428
PLANS OF THE BALTIC FLEET.
(Daily Press, 8th December.)
Many thinking people must have wondered what is the renl object of Russia in bring. ing out the Baltic fleet to Eastern Asia. It is unlikely that the arrival of the fleet can save the apparently inevitable capture of Port Arthur, notwithstanding the almost superhuman efforts of the garrison to delay the surrender till the arrival of the ships shall restore to Russia the numerical superiority over Japan. Vladivostock will by the time the flect arrives be closed for the winter, and in case that Port Arthur be in possession of Japan there is no apprent
as So far is at place of rendezvous. present known there is no hostile force between Japan and Suez, and after passing Aden it would seem that unless Adrairal | ROZHDESTVENSKY should commit some fur ther act of folly sufficient to compel even an unwilling British Government to interfere by force with its further progress, the entire coast of Japan will be open to its depreda- tions; what this may mean we have suffi- cient warning from Russia's previous con- duct. On anything like equal terms there would be no doubt as to the issue should the Russian come in contact with the Japa. nese fleet. But the Japanese fleet has had to bear all the brunt of sea service for the.
sources we are
last nine months, while the Russian will arrive with comparatively fresh ships. That the Japanese will make a desperate resis. tance there is no doubt. But fresh ships and fresh guns count for much in such a contest, and then comes the problem what further course do the Russians propose to take under the circumstances, and sup- posing that they should gain a pre- liminary advantage. From trustworthy
able fortunately
to pronounce with some confidence the pre- sent plan of campaign. The first aim o. Russia is in fact to gain a footing in Formosa. It is true that with the exception of Kilung, Formosa, so far as the present occupied portion is concerned, possesses no good harbour, but the Pescadores, which are not far distant, supply at least one good barbour, besides several anchorage groun is, and these it is proposed to occupy in the first instance. There are besides on the practically unexplored east coast one or two bays which may afford temporary shelter, so that the scheme is not altogether so chimerical as at the first glance it might appear. Once established in comfortable quarters in the Pescadores it is hoped that the position of affairs will be altered, and that Japan will be forced to utilise her entire naval force in guarding the Formosa Chanuel; thence Russia proposes operating against Japan's communications, and so to finally compel the evacuation of Shingking, and eventually of Korea. Such we learn from Russian sources is the actual pilna of opera- tions. That in the hands of an able com- mander such a plan, however bold its inception, would, were the Japanes taken in the first instance unawares, hold out a fair chance of ultimate success there is little doubt; and that some such scheme has suggested itself would account tor the seemingly quixotic despatch of the entire of Russia's home fleet to waters where a
decisive defeat would mean the crippling for a generation at least of Russia's power of offence in Europe. The information has fallen accidentally in our way, but we have no reason to doubt its perfect authenticity, and as so large issues depend on the issue of the war we feel ourselves justified in publishing it.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CHINESE PHILOSOPHERS.
|
[December 12, 1904
The sneer at European Buddhists was au- other unworthy feature of the lecture. His remark that they are coquetting with Buddhism as an excuse for not attending
church suggests an unkind retort which we refrain from making. It is not an agree able protest to have to utter, but the lec- turar, unwittingly no donbt, wounded the susceptibilities of more than one render. Hongkong is a colony of many ereds, and it would never do for us to begin to ridi- cule each other's dear beliefs. knowledge grow from more to more; and Real us dwell." more of reverence in reverence is that which accords due respect to the faiths of our neighbours.
GOLD AND SILVER.
(Daily Press, 10th December.)
"Let
It might have been anticipated that the increase in the production of gold which has taken place of late years from the 1ransvaal and Klondyke mines would have had some appreciable effect upon the rela- tive values of gold and silver and have tended to raise the range of the silver So far, however, as it has been currencies.
(Daily Press, 9th December.) Mr. DYER BALL apparently reflected upon the value of the Rev. E. J. HARDY's lecture on "The Religions of China" on the ground that "the lecturer had not been long enough in China to have gone into the matter thoroughly." We cannot admit that a prolonged residence in China is necessarily essential to an understanding of the Chinese classics; but having admitted so much, we have to point out that the Military Chaplain's disrespectful opinions of Chinese philosophy should be counted out for another reason. The value of his criticisms must be con- sidered to be seriously impaired so long as he utters them from the seat of prejudice he at present occupies. His beliefs, so long as they are promulgated amongst the Chinese by missionaries, are the tenets of a rival system of thought. Quoting from the published report of his lecture, the first point to note is his complaint that CONFUCIUS did not attempt to answer such questions as "Where did I come from and where am I going?" The wouder felt by many will he with regard to the Rev. E. J. HARDY's attitude towards those two questions. What possible to form an estimate in the matter, does he tell his soldier congregations? He no appreciable effect of this kiud has been would not insist on the need of propounding produced; and the low rates of exchange in the East are still a noticeable feature and such questions unless he believed there was an answer to them. Yet what answer is have to be accepted as an established fact. possible? There is no answer to the first, It is, of course, impossible to say whether and the chaplain's answer to the second is the downward movement which at one time probably that it depends upon the faith of caused so much anxiety, and which has been the person inquiring. The disciples of the the subject of so much speculation on the Christ in whom Mr. HARDY believes asked part of financiers and economists, has been to some extent arrested by an addition to the same question, and were told not to think about it, but to fix their minds on the world's supply of gold. Upon abstract their duty in the present life. This was in grounds, this may fairly be assumel to have essence and spirit the same answer which been the case, but it is still an open question Mr. HARDY deprecates when coming from how far any such result has been brought CONFUCIUS" While you do not know this about; and, what is of more importance, life how can you know about a future one?" how far it may be looked for in the future. It is to be feared that no very marked effects The parable of the lilies has a wider mean. ing than the orthodox attach to it: it applies can be anticipated, though at first sight it to theologians as much as to moneygrubbers, might appear that there was some hope in The lecturer's grievance against CONFUCIUs this direction. There is in the first place the was that his teachings were concerned more fact that the production of silver in many American mines, which has been suspended with works than with faith.
consequent upon the comparatively low apparent inconsistency, when he touched upon LaoTSZE, who is all for faith and value of the metal, can be resumed at any time when a more favourable state of decidedly against works, Mr. HARDY was
matters might render it profitable to work ungenerous enough to refer to his "extra- vagant metaphysics." We say, ungenerous, these mines again. This in itself would because the faith Mr. Hardy holds dear, seem to be a hopeless obstacle against any and preaches to the troops, contains many re-adjustment of the relative values of the two metals. As the cost of working the metaphysical extravagances that the unpre- judiced find harder to understand than mines must be paid for in gold currency LAOTSZE's quaint ratiocinations. Fun was the more silver that is produced, the sooner poked at the legends attached to the Sage, must the point be again reached when it his miraculous birth, with white hair, after will no longer pay to continue the operations. Whatever the amount of available silver seventy-two years of gestation, and so on. This was not quite fair, either, when we may be, there is always this reserve in the remember how many reasons the Chinese background, which will tend of necessity have for replying tu quoque. Of his book to keep down its value. On the other hand, called Tao Te Ching, Mr. HARDY said the value of gold is enhanced by its being Along with much rubbish, there was in it still-and being certain to remain-the one not a little that was good." How often is stable standard of value among all the
most important commercial nationa. that remark made to bibliolaters, and how strongly they resent it. The humour of France and America, though the names of the Emperor who teased the Taoist believers the current coins are those of silver pieces -in the one case the franc, and the other in a future life, by withholding rewards they had earned, and suggesting that their reward the dollar-the standard is in reality a gold would come in the spiritual world, also one; as the gold value of these coins is To jibe at fixed; and in Great Britain and most appears to have struck him. that was like the Pot jearing the Kettle's of her Colonies the currency is gold both in blackness. There is no perceptible indiffer- naine and in coinage. In other countries- ence in the Churches to the rewards of this the last among them being our enterprising world. We are often told that the errors of neighbour, Japan-the principle has been professing Christians should not be recalled accepted that a gold currency is essential to when considering the claims of Christianity, sound commercial operations; and there can yet the reverend lecturer had no compunc-be vo doubt that wherever it is possible the tion about emphasising the discrepancy gold standard will be adopted. Thus there between Buddhist profession and practice. ' has been, and is likely to continue to be, a
CC
With some
In
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.