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In the Western States of America he was at first received with open arms, which be repaid by being the main factor in the building up of the State of California at that time only communicating with the main body of the States by dangerous tracks across the Rocky Mountains or by a long and difficult voyage round Cape Horn. With the making of the Panama Railway, and still more effectively by the building of the first trans-continental line, the great West was first put in effective communica- tion with the Eastern States, and the Chinaman cut off from his own country was made to feel the incidence of the new pro- letariat who now assumed the lead in the government. Then commenced the era of anti-Chinese legislation, to which the China- man could only oppose his own stubborn and individual resistance. Still he managed on the whole to thrive, and bred up with that peculiar clannishness which is at once the weakness and the strong point of the race, and looking eventually to making his last home in his native land, he remitted home the greater part of his hardly-earned savings. This drew down upon him in a still stronger degree the hatred of the pro- letariat, but at the same time it increased his influence at home.
[March 5, 190 6.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and some recent appointments, as that of been hearing of the modern temper of the the reactionary Taotai YUEN to high office native populace. If the proof of the religious in the capital, would seem to indicate that it origin of the massacre depends upon this, still has considerable influence in Peking our idea that religion had nothing at all to itself. Now the recent action of the United do with it is likely to remain unassailed. States Government in reinforcing its We may mention, mainly to show our military garrison in the Philippines may absolute impartiality, in the premises, that not be altogether prompted by any fear of the difference between a Chinese Roman complications in China, and seems rather Catholic and a Chinese Protestant is some- to be at bottom influenced by uneasiness thing less than the difference between. in the new colony. The Government at Tweedledum and Tweedledee. This expres- Washington, new to the task of gaining the sion of opinion should avort from us the confidence of an Eastern population, un-suspicion (which would be unwelcome) doubtedly finds itself at Manila in that we hold a brief for the French difficult position, which Congress, wedded to ог any other priests. It is the in- the old school of home politics, refuses to stinct of justice and fairplay which face, and declines to come to its assistance prompts our protest against these con- on the direct issue. But making every temptible and frequently recurrent allega- allowance for this, there is no doubt that tions against a body of men whose doctrines, the statesmen at Washington are not more than their conduct, are unpalatable. altogether satisfied with the position in It is unnecessary to invent religious differ- the East generally. With true British ences to account for the outbreak, in view nondhalence we are probably making too of the present condition of China. light of the present influence at work; such position has been explained over and over was notoriously the case in India prior to again; how the proletariate still dislikes the the great Mutiny, such was our position in foreigner, and is drawing a false moral from South Africa prior to the outbreak of Japanese success; how the young students, the recent war, and such, it may be whom a little foreign learning seems to make added, was our conduct before the mad, have been inflaming their illiterate affair of 1900 in Peking. Those on the countrymen with iconoclastic patriotism. spot to whom the new movement comes In addition, there is especial significance in home every day of their lives do not the report that for some time previous there look without apprehension on the pre had been "much indignation" everywhere sent complications, Well led and well along the line from Kwangsi (through conducted the present movements may have Kiangsi) to Peking because of the presence the useful effect of restoring to international of three thousand French soldiers at dignity the Government of China, but in Lungchou. present hands it is far more likely to lead to her extinction amongst the nations.
Our telegrams from Shanghai prepare us for some such denouement.
THE ANGLO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.
The
Resenting keenly the neglect of his Gov. ernment, which in his eyes had by its indifference aggravated his hardships, the emigrant Chinaman became bitterly anti- dynastic, and through his wealth and grow ing influence at home has been able to make that influence felt. Perhaps not altogether unnaturally with this disaffection toward his Government has been conjoined a resentment against the Western foreigner, against whom too often be has had very well founded causes of complaint. The
(Daily Press, 2nd March). expiry of the term of the anti-Chinese
THE NANCHANG MASSACRE. The intervention of more immediately legislation, to which his Government had
stirring questions seems to have prevented lent its sanction, partly because it had no
(Daily Press, 1st March.)
any very full discussion in the home papers power of resistance, but partly, there is no Inadvertently, a footuote we had prepared of the renewed treaty between Great Britain doubt, through the influence of the ill-for our earliest telegram of February 26th, and Japan. At the time of its public omeued Burlingame treaties, whose effects announcing the massacre at Nanchangfu, in announcement, a general approval of the have been so disastrous to the best interests Kiangsi, was mislaid and omitted.
We measure of China, has been marked throughout had intended to point out that while pub-critical comment was forthcoming, and was expressed, but very little China by a general revulsion of feeling. lishing that telegram, we could not counten- there was a general tendency to take very Willingly the Government of the United ance the careless suggestion in the words, much for granted that the measure was States would have removed or ameliorated
"the magistrate either committed suicida
one which iù all likelihood proved advanta- the worst of the difficulties under which the or was attacked and killed by the French geous, and that the decision of the respon Chinese immigrant laboured; but it was priests." It is always difficult to get straight-sible authorities at the Foreign Office not strong enough to contemn the powerful forward evidence from the interior, and proletariat, which under the constitution of when it comes via Shanghai, it must be the States keeps effectively in its hands the expected to become further entangled. In entire legislation of the country, But this case, we suspect similar wickedness to besides this increasingly powerful faction that which inspired the scandalous even in China itself, there is another even story in connection with the Lienchow more influential party, that of the reformers, massacre. A statement that French which cannot be lightly disregarded. Vexed priests did kill this Chinese magis: at the low estate into which misgovernment trate would not have appeared so trans- has permitted the country to fall, it con-parently malicious; it might be hearsay, it trived to convert to its own ideas even the might be a mistake, it might even be true. EMPEROR on the Throne; but, although | But after careful contemplation of the moral that attempt was rudely suppressed at the aspect of this incident, we have no doubt time, the example of Japan, who has by which is the more vicious and wicked, a heroic efforts contrived to free herself from French priest guilty of a Chinaman's death, the leading strings of the West, has not or the man (presumably also a teacher of been lost, and the new party of Reform men) who first penned those words, "either has become an overwhelming force, which committed suicide or was attacked and for good or evil has to be reckoned killed by the French priests." The very with. That the more level-headed and insolence of that, we think, betrays its able-minded leaders are firmly opposed to origin. It is not certain, according to e exercise of force, and desire above all our message, that the Chinese magistrate things that the nation may be left to work was murdered at all; but if he was, out its own salvation, it is no less a fact the murder must have been committed than that a considerable section are desirous by the French priests. That is what of throwing down the gauntlet to the world at large, and it is in this section, largely composed of the "Young China" party, that the power for mischief resides. It is true that this section has not the confidence of the nation at large, but it is largely represented amongst the governing classes,
6.
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it says, and obviously, that would be the remark of some person who did not love the French priests. Another account says a Roman Catholic' stabbed the magistrate. This we would read as in- dicating a native, which is much more likely to have been the case, from all that we have
might be accepted as correct without going subject. It is not surprising that this ready very minutely into the pros and cons of the acceptance of a measure of fur reaching importance sho ld have appeared to some reflecting persons open to question; and one writer in an article which appeared in the Contemporary overthe signature of "Pro PATRIA" raised a warning voice against what appeared to him to be a too ready fraught with very serious consequences. acquiescence in a step which might be
The writer in question sees in the Treaty with Japan a distinct evidence of the decadence of Great Britain. We have heard so much of the decadence of the Empire that few people are inclined to attach very much importance to this cry.
At the same time it must be admitted that some plausible reasons are set forth, and amongst them is the idea that this deca- dence has undoubtedly been reached when Great Britain has to admit that she looks to the assistance of another nation in the event of certain contingencies arising. This however, does not imply that she is abso- lutely dependent upon such aid, and the writer also ignores the circumstances which have quite naturally led up to such a junction of interests between Japan and Great Britain as plainly suggested commoa action if necessary for their maintenance.
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