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BEACHCOMBERS.
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(Daily Press, 12th December.) If the secretary of the London Mendicity Society may say, as he has just done, that of London's 75,000 street beggars, “all are undeserving," we may be permitted, without being taxed with want of feeling, to suggest that of the four hundred beachcombers on the Chinese coast, most are undeserving like- wise. Lately, there have been letters addressed to various papers in Shanghai and Hongkong, by members of the unemployed class so designated, which seem to indicate that a new dodge to foster shiftlessness and idleness has been lighted upon.
A touching letter is penned, explaining that the writer is absolutely unable to obtain work. The fact that immediately after publication of such letter, some person comes forward with an offer of employment, should be regarded as an argument that the difficulty of obtaining a situation is not so great as these fellows make out. The fact is, they want the fruit to fall into their open mouths. They want a coolie to carry for
them the tools of their trade. They are not genuinely in distress, they would do a little more of what our American cousins call "hustling." Only those who have seriously attempted to reduce the beachcomber nuisance can understand the true inwardness of the question now attracting such general attention. Many undesirables are shipped away, but
or
faster than they can be provided for, others are coming. The evil apparently thrives on the remedy. We have seen how, by the confessions of some of the worse beachcombers, both Hongkong and Shanghai have a reputation for being charitable. This is not a reputation under which we should smirk self-satisfiedly. At the best it means that we are too prone to rid ourselves of the pesterers by means of the eleemosynary dollar; or that we have some feeble notion of maintaining the prestige of the white man with the yellow by covering up our social sores. The last idea is a mistaken one, for so long as a philan thropic or grandmotherly government insists on persuading the yellow man that he is our brother and fellow subject, he will not see anything to respect in our immaculate whiteness. Philosophically and ethically, especially if we be at Home, we are bound to disapprove the attitude of those colonists who (as eg. the Australians) draw a colour
line.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND worthless ones for fear that there might be one worthy. Let the flood of practical administration come. Any Noan of a beachcomber there may happen to be amongst the ruck will soon find his Ark.
ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS,
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[December 17, 1904. were dend, and the third, himself, had for gotten. In effect the occupation of Sles wig did not produce a universal war, but it created very general disquietude. Again Germany provoked a war with Austria, and this led to the reorganisation of Germany. It too did not provoke a European war, but the new arrangements were not come to without producing a considerable feeling of insecurity on the part of the other Powers. Probably in both these cases there were deep seated causes at work, far deeper tha: the mere ambitions of rulers or ministers, and this seems to have been the reason why, consciously or unconsciously, the other states in the-end coincided in the new arrange- ments. Then followed the great war with France, which ended in the addition of Elsass and Lotheringen to the German Empire. We are not going to sit in judg- ment on that acquisition; none of the other states protested, and most looked upon it as
(Daily Press, 13th December.) Whatever opinion we may form as to the sincerity of Count VON BUELOW's appeal to the British public, his recent declaration published in the Nineeteenth Cntury can- not be looked upon otherwise than as a striking testimony to the good sense of the British nation at large. If, however, the German Chancellor find cause to deplore the recent unfriendly attitude of the Eug- lish Press generally towards Germany, we can assure him that it is no less a cause of sincere regret in England, and wo are glad to see that this has apparently been the
inevitable. Its moral effects upon. position taken up by the Home Press. Quite as sincerely as Count VON BUELOW himself, Germany were, however, not good, for from the English nation holds that a war between that time Germany has, in the opinion, at England and Germany would be a mon- least, of most of, ber neighbours, exhibited strous crime, which would moreover iudicate symptoms of earth hunger. Nor has she ruin to both nations, and would benefit only had the virtue of keeping the disease to the rivals of each, who would naturally herself. Germany towards the close of the proceed to avail themselves of the blunder eighteenth century got herself mixed up in a very discreditable affair by joining in the to capture without the necessity of firing a
It is true it has shot the markets of both. Had, however, partition of Poland. Count voN BUELOW been a diligent student brought her little advantage, but the odium of the course of British public opinion he always resting ou the perpetrator of a dark would have seen that in this particular he crime remains still hanging over Germany, was merely reiterating views such as have and she has done little or nothing to re- - throughout been the actuating groundwork move it. In a comparison of criminality in for those recent unfriendly comments of the the case doubtless the greater weight of the British Press, which have inspired the crime rested with Russia, and Russia bas since by her conduct towards Poland de- Imperial Chancellor's latest declaration. Friendship towards Germany is in fact served at the hands of Europe still further traditional in England for at least the reprobation. It is generally a wise precau- greater part of the last four centuries. It tion before coming on too intimate terms shone conspicuously in the wars of the with a man to enquire into his associates, seventeenth century, and was emphasised in and it is often in the case of nations neces- Now it the great struggle against NAPOLEON where sary to take similar precautions. German and English soldiers fought side by unfortunately happens in the case of Ger. side in many a hard won field. Englishmen | many that her most intimate friend turns We have the have not forgotten this, and are quite pre-out to be this same Russia.
As essentially com-
of Germany's great testimony pared to do it again.
man BISMARCK, that while he was Imperial mercial nations the interests of the two are bound up with peace, and there is nothing Chancellor and outwardly a close ally of in the commercial rivalry of the two that Austria, and bound more especially to pro- could not be better met by peaceful measures tect her against any encroachments of Still Russia, he was actually plotting with the than by invoking the horrors of war. that there has been a scrious estrangement latter the partitioning of his ally. It is between the two is undeniable, and it would true that this was one of the things that on be well did Count VON BUELOW probe a little the accession of the present Emperor led to the disgrace of BISMARCK, but his conduct more closely into the underlying reaso ns.
has never been openly repudiated, and to the present moment Russia is permitted to appear as the bosom friend of Germany, states in a similarly high rather than hurt whose feelings she showed position of civilisation, it stands to reason herself as ready to repudiate her engage- as formerly with that there are always to be found by the ments with England statesman who goes out of his way to sow Austria. Still, if there were any sign that discord an opportunity for disputes of Germany was disposed to cultivate a little greater or lesser intensity; the most vulgar, more friendly relations with England, it is and longest abiding of these, is the lust not the custom of the latter country to refuse the hand of fellowship, but as if to for territory, merely for territory's sake,
that in а completely accentuate her former policy we find her It is evid:ut populated continent, such as is Europe, actually entering into new engagements of extending with Russia. An understanding which in opportunity exists
Germany itself is held a public scandal has froutiers without committing acts of wanton aggression; and such cannot be submitted long existed for the rendition to Russia of to by any self-respecting nation without all political refugees. Unless in the case of taking up arms in self defence. The effects actual dependence it is difficult to interpret of such aggression do not alone concern the such an agreement except as identifying the attacked country, but are apt to be far reach-policy of the two countries. More recently ing, and at all events to seriously affect the this has been supplemented by an engage- interests, commercial or political, of all the ment to surrender inilitary deserters. Again neighbours. Such a state of affairs occur under ordinary circumstances Germany red in 1864, when Germany crossed the keeps at Russian headquarters a military Eider and took possession of Sleswig on a attaché; this of course is the ordinary pretext, regarding which Lord PALMERSTON practice of all civilised nations, and calls for at the time stated only three men in Europe no comment. But Germany is not content ever understood it. Two of these he added' with this, but confides her attaché personally
They are in a few words, not at all com- mercial, but have much deeper foundations, Composed, as Europe is, of a number of
Closer acquaintance with the facts introduces the question of expediency, and different views. On the other hand, if the yellow man is our brother, why should we contemplate with indifference, or compara-independent tive equanimity, the yellow pauper; and be so greatly exercised in mind because a shiftless White is in temporary straits ?
Our opinion 18 that philanthropy is wasted, and worse than wasted, on these ne'er-do-wells; for we are convinced that no really honest, industrious, und ordinarily capable man need long fail to find some honest employment in a com- munity as large as that of Hongkong or Shanghai. For those who are not honest, or not willing to work, why should we be squeamish? Let our municipality or Go vernment provide, not mere houses of detention, but "work"-houses in the real sense of the word, making the inmates earn by a positive putting forth of energy the food and shelter they pretend is all they need. In a very short time, the regular professionals would disappear; and we should acquire a more sensible reputation that would keep away the humbugs who at present flock to our ports. It is dangerous, and it is wrong, to encourage the numerous
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