4
they a less level-headed set of people, they would certainly be induced to do so. On the whole, however, the Chinese, though prone to strikes, are sufficiently shrewd to know when they are well off; and it will be time enough for their enthusiastic friends in England to concern themselves on their behalf, when the Celestials have discovered some grievances themselves.
THE CHINESE FAILURE TO
UNITE.
(Daily Press, 30th June). AT first blush, the now. widely spreading movement against everything American would seem to argue that we have all along been wrong iu believing that patriotism as Europeans understand it, is foreign to the Chinese nature. It has often been said, and so far as we know, left uncontradicted by the sinologues, that this cohesive quality was the one thing lacking to make the Yellow Peril a reality. Apparently there is a something leavening the Chinese mass now that makes for cohesion and unity; and it is for us, as well as for the Ameri- cans, to ascertain what it is. Is it pure patriotism that makes the Chinese merchant from Singapore to Tientsin refuse to buy or sell any more American goods, that makes the native Christian forsake his American pastor for a minister of some other nation- ality, and that eren makes the casual coolie look for employment that is not remuner- ated with American money? Mr. ELLIOTT I. OSGOOD, M.D., of Chuchou says it is; that it is. " a new-born patriotism that is rapidly extending a Chinese popular pre- judice against the American Exclusion Act amongst thousands who neither intend nor hope to visit American shores. These are agitating, he says, that the privilege of freer entrance and transit may not be with- held from their more favoured brethren. Frankly, we do not believe it. We do not believe that it is patriotism at all. Patriot ism is not a thing of mushroom growth,
"
最喜
and Dr. OSGOOD's reference to it as new- born is an admission that there was no patriotism previously observable. We consider that it is the old auti-foreigu prejudice revived in a modified and limited shape, and none the less strong because its expression has a more plausible excuse this time than it has bad in the past. Given a general prejudice like that, and few consider that it has ever been more than dormant, like the menagerie lion's loathing of his trainer-and a
fresh grievance, it is not difficult to understand y there should be presented the sem- blance of a united China. Dr. OSGOOD himself suggests our explanation by the statement that "the newspapers are fol- lowing the style of foreign newspapers and picturing the case in as
lurid colours as possible. Consequently the It is no part Chinese are being aroused." of our purpose to deny that the American Exclusion Act is just as much a creature of prejudice as is the Chinese boycott; and for it we have at present neither justification nor blame. The Chinese side of the question aloue engages our attention; and the answer to the question mooted at the outset is of absorbing interest to all foreigners. For if this be, indeed, a nascent patriotism that is spreading throughout China, there is ample material for both hope and fear. It has been the absence of any true patriotism that has made foreign encroachments so easy and so safe. It has been the same lack that has prevented the best foreign teachings from bearing fruit and benefiting China. If it be true that the virus of national esprit has indeed entered the
C
movement.
[July 1, 1905.
on the present question." The movement may still be sufficiently serious to scare America into modifying the objectionable legislation; but sme judicious diplomatic delay, after the manner of China, would, w› are confident, see this great national move- ment die of inanition. As the local feeling that prompts the restrictions, and the other that wishes for American commercial progress in China, are not shared by the same people, there will not be any more united front in America on the subject; aal it is impossible to say what will be the ultimate decision. In probability, however, it will be as we have suggested. America will mark time, the Chinese will simmer down, and the status quo will continue.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Connoil was held at the Council Chamber on the 29th June. There were present:--
HIS EXCELLENCY TH#, GOVERNOR, SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.CHG.
H.E. MAJOR-GENERAL VILLIERS HATTO N C.B. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, Č.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Sir H. S. BERKELEY, K.C. (Attorney. General).
Hon. Mr. L. A M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BEEWIN (Registrar-General) Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Publio Works).
Hoa. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
| sluggish blood of this people, fear must come to the foreigner, and the converts to the belief in a Yellow Peril would be many. With patriotism they could do great things, and at first the foreigner within the gates could not hope to enjoy his present em'uence in commerce, in politics, in all things Chinese. Yet as eulightenment waits on patriotism for the Chinese, so hope would wait on fear for the foreigner. The period of change would be uncomfortable for him, as the spring-cleaning is disturbing to the male householder; but afterwards there would be a better, an appreciably better, state of things. As Chinese patriotism means a great spring-cleaning, the im- portance of the recent movement to the world (as well as to America) depends upon the extent to which it can be described as patriotic. We have quoted the Chuchou Doctor's opinion: we will now quote Mr. CONGER, late American Minister at Peking. He is said to disbelieve that the American boycott is on a wholesale scale. He some- wliat obscurely says it is a political, rather | thau રા commercial
The Chinese were politicians before America was discovered.
Exclusion chiefly affects coolies, and Chinese merchants do not bother about coolies." If they do not "hother about coolies," we can dismiss their patriot- ism at once; but we fancy Mr. CONGER is wroug in his premises. The Chinese agitators are certainly under the impression that the American legislation affects more than coolies. Altogether, we are at a loss to catch Mr. CONGER'S drift. A political Chinaman must be in some degree a patriotic Chinaman, and both have been But regarded as practically non-existent. assuming that the alleged political side of the Chinaman is now showing uppermost, surely the movement hostile to America is the more likely to be serious; and Mr. CONGER appears
to be emulating the apocryphal ostrich which buried its head in the sand to escape observation. We have not hitherto regarded the American boycott as anything more important than a paroxysm of anti-foreign prejudice created by a sudden perception of the apparent injustice of those who had been ostentatiously posing as friends of China. Believing that the Chinese commercial instinct, that is, the self interest of the individual, wold be too strong for his "new-born patriotism." we did not and do not anticipate an effectual boycott. American trade may suffer for a
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL-As a result of time, perhaps even for a long time in a the further consideration which has been given small way; but the Chinamau's reluctance to this Bill, it is proposed that in Clause 3 the to let good business go past hin may be word "instrument shall be followed by the counted upon to nip the present "patriotic" | words "judgment, order or Lis Pendens." sentiment in the bud. Already there are This is proposed owing to the limited inter- traitors in the camp, What one Chinaman pretation previously given to the word “instru-
ment." resigus, another eagerly takes up, and so it has always been in China. When the coastal Chinese were fighting to prevent the landing of the foreigu devil, their inland neighbours weat about their business.
not their business, they thought. So now there are Chinese who are taking up American agencies while their compatriots suspend business to preach a crusade against the perfilious Yankee. Sending to such a rudely drawn picture of dagger may scare here and there an odd one; but it will not make for the necessary unity. It will not, in a word, breed patriots or patriotism. The news that Chinese patriots" in Shanghai bad attacked a fellow countryman who persisted in having deal ings with Americans sounded, for us, the
This was
a
death-knell of this "national inove- ment," inaugurated with so much palaver and trumpeting. It also confirmed us in our disbelief of the confident assertion of one Chinese journal that "China is united
|
Hon. Mr. C. W. DICKSON.
Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART,
Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils),
{
The minates of the previous meeting, meet- ing No. 4 of the present year, were confirmed.
Hoa. COLONIAL SECRETARY—Si-, I bag to move that the report of the Finance Committee (No. 3) be a lopted.
Hon. COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and it w a carried.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL-Sir, I beg to more that the Council resolve itself into Com- mittee of the whole Council on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to facilitate the transfer of land
in the New Territories and for the settling of dis- putes in respect thereof and for other purposes.
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and it was carried.
This was agreed.
The Council resumed.
Hon. ATTORNEY GENERAL-Sir, I beg to propose the third reading of the Bill entitled Aa Ordinance to facilitate the transfer of land in the New Territories and for settling disputes in respect thereof and other purposes.
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and it was carried.
H18 EXCELLENCY-That is all the basiness
before the meeting. With regard to the Bill relating to the Merchant Shipping Ordinance several amendments have been proposed, and it is necessary that they should receive con- sideration. The Bill will not, therefore, be brought before the Council at present. I trust it will not be necessary to call the Council together again until the Estimates are ready, The Council will adjourn sine dia.
FINANCE "COMMITTEE.
There was afterwards a meeting of the Finance Committee, the Hon. Colonial Secretary přesiding. The following votes were made;—
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