August 7, 1905.}
enter; and heavy expenses running all the time, is allowed to fall into bankruptcy. Com mercial men in Shanghai, realising that Mr. BENNERTZ has been fighting the battle of British trade, are sending in subscriptions to our contemporary, to enable him to hold out until the somnolent British Lion awakes to a sense of its duty.
THE BOYCOTT.
(Daily Press 5th August). Now that the Chinese boycott has actually, begun, it should not be long before we are enabled to know whether it possesses the seriousness of purpose that will make it effective, or whether it is merely an chul- lition of temper raised by the agitators in Shanghai. We are still reluctant to adinit that success, from the promoters' point of view, awaits it, for reasons previously given, and because of the continued appearance of incidental features which threaten to thwart ; it from within. It is a comparatively easy thing to spread an agitation of this nature, especially when the materials necessary are so readily provided. It is not, we are sure, a plain statement that America discriminates unjustly against Chinese immigrants that has made the noise of this movement to be heard from Singapore to Tientsin, and esen as far away as San Francisco; but rather the publication of cartoons representing the illtreatment of Chinese by Americans and impassioned appeals to that racial pride which even the Chinaman possesses. These stories and pictures, it may be pointed out, bave sufficient warranty, if only in the files of the American Press for the last fifty years. Since BRET HARTE penned the line, "We are ruined by Chinese cheap labour,' there must have occurred many authentic. cases of ill-treatment of Chinese. But however true, the representations of the boycott organisers may be, it is not because of their relevancy to the ostensible grievance connected with the Exclusion Act that they are so effective. The latter seems but a peg on which to hang the accumulated resentment born of long years of oppression. That is, at all events, a more likely explana- tion of the apparent success 80 far of the work of the promoters; and the powerful assistance of the Guilds will be quite sufficient to give the movement some semblance of solidity and consistency.
but not
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
81
chesp "notions" introduced by American How far the sanitary measures enforced by agents, supposing they join the boycott, will the Government during the last ten years have have to wait a considerable time before been instrumental in producing this welcome other people can take up the same trade. feels that all the many thousands of dollars dimination no man can say. But the ratepayer That means that there will be smu ugglings expended in combatting the scourge can hardly and other treacheries; and a creed that insists have been spent in vain. The fact that we have upon "lip service" soon loses its popularity. I had two years in succession in which the plague American soap will not matter, Japanese returns have been comparatively low is a I was ousting it in any case; but there are hopeful sign. In 1903 there were 1,4.0 cases ; I other things of which the Chinese will last year the number fell to 510, and this year
greatly miss the American purveyor. The
the probability is that the total will not exceed 300. We can only trust that we shall have boycotting of American cigarettes should in
still fewer cases next year though, when the natural course of events tend to stiffen
we see how the plague returns have fluctuated the price of other brands. This habit or
since plague first became epidemic in the vice is already firmly established; it is Colony, we can feel no confidence that our easier to acquire than to abandon; will a hopes will be fulfilled in this respect. The fact movement that touches the smoker's pocket cannot be overlooked that Canton appears to be continue popular? But for their cheaper sharing our immunity from plague sickness, does not price, there are many American specialities though the Canton Government
emulate this Colony in its enforcement of which would not have found a market in
sanitary precautions. China at all, as they came later than others. The absence of these cheap supplies will be felt and noted. There are some American products, patent drugs and so on, that even the keenest boycotters will go on using, un- couscious of their origin; and when they find it out, they will feel as much discour- aged as did the devout Buddhist when told that every time he drew breath he destroyed millions of bacterial lives.
With the discussions that have gone on concerning the ethics of the matter, we will have nothing to do. They have touched an impossible kind of ethics. The abolition of the right of Extra-territoriality is not to be thought of until Japan has infected China with its own virus of adaptability and progress.
HONGKONG JOTTINGS.
31st July.
Four months ago when there was much discussion in the Colony concerning the increase in the price of butchers' meat, I pointed out that the report of the Registrar General showed that the fovernment derived in 1904 a total sum of $105,827 from market tolls and market licences. I further pointed out that this total represented an increase of orer 820,000 in five years. In 1899 when an increase of $6,133 was shown as compared with
the
revenue
for the previous year it was
explained that the increase was due to the "increased rent obtained from stalls, which were put up to tender on being given up by their holders." Subject to correction, I assumed that the increase of $ 0,000 which bad since taken place in the revenue was attributable to the same canse.notwithstanding that the Food Commission appointed in 1900 referred in their report to market reufs as being a tax on food and re- commended that they should be kept as low as possible. The Registrar General has since investigated the subject and has found that the Government revenue in the form of market rents, and slaughter house fees are responsible for an increase of only 800 03 per 1b. in the cost of meat It must be admitted that this effectually refutes the allegation that the increase in the price of butchers' meat is due to excessive market rentals, and it would be interesting to know exactly what squeeze-pidgin is responsible.
During the past week the name of Sandow has been on everybody's lips, and for months to come most of our athletic young men and probably others will be persevering with Sandow exercises for the development of the masole As to the means of developing great strength. in a London newspaper which arrived by the last mail, I noticed a brief interview with the famous Russian wrestler Hackenschmidt who
the paper stated, is reputed to be the strongest man in the world. He declared that the strongest people are the Tarks, and gave it as his opinion that sweets are the best strength producers!
"
If you would be strong, eat all the sweets you can," was his advice, and in the present state of the atmosphere in Hongkong this means of acquiring strength will probably commend itself especially to the ladies in preference to dumb bells and the other apparatus recom. mended by Sandow.
Major H. G. Fitton, D.S.O., who succeeds Colonel Western, C.B.. in the command of the 2nd Battalion of the West Kent Regiment, is one of the tallest officers in the British Army. Already we have in Colonel Darling, of the Royal Engineers, one of Major Fitton's rivals in that respect. The following record shows that Major Fitton has earned considerable military distinction during his service. He spint from 1885 to 1889 in Egypt and the Soudan, taking part in all the compaigns of that period. including the operations in the Eastern Soudan. 1885; the Egyptian Frontier Field Force cperations. 1885-86; the Dongola Expedition and the Khartoum Expedition, 1897-98. In the latter campaign he was Intelligence Officǝr. and most skilfully led the Anglo-Egyptian columns through the desert, by his pocket com. pass and map, to the Dervish position on the Atbara, with the result that everyone knows. He did good service at Omdurman, and in connection with Egypt earned three medals with fire clasps, the Khedive's Star. the D.8.0.. numerous mentions in despatches, and a brevet majority.
He earned further distinction in the Boer War as a staff officer, and was present at the actions of Paardeberg. Poplar Grove. Kares Siding. Vet River, Zand River Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the campaign in the Transvaal down to the close of the war (medal with three clasps, King`× medal with two clasps, and twice mentioned in despatches). Major Fitton comes to Hongkong
from Malta where he was second in command of the 1st Battalion of the West Kents.
It is when we come to consider what obedience to the orders of the organisers inust mean to many Chinese that we are enabled to observe the inherent weakness of their position. Fear of public opinion and the Guilds, especially when supported by such threatening letters 83 the one reprinted elsewhere in this issue, may secure હૈ sort of loyalty; the only loyalty which is necessary to make such operations successful. In Ireland, the home of the boycott, there was a heated public opinion, threatening letters galore, and JUDGE LYNCH to follow, but these things did not obtain the unanimity of purpose with which some people are now ready to credit the Chinese. The lot of the Chinese emigrant to Australia has never been better than that of his brother who chose America, and ret after years of ill. treatment of identical character and with a like prompting, there are Chinese (as a recent Hongkong case showed) willing to pay heavy premiums to be smuggled into the island continent. In Shanghai, where however, when the last six months were respon make it pay. this present boycott was started, and in sible for nearly 30 per cent. of the cases, but as other treaty ports, there are traders of other; a rule the plague season is considered to end nationalities who will be able to supply some of the things hitherto bought from Americans; but in the interior, the people who have been welcoming the countless
1
We may consider that we have now practically reached the end of the plague season, and the Colony finds itself in a more satisfactory position in this respect than it has enjoyed since 1897. The total number of plague cases so far reported this year has been 254. In 1896, when 1,204 cases were reported, 92 per cent. of them occurred in the first half of the year; in 1898, when the total for the year was higber, 9 per cent. of the cases occurred in There have been years, the first six months.
with the month of June. Now that we hare'
reached the end of July we may reasonably believe that the year's plague roll will be lower than any since 1997 when there were only 19 cases recorded.
:
as
Thera is talk of a new hotel being built on the Peak, and I have heard "The Homestead'
'There the probable site. mentioned is no doubt room for another hotel at the Peak, but whether one having 100 rooms would be likely to fill up immediately it is opened, I have some donbt." I do not know whether the project in question is for a hotel of 180 rooms but I have heard it suggested that a hotel of this size would secure enough patronage to
BANYAN.
The new International Social Club at Yoko-
hama is now in full swing. The members have taken possession of the large building in the Public Gardens, behind the Cricket Pavilion, formerly a commercial bazaar.
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