268
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
K
the Bill just introduced is certain to undergo considerable change before it passes both Houses of Parliament, it is to be hoped that it will make unnecessary any future tinkerings with the substantial structure of education laid in 1902 ard 1903.
CHINESE TESTIMONY.
(Daily Press, 12th April.)
Those
*E Jon's comforters you so
told
.
"
|
AMERICAN CONSULAR
REFORMS.
(Daily Press, 13th April) Dash Americans all over the Far East must be glad, after so long a period of dissatisfaction, of the news we are to-day enabled, courtesy of Mr. WILBUR T. Grachy, publish in our columns. A Bill has been finally passed which is to inaugurate, în s month or two, several wide reforms in the American consular service. Many things have been said privately about Americs a representatives in Chinn which it was not desirable to say publicly; perhaps some things which should never have been said. at all. So much, however, is admitted, that the democratic ideals have never been altogether realised; we have been told that the American consular service was mainly “a refuge for decayed politicians"; and whenever excuses were needed for allegedly decayed consuls, we were reminded that UNCLE SAM was a niggardly paymaster, and that certain things were au inevitable con- sequence. Quite recently we have had the statement us to iundequate remuneration. confirmed by the retirement of a consul whe would have been a credit to any service, Mr. David-on, of Formosan fame. Ifit be the case, as suggested, that the recent visit of a mob of senatore led to the present practical attempt at reform, Americans in their home-land will recognise in time that the newspaper strictures on that extravagant picnic were not wholly deserved. One feature of the new enactment ought on the face of it to be an unquestionable improve. ment. We allude to the provision of qualified inspectorate, the five members of which, by travelling from consulate to consulate, will be sure to detect in time any of the irregularities of which Americans. resident in the East have over and over again fruitlessly complained. Some inspec tions in the past have been farcical. Provided that the salaries are reasonable, and this, from the list we give elsewhere, we think may now fairly be asumed, the arrangement to make all fees official is a satisfactory one, and should remove at one and the same time the grievances of clients and their animadversions on consular probity.
•
perhaps because of its difficulties legislators | which were quite unnecessary, and though hesitated to attempt a solution. However, the last Government apparently felt that the intolerable state of affairs must be remedied, and so the Education Act of 1902 was introduced and passed after a keen parliamentary struggle. Even its most sanguine supporters could hardly claim that the Act was a perfect one, but it certainly bore the impress of an honest attempt to solve one of the thorniest problems with which any Parliament has had to deal.
who say "I It introduced a system where none existed,
are deservedly unpopular; but It co-ordinated both elementary and higher in referring to the recently decided partner- education, and it placed all the schools ship case at the Hongkong Supreme Court under one authority. Of course the Noncon- we hope to be absolved from all such formists did not like the Act. But neither pettiness if we venture to hail the case as did the parish priests. The Nonconformists one tending to confirm the impression we felt they had a grievance in baving, as have so often tried to strengthen, that no ratepayers, to contribute to the teaching in matter how difficult the side-issues may be, schools other than their own of dogmas to
this community should take a firmer stand which they objected, forgetting that the
with regard to the registration of Chinese cost of the secular education in their own partnerships. The salutary lesson_taught school which they previous had to pay by His Honour Sir FRANCIS PIGGOTT was now thrown on the community, and may even make our Chinese friends and forgetting that they had gained very
commercial contemporaries incline A materialy by the introduction of the more friendly ear to the proposal: t new system. On the other hand the least we hope so. Assuming that the per. priest and his school managers were
JUDGE made no mistake in declaring sborn of many of their old privileges, that the eight witnesses who swore to and the Ronan Catholics had also to come the partnership-all men of eminence in under an authoky from which they were
native business circles-were guilty of previously free. Broadly speaking, the Act
flagrant conspiracy and "the most introduced a better system of secular cduca-corrupt perjury," there is another feature of tion, but it offer ded the susceptibilities of the case which has to be viewed with Nonconformists and was responsible for the satisfaction. It is notorious that the appearance of the Passive Resisters, a body Chinaman has very little respect for the whose actions were never tree from bathos, foreign oath, and, if memory may be relied and who were distinguished for that intoler on, it is not so long since & Judge com. ance of which they themselves complained.plained that it was impossible to get the Undoubtedly it was the opposition to the truth out of Chinese witnesses. The value Education Act, fomented by denominational of an oath, as some foreigners still see it, prejudices, that contributed to the defeat may never appel to Chinese witnesses, but of the party now in opposition, and although this recent example of wholesome severity the agitation may have been inspired by should have its effect in helping such wit unworthy motives, no one will regret the nesses to remember the possible conse action of the present Government in seek- quences of false testimony. It is evident ing to amend the Education Acts of 1902-3 that Sir FRANCIS PIGGOTT has in his short if it result in putting an end to the wordy term of office been made to realise this warfare which has been waged in the name difficulty attending the administration of of religious freedom during the last four justice in this Colony; and in the unusual years. Without a knowledge of the text step he took to guard against trickery of the Bill just introduced by Mr. A. "that of demanding statements of fact to be BIRRELL, the President of the Board of prepared and sealed in advance of the hear- Education, it is difficult to estimate its ing-there was a reflection of the judgment
Consuls are no longer to value, but the outline of the objects of SOLOMON. Human nature should count engage in law or any other business, establishment of public control of schools, for as much as hoary precedents, and the prohibition which, while not vasy to enforce, the establishment of undenominational most successful judges are they who study will stand in the way of many patent teaching, and the abolition of religious tests
man as well as law. The expedient of His irregularities not altogether unknown for teachers-leads us to hope that, HONOUR on this occasion may appear too in the past history of the service in the Far provided due consideration is extended obvious and simple for extravagant com- East. The allusion to the classification of to those who have at considerable mendation; but there is no doubt it is an consular officers in grades secins to be partly. personal outlay built and supported innovation which will strongly impress the explained by the examples cited; but we schools for the education of their children Chinese intellect. Old men who may have believe there is more behind, less entitled in the way that they desired, the amendment been wont to laugh at the easy credulity of to approval. We understand that the Bill will introduce a happ.er era for England. foreign judges will tell their sous with gusto as it now becomes law has undergone an No one, unless he be blinded by denomina, how one at least was too wideawake to undesirable amendment at the hands of tional jealousy will insist that religionists suffer clever mendacity impotently. It will Congress, which refused to relinquish its however broad-minded they may consider become a tradition. That is one virtue or right to appoint any man to any grade. themselves, the proper parties to have idiosyncracy of the Chinese linr; he can The original files recommended was to control of the education of the young. It appreciate the superior artfulness that ensure a constant supply of capable men by
him. On the exposes is a question for the State.
who protest, making them pass up from grade to grade, efficency of its citizens in all departments mendaciously but with touching fervour, by promotion, an excellent system for depends its existence and position among have often been known to show amusement excluding inexperienced and unfit appointees. the nations of the world, and this can only be when detection could no longer be staved who might succeed by politic il jobbery. As secured by a system of education, free from off. To return to the material issue, there it is, good servants in the lower grades, will haphazard methods and thoroughly effi-will always be attempts at deception, even not be greatly encouraged to do their best- cient. Therefore it is eminently satisfactory with registration; but registration would if they see some stump-orator given «'a to read that it is proposed to put all schools place us in a better position to deal with desirable appointment over their benda under public control. The establishment | them.
The American business man as a ty of gudenominational teaching is a necessary
a great reputation, and may generall corollary, and while it will be displeasing landowners on April 6th to iustitute a Municipal any administrative capacity. But it would
The Germans at Hankow held a meeting of expected to acquit himself well in almos to those who are above all else sectarians, Council. A vote will follow every Tla. 75 paid be absurd to claim that there is a uniforms it will be welcomed as an act of common annually as municipal taxes, although no man
which may lead to a better under- may have more than twelve votes, The Consul type. America, like other coun standing all round. The same applies to was to be convener and chairman. countil its feckless folk, men who the abolition of religious tests for teachers, I of five is to be elected annually,
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