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H.E. SIR MATTHEW NATHAN.
(Daily Press, 30th July.) Yesterday Hongkong welcomed her thirteenth Governor with as much warmth and energy as the breezeless air and the stored caloric would admit. It is difficult, in the July heat and in the press of busi uess involved in the outgoing mail, for the commercial community to turn out ever to greet a newly arrived Governor, and hence the assemblage at the Blake Pier, though fairly representative, was perhaps hardly as imposing as it assuredly would have been under other conditions. None the less, however, we are sure the Colony accords a most hearty welcome to Sir MATTHEW; NATHAN. The new GOVERNOR, though per- haps the youngest of his twelve predecessors, has a distinguished record, and if we could feel any lingering doubt on the subject the Secretary of State for the Colonies has publicly vouched for His Excellency's ability. That Sir MATTHEW also possesses tact and knowledge of men as well as of things we may take for granted. Whether our new GOVERNOR has received an equally favourable impression of us and our sur roundings yet remains to be learned. But we have some reason to hope so. Hongkong rarely fails to create a pleasant impression upon those whom fate or the Imperial Government sends to its shores. Many of its cit zens have learned to love it, and few ail to take a keen interest in its progress, and welfare. We trust that the pleasantest of bonds will be formed with it by Sir MATTHEW NATHAN, and that when the time comes for him to say farewell it will be with mutual regrets.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
But we are travelling too fas1. His Excellency is not yet properly in the saddle; he has still to grasp some of our various problems, to become familiar with our peculiar idiosyncracies, For the Hong- kong community is not a common oue: it is somewhat casual, somewhat cranky, and not a little bit unconventional. It is swift to pass judgment, sometimes without due consideration, and prone to forget to make those charitable allowances so necessary when dealing with fallible mortals. It is certain,
Sir however, that
MATTHEW NATHAN Inade a very favourable impression on the public yesterday. He conveys the idea of strength and vigour and alertness; he has a quick eye, a pleasant smile, and au ingratiating manner. His Excellency's speech after being sworn in at the Council Chamber was also tactful and reassuring. He placed, as we hoped he would, the rail way question in the forefront of his pro- gramine, and the question of sanitation and the extermination of the plague is to be a good second,
Other things must follow in due place and course. This is as
we could wish it. The construction of the Kowloon- Canton Railway is now the primal necessity, and we are devoutly thankful to know that it is to receive immediate attention. The Governor was also most emphatic in his statement that the commerce of the port would always rec-ive from him the closest at tention; that trade was indeed in his opinion of the very first import uce. It is for this reason that we have so streunously in sisted upon this railway question being faced immediately, and that no further delay in the matter should be permitted or even thought of. It will be a relief to the entire community to know that Sir MATTHEW NATHAN is on this question in such completo accord with Sir HENRY BLAKE and Mr.MAY, more especially as we may fairly presume that His Excellency also reflects the views
of the Colonial Office.
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[August 8, 1904.
THE DOWAGER EMPRESS.
On the other questions lightly touched upon by the GOVERNOR it was satisfactory to note that His Excellency has not only
(Daily Press, 1st August.) done a good deal to get informed on different The recent rehabilitation of the Dowager points, but that he has a pretty good general Empress Taz'Hi is one of those things which idea of what is desired and needed. We have speak more for the heart than the con- a large revenuc, but the demands upon it are sistency of those representing foreign great, and it will no doubt be imperative to
interests in China. If there were any exercise rigorous economy in the expenditure reason to believe that a change had come if the greater and more pressing works are to over her feelings or policy, or that she be properly, efficiently, and speedily carried were a whit more disposed to take the lead out. Some public works cau wait; they in any reform conducive to the interests of have waited for decades in some instances, the Empire over which she presides, the and we must rub on with makeshifts a change in our attitude would be not only little longer if neets be. The question of unobjectionable but laudable, but of this we the defences of the Colony is one that Sirare safe in saying there is not the slightest MATTHEW NATHAN has of course made his evidence. We do not of course shut our Own, for as Secretary of the National De-eyes to the fact that the China of to-day is fence Committee he naturally became well very different from that of even five years acquainted with it, and as a Royal Engineer ago, and that things are openly spoken he could not fail to take a lively interest in about, and even put in bands throguhout the this subject. His advice and assistance in length and breadth of the land, of which five this matter will be of the greatest value to years ago the very mention would have meant the General in Command of the Forces. not merely loss of position, but loss of life No Governor of Hongkong could fail to itself; but with all this there is no evidence take an interest in the Chinese population, to connect the Empress herself. According who necessarily count for so much in the to official reckoning the Empress Dowager Colony, and our Chinese fellow residents will will within a few weeks have attained the appreciate His Excellency's declared intention age of sixty-nine, an age little susceptible of making himself thoroughly familiar with to new impressions; she is stated to have their views. hopes, and aspirations. We preserved her mental faculties, and still welcome such a declaration to administer preserves her grasp on current events. It is the equal British laws with perfect imparti- at least noteworthy that no new influence is ality. But we donbt not that His Excel-mentioned in connection with her surround. lency will recognise the difference betweenings. Those brought in contact with the the just and equal treatment of the Chinese, Court speak of her personal influence over and efforts to make British law fit Chinese her ministers as still poweriul, and that this institutious. It will never, we hope, be for is the true reason why her continuance as one noment forgotten by His Majesty's the real head of the state is at the moment Representative that this is a British Colour indispensable, and the only choice left is the though it adjoins Chinese territory and the Empress or anarchy. The Emperor himself bulk of its inhabitants are of Chinese has been so long accustomed to move in origin. The little tribute to Mr. MAY's leading strings that to cut himself loose administration during the interregnum would now be fatuous, aud of course all came gracefully from Sir MATTHEW hope of a direct heir must now be given NATHAN and augurs well for the harmoni. up. According to all precedent his succes. ous relations which we trust will mark sor should belong to a younger generation, their future intercourse.
and unfortunately there is no one in the line of succession who has displayed any ability for office. Amongst the surrounding nations in Asia collaterul descent is rather preferred, it being held that a brother or nephew who has arrived at years of maturity, especially if he have already displayed talent, is to be selected before a son or nephew, if of tender years. This though at first sight sound in principle, has in all ages been the fruitful mother of rebellion, and the seeming narrowness of the Chinese rule has undoubtedly conduced to the exemption of China from dyuastic irregularities. The present trouble has arisen through the failure of direct heirs to the Emperor HIEN FUNG, and the fact that his only son aud successor, T'UNG CHI, died without issue almost as soon as he had assumed the reins of government. Without mentioning any of the sinister rumours which have from time to time been current, it is pretty certain was at the that TUNG CHI'S widow time of his death pregnant, and her early death, certainly hastened through the bareb conduct of the Dowager Tsz' Hi, has been the direct cause of the present trouble. Unfortunately, too, the present Emperor,
Society of Los Angeles has been shown to us
A ridiculous letter from the Life Culture selected at the instance of the Empress Regent, was brought up deliberately in by a local resident. It promises him a treat-
such a way as t, extinguish any remains of ment that will keep him healthy and beautiful manly feeling, and grew up a púny, neguet- and youthful for over a hundred years." The ed child with no better associates than the president" of the society, a man called Segno. imnerial eunuchs. Now all these facts are thoughtfully encloses a table of American money well known, and should incline to caution That is those gushing people who all at once and its equivalent in English coin." apparently, the secret of long life"--the more you pay, the longer you live. Mr. Segno makes have been besmirching with ill-judged much of restoring the cells of the human organs. effusiveness the Dowager Empress. It is We think his cells would be correctly spelled occasionally unfortunate for public manners that to avoid worse evils the world, even
!
ASSASSINATION OF M. DE
PLEHVE,
(Daily Press 30th July.)
M. The assassination of
DE PLEEVE, which was recorded in our telegrams vester- day morning, following, as it has so closely done, the murder of General BOBRIKOFF, ought to give pause to those journalists who have been extenuating the last named affair, No amount of resentment against Russia. however just it may be, can justify the slightest con doustion of these shocking deeds. That a murder may sometimes be euphemised by the name tyrannicide dres not make it any the less crime; and lax views of these events can only encourage their recurrence. It is impossible to con- sent to the adjustment of political wrougs
The
patriot-assassin in such fashion. only one mind, as prone to err as others, and very often the bloody error he commits but serves to intensify the troubles it was meant to alleviate. BRUTUS may he an honourable mau: nevertheless if he commit murder he deserves the murderer's fat”.
with an "S."
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