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March 21, 1904.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
215
behalf of its future welfare rewarded with | Wenchow, must we consider Mr. COWEN | certainly contrary to all human experience,
success.
THE "CHINA TIMES" CASE AT TIENTSIN.
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(Daily Press, 16th March.) A certain amount of explanation has now reached us with regard to the threatened deportation of Mr. JOHN COWEN, up to his resignation on the 5th instant Editor of the China Times, from Tientsin in conse- quence of an article denouncing Russian cruelties in the North. The light thrown on the subject gives a slightly different aspect to the case. It is not clear what part the "nilitary authorities mentioned in our Tientsin telegram which we publish- ed on the 2nd instant took in the affair. It may be that they prompted the action of the British Consul-General. At any rate, on the 24th February an article appeared in the China Times on the ill-treatment by the Russians of the Japanese refugees on the steamer Wenchoe, which left Port Arthur on the 14th ultimo, and this article (part of which appears in another column to-day) concluded with an indictment of the moral state of Port Arthur and Vladi. vostock. On the following day Mr. COWEN was served with a subpoena to appear before the British Consular Court at Tientsin on the 29th February to auswer the charge of committing an act likely to produce or excite to a breach of the public peace. Mr. COWEN appeared as commanded on the 29th ultimo. Proceedings were held in Cham- bers, and the defendant, asked to give recognisances for his behaviour, declined to 4 deportation order was made ou the 2nd instant, Whether it has been executed or not, we do not know. We imagine not, as there is no news of Mr. COWEN having left Tientsin. Perhaps his resignation has got over the difficulty.
do so.
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within his rights in saying what he did? was a sufficient indication of the approval of Provided that he was perfectly assured of Heaven; but modern Frenchmen are scepticals the truth of all he alleged, he had, as a and herein lies the difficulty of the case; for, public writer, a cruel injustice to call atten- whereas all Frenchmen are willing to look tion to.
This he did in very strong upon the heroic girl as the saviour politic- language. Exception could not be taken ally of the kingdom, not even the most re the truth, at any ordinary port such as special manner the regenerator of the to the use of such language, if used to state ligious are prepared to regard her as in any Hongkong or Shanghai. But Tientsin is in Church, whose position was indeed in no a different position. It is garrisoned by respect called in question whichever political Russians. So whoever it was that charged position of Joan herself seems with one or troops of various nationalities, including party gained the victory. In any case the Mr. CowEN could claim what he could not other to be little taken into account. It is claim in Hongkong, Shanghai, etc., that the quite true that without the declaration language complained of was likely to pro- of canonisation Joan of Arc, though of voke a breach of the peace in view of the course she may receive the prayers of presence of the troops of various uationali-private individuals, will not be entitled article in the China Times might excite large,
It can hardly be denied that the to the adoration of the faithful at nor may altars be erected more than ill-feeling. Especially, we think, or public prayers offered for her interces- Arthur and Vladivostock, true though they seems were the references to the morality of Port sion. But the conscience of the West never to have looked upon these CowCN scarcely showed discretion in going scribed as a sordid spirit. Canonisation.is, inay be, calculated to excite trouble. Mr. post-mortem honours in what may be de so far as he did in a paper issued in a cosmopolitan settlement like Tientsin, and honour of the departed, but for the benefit and has always been, effected not for the could not complain if he drew the authori- of the living. ties' attention on himself,
ti-s.
The question remaius as to the action taken by the authorities. It will be noted that the subpoena issued by Mr. HOPKINS on the 25th ultimo simply stated that Mr. COWEN had been "charged (on oath) before this Court, for that," etc.; but it is not mentioned who charged him. Proceedings According to our Tientsia correspondent's were held in Chambers, not in open court. telegram of the 8th instant, the China Times claims that the sentence was passed with out a trial, without evidence being adduced, and without Mr. CowEN being allowed t make a defence. It is difficult to see how such arbitrary measures can have been London telegram last week, taken, We have learnt, from REUTER'S ERNEST SATOW approved of proceeling
that Sir
being taken against Mr. Cowes. are wanted to two questions: Were the Answers proceedings taken regular? Cowen been deported?
And has Mr.
CANONISATION, EAST AND WEST.
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So much for what occurred at Tientsin. A few comments may be made on the justice of the case. In the first place, with regard to the treatment of the Wenchow refugees, many details have been published in the Northern papers that we have not had space to reproduce in our columns, but we publish ed a Japanese official despatch on the 19th ultimo, giving au account of their suffering- by some of the refugees who had arrived in Japan from Port Arthur, via Chefoo, on the
(Da ly Press, 120 arch.) Canonisa ion after d:ith bas in all ages Wenchow. The account was less sensation, of the worl been a favourite method of evidently, than those given at Chefoo and showing respect to departe! worthies. The reproduced in the Northern papers, but the method adopted if publishing he fact as story was bad enough. It was briefly this: varied according to time and circumstances, Some 200 Japanese had already taken refuge but the right of declaration has generally on the Wenchow on the 7th February, when ben reserved for rulers, sometimes lay, Admiral ALEXIEFF issued his order forbid-sometimes ecclesiastical. In modern times, ding Japanese residents to leave. ight in the ast and West respectively, two bussian soldiers were put to guard the Wenchow. As the refugees were practically
potestates, oue lay, the oth r spiritual-the starving, several applications were made to right of canonisation, and with both it has Emperor of China and the Pope-claim the allow food to be procured, but it was not become a solemn aud important rite. until the night of the 10th that ten bags of dist actions
The between rice and half a dozen tins of biscuits were
the two rites are the diferences which hold apart allowed to be taken on board. On the 11th, the mental development of Asia and the drinking water being exhausted, signals Europe. In the West the spectacle is wit- were made for some to be sent, but no notice nessed in the case of Joan of Arc of the was taken for at least 48 hours; it is not steps held necessary before the final declara- clear that any quantity was sent then. An- tion of sanctity. JOAN has passed what is other hundred refugees were put on board, officially recognised as the second stage in and on the afternoon of the 14th February the process; and having successfully proved the Wenchow was permitted to set out for herself during life to have been especially Chefoo, without food or water. The further distinguished by the possession of the saint- allegations made against the Russians of ly virtues of temperance, fortitude, pru- ill-treatment may be gathered from the dence, and justice, has been adjudged the China Times article. They may have been preliminary title of "Venerable." exaggerated; only the captain or officers of canonisation proof of the working of miracles For full the Wenchow can tell us whether that is so | is required, and here it is that difficulties or not.
intervene. It might fairly be urged that the relief of Orleans, brought about in ac-
We bare, in fact, never heard the most ardent ecclesiologist plead for the benefits to the saint himself" con- ferred by the ceremony. The dictum of the Church does not alter in the other world the position of the faithful departed, but it affords the pious below one more oppor- tunity of approaching the Throne of Grace. The saint and the sinner must each be re- It is true, as the Apostle himself tells us, sponsible for working out his own salvation. that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, but no amount of in ercession will be able to alter the decrees of the Almighty, nor obtain salvation for the unrepentant sioner.
If, after this picture we look to the Ear East, how different the vision that meets objects of canonis tion! The life to come our eyes, and how gruss and palpable the
continuation of that of the present, in the Coafuria philosophy is but the Death is but a bridge over the narrowest of streams, and on the other side bloom the meadows of inmortality, fragrant with the spiritual essence of those same delights which make enjoyable the present existence. Posthumous rewards lose none of their eventual sweetness that they are deferred, and the pleasure of occupying a stand in the Valhalla of worthies is as practical aud legitimat: an aspiration of the subject's ambition as the attainment during life of the highest honours of the State. happiness of the departed in the Confucian
The cult by no means depends on the good actions of the deceased during life, but is entirely influenced hy the conduct of those miserable as that of the unfortunate shade whom he has left behind.
No state is so who dies without a son to continue the sacrifices, or fails to provide by adoption a substitute. In such a case his spirit has to wander aimlessly through the regions of the departed, dependent on the scant charity which the benevolent may supply at the annual festivals of the beggar spirits, There is here no hint even of what we are in Europe accustomed to call religion, for the future wants of the Manes have to be met, not by the powers above, but by the offerings of the benevolent on earth. King- and emperors pass away; for a time their Manes meet with loving care from their the bridge which all mortals must traverse descendants. The great and powerful cross without hope of return. memory is green the offerings smoke at As long as their their tombs; but the time will assuredly
Now, granting that inhumanity was shown to the unfortunate people on the cordance with Joan's own prophecy, and I come when this loving cult will cease, and
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