February 9, 1903.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. himself better informed among Europeans, the warm, supporters of missionary enter with regard to the secret workings of prise and the sir,ng opponents who are most diplomacy in China. He proffers the disposed to keep the matter before the explanation that in Germany as in England public. Yet it is indubitably a fact that it there has been a change of policy. Both is equally to the interest of all concerned countries started out with an allierence in the future of intercourse between China to the policy of spheres of influence. And and the foreign. Powers to help toward a both Powers have substituted for it a policy settlement of the difficulties arising out of of the open door, hut with this notable mission work in China. And it is to the exception, that Gerinany changed her moderate party that we must look chiefly to policy after she had secured her advan-arringe a settlement. It cannot be expected tageous position in Shratung, while we either that Chinese officials will be forced abandoned our policy before we had secured to go on putting up any advantage whatsoever in the Yangtsze interference with their administration of with non-consular Valley. It is a fitting corollary to our
the law or that, with the wide-spread policy (says Dr. MORRISON) that in an corruption obtaining in that administration, offensive German semi-official communique|| the foreign Powers can consent to see the wired from Berlin on November 12, it is an- work of their nationals among the Chinese attended by unmerited hardships to the couverts. If all Chinese officials were upright and all missionaries discriminating there would be no need for any arrange. ment between China and the Powers for restraining either: pagdy; but such, as is only too well known, is far from being the
nounced that England agrees not to try to obtain any privilege in the Yaugtsze Valley, with which promise Germany is fully satisfied." At this point, as far as is known, matters rest. Shanghai has been evacuated, but what are we to imagine that the Powers concerned in the secret intrigues of October last consider that they have gained? It is true that, after sending the notes to France and Germany, Chiua sent supplementary despatches declaring that the assurance applied not only to the Yangtsz: Valley, but to the whole of China, Manchuria, and Mongolia. Manchuria, however, stems none the less lost to China in perpetuity. The best bope for Britain is that Sir ERNEST SATOW, who is trusted by British residents in China as recent British Ministers at Peking have been trusted, will be able to show to the home Government, while he is in London, that the utterances of Dr. MORRISON and those who hold the same views are not inspire merely by fear of German or any other Power, but are prompted by genuine and well-informed concern for the interests of Great Britain.
THE MISSIONARY QUESTION.
case.
It is an undoubted fact that there is a good deal of unfounded prejudice- though not so much as some would have us believe-against native Christians in the minds of many of the Chinese alministra- tors of justice. It is also provel, on the testimony of inland missionaries them selves, that the convert is able in a great many, cases to bring undue influence to bear when he is in trouble. The latter fact is very often not the fault of the missionary himself, but of the convert Yet if the converts were not led by past experience to believe that an appeal to the foreign teacher would bring them the ail which they wante they would not appeal in the way they do for tat aid. Recently in China's
Millions we read of a
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of this nature will not be left out of the account, for if so, and if all idea of altern tion in missionary methods in China must ba dismissed, then the Commission may as well never be appointed.
HONGKONG AND THE CURRENCY
QUESTION. !.
We
(Daily Press, 31st January.) Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce We feel assured that the statement that the
sider the currency question some time after will after all have a spe ial inceting to con-
kong residents generally. The decision of raco week has been welcomed by Hong. the Committee at its December meeting intimated, received wit's a certain amount not to reopen the question was, as we bave
these feelings limited only to those who of surprise and dissatisfaction. Nor were
wish to see Hongkong striving at once for the establishment of a gold standard. believe that there are in this Colony a grent - number of people with a perfectly open mind on the subject. In the majority of cases such people feel that the arguments for and against a gold standard bere have never yet been threshed out; knowing very little about the matter themselves, they are yet able to see the evil effects of the great deprecia. to hear what those who have been able to tion of silver and they are therefore anxious devote some study to the question can urge. Chamber of Commerce that it should be It is a reason for congratulation to the
willing to gratify this natural desire. It was argued last month that there is a great danger of any general discussion about the that this need be so, if those who wish to currency being desultory. We do not see
have the issues fairly tried may abstain from vague statements as to what may happen if Hongkong does or does not adopt a gold
currency. to this:
The real question resolves itse.f Is the matter of sufficient im portance to Hongkong to warrant the request for an expert commission of exami nation. The Straits Settlements have
case where the supposed successful interference of a mis sionary-as a matter of fact he had done nothing, though the convert had got what. he desired-led to crowds "coming to: worship" at the Mission. The missionary (Daily Press, 4th February.) ingenuously comments: -"It was encourag- There has been a considerable amounting to see so many coming, but perplexing of correspondence of late in the Shanghai papers and elsewhere on the perennial subject of missionaries, naive Christians, and lawsuits, but it cannot be said that there is any more finality about the dis-to the North-China Daily News sees some. A correspondent writing from Hankow cussion than before.
This subject, of thing very ominous in the persistent demand will be devoid of profit to the Straits or to
"
葛层
"
to know how to treat them." We fail to see the ground for encouragement, from a religious point of view.
i
room for
:
course, is but a branch of the general of the Chinese for a free hand with native missionary question," a clause about Christians, which," he says, "is the plain which was oddly enough inserted in the English of it." He goes on to quote, and British commercial treaty with China to, endorse, a recent remark of Dr. MARTIN, arranged last year by Sir JAMES MACKAY. | who has devoted more than fifty years to Article XIII of that treaty, it may be remem-mission work in China, that “in the present bered, ran:-"The missionary question in reform movement there is no room for China being, in the opinion of the Chiese Christianity." This is a striking state Government, oue requiring car ful con meut, coming from one of so much ex- sideration, so that, if possible, troubles perience as Dr. MARTIN, and the supporters such as bave occurred in the past may be of the missionary movement would do well "averted in the future, Great Britain agrees to reflect upon it. If the reformers, the "to join in a Commission to investigate the party to which we must necessarily look for question, and, if possible, to devise means whatever progress China is likely to make "for securing permanent peace between in the near future, frud no
converts and non-converts, should such a Christianity in their programme, does it Commission be formed by China and the not suggest itself that the preachers of "Treaty Powers interested.' Such a Com-Christianity have gone a wrong way about mission still awaits formation, and iù the evangelising Chin, and that a systein meantime various aspects of the missionary which brings to worship "encouraging question continue to present themselves as numbers, who ac of old. That aspect which concerns the how to treat," is useless if those who are perplexing to know action of missionaries when native converts most hopeful about their country (as the are involved in lawsui's has attracted the reformers must be considered) are left most attention of late, and it is indeed the practically untouched by this part of most difficult branch of the question at Western teaching? There is the example issue. Some rather voluminous letters have of Japan to look to Can it be regarded | appeared in the North-China Daily News as encouraging? If and when such a recently, interesting in themselves, but of a Commission as that contemplated in Article partisan character for the most part. This XIII of Sir JAMES MACKAY'S treaty is presence of bias is natural, for it is, of course, formed, it is to be hoped that considerations
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applied for and obtained such a commission to enquire into the desirability of a gold standard for themselves. It does not follow that the standard will therefore be decided un. But it is not possible that the enquiry
to Hongkong a very different set of circum- silver-using places generally. With regard stances exist; yet the matter of currency is who have the best interests of the Colony none the less urgent because of this. Those
at heart (and we believe that in their ranks are very many advocates of silver, very tuaity of showing their wisdom, not by many of gold) have before them an oppor
coloured one way or the other by many explaining at length their own ideas, things personal and general, but by asking that the question shall receive expert con- sideration in the same way as our Southern nighbours, the Straits Settlements, have matter as far as it concerns them. succeeded in obtaining consideration of the
Aboul a year ago Japan and indeed the Far Eat geno ally were startled to hear of the disaster which befell the 5th Regiment in the preparing to despatch a similar expedition this snow at Aomori. Now the same regiment is season, proceeding with the greater cantion born of bitte experience. The three lieutenants who escaped death by freezing last year are in charge of the arrangements. The Japan Times slates that the monument to be erected at the place of the disaster will be completed by the bronze and represent the figure, 30 feet from mildle of April. The monument will be ing base to top, of a soldier at the time of the unfortunate incident.
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