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April 3, 1905.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
States has been under consideration, is one the officers, were their coats not gaudier sign of the direction in which matters are still? And, anyway, as well that as another tending. As time goes on it is possible hobby. The startling discovery that there that the two nations might have couflicting were volunteers actually willing to voluu interests, in respect, for instance, of any teer, for actual service; and that their position in the Pacific, and it would be services, when accepted, should have provel highly desirable that there should be means of such signal service, chauged all that. of arriving at an understanding without The value of a training hitherto never put allowing any such question to attain to the to any real test became apparent at the same acute point which such disagreements at time that the pessimists discovered the ear times reach. Some questions of this kind of peace had not reigned long enough to might possibly arise in connection with stagnate the old fighting spirit that had put Manila or in other directions. With such the British in the forefront of the nations. an understanding between them, however, The Volunteer forces at Home now number they are likely to be in accord upon the over two hundred and forty one thousand many important questions which are certain men, exclusive of yeomanry, shooting clubs, to raise within the next few years in conse- and, of course, militia. Out here, in Ho g. quence of the altered position of affairs in kong and the China ports, where there have the East. Upon one point, their concur. been more frequent "excursions and rence is certain, namely, that of preventing alarums," how is it that there is not a like byall legitimate means the encroachments of pitch of enthusiasm ? Is it that there are no Russia or any other Power, who might be pretty housemaids to fascinate, and no disposed to push territorial aggression in or gaudy uniform withal to do it? Or is it that in the near direction of China. The views the Briton in the Far East is made of differ- of the United States on this point have ent stuff? We are not submitting these as always been in favour of maintaining Chinese alternatives. We hasten to add that the integrity if that is by any means possible; necessity of either answer is not apparent. and we may be certain that her influence The probability is that, taking a right will be united with that of Japan and average of per centage to population, the of Great Britain in this direction. Time volunteer movement in these parts is ns will show whether with the example of well supported as, if not better than, it is Japan before her and with the assistance elsewhere. Our communities are numeri of that nation, who certainly understands cally small, and the per centage of eligibles her better than it is possible for a Europeau is not nearly so great in Shanghai and nation to do, China will be able to introduce Hongkong as people might imagine. the reforms necessary for her to come into KIPLING's" young men" at our Empire's line as Japan has done. Without certain outposts grow old sometimes, and they do internal reforms, this must continue an im- not then always flock Home to make roum possibility, but some of the changes neces- for younger colonists. To many men of sary, such as the abolition of torture and advanced age, Shanghai or Hongkong is general improvement in her judicial system, Home, and they seek no other. Then have been adopted sucessfully by Japan; there is the fact that for some mysterious and might, under the advice of Japan, now reason the Far East diminishes the in- a friendly Power, who fully understands dividual energy, to an extent for which the situation, be followed by China. It climate alone cannot account. There is also would be sanguine to hope too much on this score, as the evils of corruption, of Bureaucracy and Autocracy are too deep seated in China to justify the expectation of their being removed without great difficulty; but improvement in the manner indicated is at least the best that can be hoped; and it will probably be generally considered as the wisest policy for some years to come to
allow it to be tried.'
“VAULTING AMBITION.”
(Daily Press, 28th March.) The Volunteer movement is one that affords a vast number of differing points of view; and he would be a bold man who, venturing to discuss the question, were to assert that he had assumed the only right one. The logicians quarrel for some reason with the adage that truth rests between two extremes, but in connection with our view of the Volunteers, we may assume that it lies somewhere between the opinion that duta them mere carpet soldiers, and the other that would have us accept Volunteer training as the first essential of any man hoping to claim rank as a useful citizen. At Home, up to the time of the Boer war, the Volunteer was not considered in the light of an all-important personage. It was not thought wrong by many to speak jestingly of his company as the " Royal Standbacks," and so on. The long immunity from danger of invasion had had the effect of persuading the average Briton that there could be, in fact, no such danger, and there- fore the men whose avowed duty was restricted to fighting a foe who was unlikely to come fell in for that sort of chaff. For the rank and file, the effect of a red-coat on pretty housemaids was appreciated; for
the fact that the alarms that seemed to call for volunteers were raised by despised enemies. What great training was needed to fight a few Chinese, some potential Volunteer may be imagined to have asked. There is another point to which our atteu. tion has lately turned, the possibility that those who seem to have taken the Volunteer movement to heart may have been defeating their own ends. At Shanghai, where, some- what tardily, they are giving electoral privileges to those who volunteer for public service, it has been repeatedly and publicly
announced that a man who is fit to make a volunteer and does not, is a worthless citizen. This, apart from its untruth, is scarcely the way to attract the sympathetic attention of outsiders. At Hongkong, His Excellency the GOVERNOR has made it his particular interest to foster the movement locally; and in his recent speech we seem to detect an underlying disappointment that such high official countenance should have been productive of no greater result. In this connection, we may quote a passage from the just issued report of the Hongkong Rifle Association. In it, the hon. sec., Mr. MOWBRAY S. NORTHCOTE says: The formation of the (Hongkong Volunteer Rifle) Association has deprived us of many possible members who might have done much to stimulate this Association and revive its flagging interest in the sport of rifle shooting, and in view of the establish ment of this rival Association and of the proposal to form a Volunteer Rifle Club which will absorb most, if not all, of our active members, the question arises whether the time has not now come, when this Association must cease to exist." At pre- sent, there seems little occasion to comment on that. It seems sufficiently eloquent by
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itself, and reading it, many will form an opinion of the state of things locally which subsequent circumstances may or may not prove to be a correct one.
PEACE TERMS.
(Daily Press, 29th March.)
Our recent indiscreet prophecy, after the last great rout of the Russian armies, that next month would see an end of war, seems to have aroused the sporting instincts of several readers, who offer to wager that we were wrong. Apart from the somewhat doubtful taste of betting in connection with such dreadful carnage, it is obviously im
transaction could possible that such a benefit anybody. By all past experience, as well as by present patent necessities, the war should be over very soon now, if only in the way we suggested; that is, without formal agreements or declarations of peace. So far as indications go, the probability is that some sort of peace will soon be ar- ranged.
REUTER tells us that the peace party in Europe is daily growing stronger and more clamorous; and it is quite in keeping with. Russian methods that she should strenuously deny what she has pro- bably besu contemplating for some time. Cowardly schoolboys, and bullies embroiled in a street fight, are often secretly glad of a cessation, but all the time they make a show of eagerness to continue. If the least were offere i, the
kind of interference
"
mildest representation made, only sufficient to
save face for Russia, it is possible that Power would with a joyful reluctance seize upon it. The idea that there might be a stoppage of the war without formal de claration of peace has also been voiced now by a Home paper, and the circum- stances in Manchuria, as well as historical But the precedent, certainly justifies it. feeling has been growing among the Powers, or some of them, and the Times has but lately given clear expression to it, that such a peace would be unsatisfactory. Japan must be encouraged to insist upon her pound of flesh this time; her mighty aggressor, being down, must be kept down; and there must be no sneaking in of the jackals to devour what the sick lion-or bear-has been unable to digest. Assum- ing that the end of the war is in fact very near at hand, no time need be wasted in discussing the terms which REUTER, no doubt inspired by some respousible Russian authority, published from St. Petersburg as palatable to the heaten side. It is Japan's terms only that are material, if indeed the Powers mean to see fairplay, in essence, made and Japan's terms were, public when she embarked upon this war. As the conqueror, she has undisputed right to round them to a sufficiency, adding certain details that subsequent events have rendere essential. It is not difficult to read between the lines of many current comments a sneaking sort of pity for Russia in being placed in the position of, say, China, in regard to the question of indem- nity. Such a Power, with such a prestige, to pay little Jap. a big indemnity! We have not yet adjusted our ideas to new circum- stances, and the very idea of that seems to stick in some gullets. Well, Russia should have thought of that before. If she bal had the walk-over that she auticipated, Japan would be subscribing to a big in. demnity now, if there had been any Japan left. The gambler who goes to Macao to bring away money from the fantan tables has no right to complain if he leaves there Bussin must perforce all be took; and swallow the bitter pill of the unsuccessful Instead of insolently offering gambler,
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