition of affairs by less responsible writers.
a curious exemplification of this rule the A genuine advance, however, is being made other day by calling on Lord ROSEBERY to by Japan. On both the Lower and Upper revive the dormant energies of party war- Yangteze there are excellent Japanese fare. We do not suggest that the position steamers made in Japan upon British models and well adapted for the service. that, half a dozen parties. Conservatism has is peculiar to any one, or, for the matter of They are scrupulously clean and comfort been dormant, as a vivifying influence, for able, work at low rates, and treat their perhaps a longer period; but the result for native passengers with marked considera- tion. They are quickly making their way, lost for the majority all interest, and for the moment is that questions of party have Dr. MORRISON says; and we need not
the instant, with the exception of a few wonder at this, especially as Viceroy CHANG good" souls who keep wandering with CHIH-TUNG is very favourable to the
their eyes in the clouds, the Empire has Japanese, who supply all the foreign in- structors to his troops, with the exception of pretty well made up its mind on the great three Germans. The Japanese, indeed, it problems of the day not being those of at which nine out of ten intelligent men seems, are making unobtrusive progress of party but those of state. a far more real nature than the dreaded would arrive at after a perusal of Lord Germans. With regard to the concession ROSEBERY's speech is that the country belonging to the latter at Hankow, Dr. would be perfectly safe in the hands of him MORRISON has some very incisive comments, and his two condjutors Sir E. GREY and which we will quote in their entirety. He Mr. ASQUITH, but that were he to be placed says: "The German concession is part of in office to-morrow he and they would do the reward enacted by Germany for assist-precisely the same as Lord SALISBURY and ing Russia to eject Japan from the his fellow-ministers. Lord ROSEBERY told Leao-tong Peninsula. Large sums of
us indeed that no better man for the posi- money have been spent on it. A beautiful tion he occupies than Lord MILNER could embankment has been built, the land be found, and he more than hinted that he "has been raised, and roads built, but, would desire of all men Mr. CHAMBERLAIN
though there has been plenty of time for
as his Colonial Secretary. One of his chief "the concession to be peopled, it is still
charges against Lord SALISBURY was that "almost empty. Circulars have been issued inviting the Chinese to come there and take up their residence, and promising
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44
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them freedom from interference. But
the Chinese show a marked unwillingness "to take advantage of German methods of municipal government, and the concession is as empty as is the similar concession "at Tientsin. Yet this empty concession 18 "the motive of much trumpet-blowing in Germany as an indication of the value "of German interests on the Yangtsze." After the way in which we have been asked, in some quarters, to watch Germany's rapid progress toward the position of at least equal power with us in the Yangtsze region,
it is well to hear the other side of the case
put so strongly. It is not, of course, to be denied that Germany may ultimately be justified for the outlay which she is making in her efforts to build up a trade in this region.
At present it seems that her advisers in the matter are excessively sanguine.
The conclusion
he did not investigate the JAMESON Raid, but the JAMESON Raid has already passed into the region of history, if not of myth, and no more affects the politics of the day than does the propriety of ACHILLES's con- duct in dragging about the body of HECTOR. Really no one cares to know, except from the historical side, the incidents of the Raid, which have entirely ceased to influence the world of action, whether Boer or Imperial. Another subject of complaint almost as unpractical was that, notwithstanding an abundance of talk, the British army was not transformed; as statesmen since the beginn- ing of the nineteenth century have been
as
vainly labouring towards the same end, perhaps the last failure is not so reprehen- sible after all. However, it is not
we have made the above remarks, but as arguments for one party or the other that indicative of the fact that the time looked back to with regret by Macaulay, when
None were for a faction, But all wore for the State; When the rich man helped the poor,
95
the perfervid light of party eloquence
night have entailed misunderstanding ↑ between the Powers, and it was 13 well these were forgotten or neglected. On the other hand there are doubtless cir- cumstances in which even the "foolish
prate" of a novice in statescraft like Sir HENRY BANNERMAN brings late conviction to the most obdurate of political sinners. Still on the whole the country has bene- fitted by the absence of party cries, and the little men who shout them in season and out of season. British policy was not very strong in China at the beginning of the year; and we blush to think what it might have descended to had little-minded men like, say, Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT or Lord KIMBERLEY found any opening to ministration. As it is, we owe a partial ventilate their peculiar ideas of ad- escape from a position at one time ex- tremely critical to the absence of party discussion, which would have removed the subjects discussed from the realms of wholesome argument to the narrow arena
of faction. Instead of a contest of
no
heroes, 1 with the world for spectators, it woud base degenerated to the old village game of bull-baiting, with greater advantage
to the country at large. To a large extent of course this diminution of the pressure of party has been brought about by the necessity of engaging in wider contests; the world has scen a revival of those national aspirations which markel the end of the eighteenth century, and the last dozen years have been more especially noted for these contests for national supremacy-be it military or be it. commercial. France had some idea of
entering again on a contest for military supremacy such as landed her in ruin in the early ears of the nineteenth century; Considerations chiefly financial first directed the mindy of the nation to the in Germany having expediency of gained her aims in the contest with France, felt herself sufficiently strong to embark in another war, no less intense, for the com- mercial land of the world; she too late
this.
as she
awoke to the fact that a commercial war carried on with methods such brought nto the fiell requires as long-
the most extravagant of a purse as
For both these event- ualities England had to arm, and it required military contests.
large to avoid shipwreck in the under- the undivided attention of the nation at taking During the last year, the old ambition of a Tsar NICHOLAS for universal dominion of the old JENGHIS type has broken out into open violence, and those whose very existence depended on their And the poor man loved the great,
ability to keep a troublesome, and oft The Chinese post-office is able to record a had momentarily, at least arrived, and that dangerous, neighbour under control were great success, the Ostasiatische Lloyd says. the Empire had profited by it to take stock too much fascinated at the very sight of the Until now their stamps were not recognised by of many things which when party is in the danger to be able to grasp the fact that the the countries of the postal union, excpt Hong ascendant are apt to be dropped out of first to fall victims would be themselves. kong, Macao and Formosa, and there only for
recollection. One of the most pleasing Fortunately, with a clearer prevision of the local reasons. If any one posted a letter with Chinese stamps, either in Shanghai or any expressions of this unity of aim was afforded issues involved, Japan was the first to give other treaty port, for Europe, the Chinese post-in the unprecedented voyage of the Duke the warning note but to be aware of a office stuck the necessary Hongkong stamps of Cornwall and York, to thank the Colonies danger is one thing, to take measures to for which they did not charge. From for the unanimity with which they bad avoid it is another, and a more difficult the 1st January, Chinese mail matter with supported the arms of the Old Country, and part. These have been things to stagger Chinese stamps only (no Hongkong stamps to preside at the installation of the youngest the wisest, but fortunately the Empire at being necessary) will be forwarded by the French post-office of any treaty port, to countries of group in its new position as a practically large has risen to the task, and has seen the postal union. The French authorities have independant state, free from the interfer- that there are more important issues to be arranged with the Chinese post-office to forward ence of what we will allow to be the most decided than the unworthy parochial strug- their mails for a lump sum. The sam is said galling of pedagogues, the British Parlia-gles of a mere red or green faction, such to be rather large, but China now actually ment. Another, and scarcely less pleasing as had occupied the attentions of Great belongs to the postal union, even if as yet only result of the dormancy of Party during the Britain during the third quarter of the old partly. The Chinese mail-bags were despatched to Europe by the French post-office on the year, was the very improved feeling that century. Lord ROSEBERY has refused to 13th January. It is understood the German prevailed between the Empire at large allow himself to be recalled to the miser- Under ordinary able squabbles of these wretched days; authorities are also negotiating with the and the United States.
there were many little and in this lies his strongest claim to the Chinese maritime customs on the forwarding of circumstances
points, the discussion of which under gratitude of the nation. Chinese mail matter to foreign countries.
also
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