June 18, 1905.]
hand, he rarely falls below an average level; and in many of the practical walks of life, he can hardly be surpassed. In method and discipline there are few equal to him; and here his accuracy and powers of memory staud him in good stead; but in anything requiring to be dealt with independently of precedent, the Chinaman usually fails. It is from this shortcoming that the Chinese have, during the many years they have been in contact with Europeans, been able to turu the knowledge they have had oppor- tunity of acquiring to so little account. In ordinary business matters they have cer- tainly shown powers of adaptation and organisation of no mediocre kind; but in political affairs, where a higher mastery of principles is required, they have learnt very little from their intercourse with foreign nations; and, indeed, many of their most astute statesmen show themselves still unable in any way to understand them. It has been usual to put this down to the natural conservatism of their nature; but it may be questioned whether, in this view, the cause is not mistaken for the effect; au whether the truth is not that the Chinese are not so much wedded to the past for its own sake, as because their habit of mind makes it difficult for them to set aside their traditions and grasp the fact that new principles have to be applied to changed circumstances.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE POWERS RE-GROUPED,
357
the
much more remote than it was formerly, In the meantime Germany has shown an active opposition to France in Morocco, and this (Daily Press, 9th June.)
has had the natural effect of strengthening The change which has taken place in the the Anglo-French understanding and of grouping of the Powers consequent upon making any friendly rapprochement between the Auglo-French entente cannot fail to Germany and France more difficult than produce very important effects upon the before. Under such circumstances political situation in the Far East, and more position of France, as regarde Russia, has especially upon the settlement likely to be become much modified. It is to her interest, arrived at at the conclusion of the Russo- no doubt, still to keep up a good understand- Japanese war. The anomalous position of ing with Russia in view of possible contin.. France in respect to the latter has been long gencies, but hardly to adhere to an alliance a matter of somewhat anxious speculation. to the extent of risking embroilment with As the declared ally of Russia, it was natural other European Powers. The attitude which to expect that France would be disposed to she found it convenient to assume so soon side with that country when the war broke as the question of her infringing neutrality out, and no little anxiety was felt as to in regard to Kamrah Bay was raised by whether she might not feel bound to support Japan, may be taken as a fair indication of her ally by taking an active part in hostilities. her attitude generally in these parts. France which course would have involved similar may be expected to hold her hand pretty counter-action on the part of Great Britain evenly, so far as her influence will affect the supported in all probability by America on settlement of matters in the Far East. the other side. Fortunately the French Everything points to its being unlikely that were level-headed enough to avoid going so she will go to great lengths in supporting far as this; and it became recognised that Russia against any fair demands on the her alliance with Russia was to be considered part of Japan. At all events the possibility only in reference to European matters and of any combination between France, Russia that, as regarded affairs in the Far East, she and Germany, even to the extent of exert would only preserve a benevolent neutrality.ing their joint influence either at Peking or Of late, however, this position-anomalous enough in itself, has been rendered still more so by the entente which has been This tone of mind certain to be pro-arrived at between England and France, duced where education runs too much in
which has placed the idea of the two nations the direction of mere mastery of certain going to war upon any question arising in subjects by rote, and there is reason to fear the East, still more out of the range of pro- that something of this kind is actually bable contingencies. being induced by the cramming system so much resorted to of late years at home, and that there is a danger that the powers of original and independent thought may be crushed out by forced exercise of memory on facts and formulas necessary to press examinations in special subjects, which, in nine cases out of en, are of little use in after life, and ill repay the labour that is
spent upon them. In one respect the Chinese system is really better than the cramming system which has so much come into vogue at home. The Chinese at least exercise their memory upon what, according to their lights, is the best it can be employed upon, that is in mastering their classical literature-while, at home, the whole powers of the pupil's mind are exhausted in acquiring a parrot knowledge of a variety of subjects in a form which is designed not to afford any useful mastery of them, but merely to make a show at an examination. It is a subject of congratula-
tion that some of the best authorities seem at last likely to obtain a hearing, and that the new Rules and Regulations which have been recently framed for the public schools are based upon a more rational foundation. In an article upon them contributed by Mr. CLOUDSLEY BEERETON to the Fortnightly he says:-"The old bad ideal, that has so long dominated our schools, of the accumula- tion of facts-of turning the child into a miniature encyclopædia, or rather dictionary of disconnected data, is banned in favour of the far truer conception of the assimilation of principles.
In a word, the cultivation of the memory is superseded by the cultivation of the pupil's powers of perception, reasoning and imagination." It may be hoped that this new departure will be adhered to, and that a stand has at last been made against a mode of educa- tion the pernicions effects of which are strikingly shown by the results which have been produced in China by adhering to a system which is essentially similar to that so pointedly condemned by Mr. Ввив ток.
Tokyo, is rendered highly unlikely in face of recent events, Germany is not likely to run any risks in supporting Russia alone and it is still more unlikely that she will be joined by France in any attempt to do so.
It may, therefore, be taken that foreign nations generally will not be anxious to interfere with the settlement between Japan and The causes which have led up to this Russia; and that it will rest with the change are familiar to our readers. At the belligerents to settle the terms between opening of the war, France had every interest themselves. It such prove the fact, we may in the success of Russia; and it was natural be sure that the views of great Britain and that, so far ns was in ber power, she should the United States will be those which by moral support and otherwise, work for will be most considered by Japan as being that end. Apart from the larger political most in consonance with her own. Had considerations involved in keeping upon France continued desirous of upholding good terms with a Power which formed a use- Russia to any serious extent, her influence ful counterpoise to any possible designs on the might have been sufficient to turn the scale, part of Germany, there was the direct concern and it might have been difficult to prevent which a vast number of people, and especially some kind of indirect interference; but at the peasantry, had in the maintenance the present time France is not likely to be of Russian Supremacy, in view of the large enthusiastic in assisting Russia in company amount of Russiau securities which they with Germany, against which latter country held. This was a fact not likely to be over- so much ill-feeling has been engendered in looked by a people, who, though excitable at France by the Morocco incident. The times, have always shown a very business Temps, which voices the French opinion on like and practical side at bottom of their such questions, speaking of the rivalries character. As events, however proceeded, between Russia and England in central it became manifest that the power of Russia | Asia says: "When once the war with had been overestimated, and public feeling Japan is over, Russia will have to develop as to the alliance has of late somewhat her possessions in central Asia above all. cooled down. The degree to which Russia
It is consequently possible as well has fallen short of what might be expected as desirable that the Russians and the Eng- of her has been probably somewhat over-lish should conclude an entente of the same estimated. If it is true that nothing kind as that negotiated last year between succeeds like success, it is equally true that France and England. That achievement nothing fails like failure. The tendency to will require some. time, and, considering exaggeration is the same either direction. the past, may seem unlikely and Utopian, It is quite possible that the conclusions but in view of the present and particularly which are accepted at the present time as to the weakness of Russia in naval, military, financial and other matters, may yet prove to be more than the circumstances warrant. Russia haa failed in one direc- tion chiefly because she made one great initial mistake as to the possibility of sending troops in sufficient numbers to overpower Japan, by means of the Siberian Railway; but it does not follow that she will prove incapable of repairing this and other mistakes when she has once again become free to devote herself to the improvement and development of her resources. But, however this may be, there is no doubt that the enthusiasm in France as to the Russian alliance has been diminished, and that any idea of actively assisting her ally is now
It is
the future, it finds its justification." quite possible that the writer of these words had his mind not only upon central Asia but also upon action which must e'er long have to be taken in the Far East, to which they equally apply; and that they fore- shadow an inclination on the part of France to fall in with a settlement which, while fair and reasonable as far as Japan is concerned, may also be compatible with more friendly relations than those hitherto existing be- tween Great Britain and France's Ally. Such an understanding would, of course, in- volve the abandonment by Russia of her aggressive policy in the Far East which, however, the results of the war may make her accept as a necessity, apart from a ulterior considerations.
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