Page
378
SIR ROBERT HART.
(Daily Press, 19th May.)
(May 28, 1906:
“A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF
PEACE:"
*
.
4%
THE HONGKON : WEEKLY PRESS AND
Customs duties to depend on, it felt very grateful when the offer was made to put these latter in commission, and pay over to If anything could persuade us that we erred Peking the proceeds. It was to this system
(Daily Press, 21st May.) in thinking the Chinese Government had that the Luspectorate-General succeeded. Those who have acquired an opinion of the not been trying to oust their good The first Inspector-General, Mr. LAT, held Ka1868-an opinion which dun scarcely be friend and servant, Sir I OBERT HART, it the office for but a short period, when be said to be "formed"—from the less respon.. would be their own recent denial. His had to leave owing to the opposition of the sible British newspapers and the pro- talked of retirement and the recent great proviccials to the Osborne Flotilla ductions of the rarely charitable cari- change may be, as we said, a coincidence; with which he was intimately connected, so caturists, will be startled by the telegraphic but it is quite true that for the last ten that practically Sir ROBERT HART has cou- information published to-day, in which we are told that the COLONIAL UNDER- years his influence has been decaying, and trolled the office since its commencement. he has lost ground not only with the Chinese The policy of the office, in which it was SECRETARY has hailed His Imperial government, but with foreign Powers. backed up by all the force of the British Majesty WILHELM II. as "a fnithful, Last year in commenting on the reactionary Foreign Office, nt the time paramount in servaut of peace". It is amazing how power spirit displayed by the INSPECTOR-GENERAL the capital, was ever to stiffen Peking at ful is the influence of caricature ; and we pointed out the inevitable results. If the expense of the provinces. As long as equally astonishing how little we realise on this, thought the Chinese Government, he there was a real divergence between the what flimsy bases many of our hardset all he can do, we can do it at least as well two, especially when aided by all the force impressious rest. To pause and inquire on ourselves. One grent reform, it is due to of the British Government, this was sound what grounds the GERMAN EMPEROR should the honour of the great INSPECTOR-GENERAL policy for the INSPECTOR-GENERAL; and to be regarded by so many as a pugnacious to mention, was, however, the work of his the two working together is undoubtedly War Lord", whose distinguishing feature latter years of office, and that is, of course, due the fact that of late much profitable | is a mailed fist", might give trouble to the conception and carrying out of an revenue formerly accruing to the provincials some people to furnish a more satisfactory Imperial Post Office. An undertaking more has been diverted to Peking. Now had answer than the one at which we have contrary to the usual dialysing methods of Peking's bands been clean this could not hinted. It is rather a pity that it was not Chinese procedure it is impossible to con- have been otherwise than au advantage, u politician for whom the public entert ina ceive; few supposed at the beginning that but the fact has been that in the competition greater respect, who should have taken the it was more than a fad, and it accordingly of uncleanness Peking has come out rather present opportunity to try to awaken the met with but faint support from any, Chinese the worse of the two. It is difficult for an world to a sense of error and injustice. or outsiders. A few mistakes here and outsider to judge the various moves, and Still, it so happens that Mr. WINSTON there were undoubtedly committed, but on the constantly veering importance of CHURCHILL is not alone in holding a high the whole the institution was found little by one or other side in this sempiternal con- opinion of the German mouarch." _In_the little to meet a want,and this plainly appears test, but it is certain that in one way or Atlantic Monthly, Mr. A. MAurich Low, from the constantly increasing amount of another a continually increasing share of remarking that "it is the penalty geuius business it transacts from month to month. the revenue of China is now diverted to pays to mediocrity to be misunderstood”, It is, of course, true that the institution of the the capital. Open ports are now the attempts with considerable ability and effect
dissipate new department has not at all increased Sir fashion of the day, as they were its bugbear to
misconceptions. Perhaps ROBERT HART's popularity at Peking. It in the past, but the open port implies the Punch never made a more popular hit than bas given the inert and gelatinous mass of placing of the port under the Maritime with its famous cartoon, Dropping the the Government something more to think Customs and the Inspectorate-General, and Pilot". Many of its successes have doubt- about, and afforded Young China one more a consequent increase of the jealousy already less been due to its knack of hitting upon implement to make itself fussy over.
That existing.
There is a considerable amount the seeming obvious; aud in that cartoon, Young China of itself could never have of gratitude at Peking, but it is confined to commemorating the cismissal of BISMARCK, conceived the idea never enters its brain, that peculiar quality that waits on benefits it perpetuated an impression of egoism and motives of the no more than that having conceived the to come, and as it is unlikely that a foreign masterfulness as the idea it could never have carried it to the Inspector-General will ever again have it in EMPEROR's action. The Atlantic Monthls birth: it is sufficient that the new institution his power to confer a benefit such as did article takes a less flippant view, and sayy is now becoming so important that it should Sir ROBERT HART in the reactionary Mackay" the EMPEROR Was sagtcious enough to already arouse the jealousies of all, young Treaty, it were wise under the conditious to know that if BISMARCK remained in power and old. The Imperial Post Office comes listen to the cry of the provincials. In his he would again so manipulate affairs as to in unpleasant contact with the one point younger days the late INSPECTOR-GENERAL force Germany into war, precisely as he had made the first WILLIAM take the whereon both old and young China are heeded little these strivings of an ever
agai ust in perfect accord, and that is the, to suspicious administration; but the old star field
France". Then it goes both, unnecessary and objectionable habit rider does not find it so easy a thing nowa- to make a statement that may well of keeping records and accounting for days to stick to the saddle when new and have inspired Mr. CHURCHILL's later
utterance. as untrained steeds are brought into the arena. receipts and expenditures. This is
The EMPEROR, in spite of all is yet, however would-be reformers would One fault, even his best friends were willing that has been said to the contrary, vapourise, as far as ever from the mind of
to allow, was common to Sir ROBERT HART essentially a man of peace, and while he is the governing classes. It is not only and other great minds, and that was an not afraid to fight, he knows the cost of in the old established departments of the undue jealousy of his subordinates, and war, and that the nation victorious pays A government that the new doctrines make this it was that prevented him training up price almost as heavy as the nation no progress, but even in such modern many of his ablest lieutenants to follow him defeated". No one realises more than the
In fact it was for this, it institutions as steamer associations, rail-in the post.
KAISER that the last thirty-five years have ways and telegraphs, we find the principle is well known, that for years the ablest witnessed great changes in the German well-established that they are for the private always threw up their offices in disgust. It Zeitgeist. A writer in La Remie said a short pelf of the managers for the time being, was one of the results of this mistake that time ago that the German desire for conquest subject to the time-honoured practice of at last when a more active mind than bis is now a commercial oue, and -therefore,
The feudal world, Peking, of course, to pounce at was required to take up the reins no-one entirely legitimate. moment, probably when most unexpected, equal to the occasion was found; and which pior to 1870 dominated the land, on the overbloated occupant. This of himself become more reactionary than the bus since been crushed by the young The La Revue course equally was the great and honoured Chinese themselves, he took the occasion to industrial bourgeoisie. objection all through to the vesting of the fill every vacant office with men of this writer mentioned this to explain how important post of Chief of the Customs in the stamp. Whatever opinion we may hold as democracy has been growing in Germany; person of a foreigner. The very jealousies of to the capacity of the Chinese mind, it is we mention it to show that there is good the Foreign Powers forced then to unanimity at least certain that as a people they do not reason for the KAISER's love of peace. on this one point, however each (and experi-
Trade may follow the flag, but it follows at ence showed that there were Powers quite
some distance behind. The press is an ready to acquiesce in private arrangements)
indispensable safeguard against grievances.; was willing for itself to make backdoor
but it has become painfully conspicuous as a manufacturer thereof. A good example: arrangements for the payment of modified duties. Each was likewise equally unwilling
is furnished by the Contemporary› Review, that its neighbour' should have the means
which seems glad to stand sponsor for any. of doing the same thing, and as China was
thing that Dr. E. J. DILLON cares to say. at the time practically in the hands of the
Dr. DILLON is a journalist who has Dever Taiping rebels, and the Government had
loved Germany; but like the rest of his kidney who seem to take delight in foment. only the open ports and the Foreign
some
like the mau of no opinions of his own; and it was the absence of independent feeling of late years on the part of the INSPECTOR-GENERAL that cost him their respect.
Tokyo newspapers announce that Switzer- land has decided to open a Legation in Tokyo, and that Dr. Paul Ritter, now Consul-Gener al for Switserland in Yokohama, is to be the first Minister.
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