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CHINESE AND FOREIGN LORE.
(Daily Prese, 9th July.)
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[July 14, 1906.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
activity in the publishing houses in Shang. but on the contrary have always been care- hai and Japan, and altogether great changes ful to do all in their power to preserve the are in operation.". This movement he handsome revenue which they derive from admits is at times misdirected and some the drug. It was for a long time alleged evils are attendant upon it, but he considers that the British Government was solely A correspondent of the Times at Peking, that "its general tendency-a striving to responsible for the introduction of opinn evidently well informed as to the state of wards greater national efficiency, however into China; but more than thirty years ago, affairs in China, recently made some valuable impossible of attainment that may seem in the absolute falsehood of this statement was remarks as to the effect of the movement China-is one that all nations interested in shown by the fact that in a Chinese novel which has set in in China in the direction of modern progress should regard with some known to be then over a hundred and thirty the study of foreign literature. He points measure of sympathy and encouragement tsars old, opium smoking was spoken of as out that the movement at its present stage With this view, most people will agree. If a familiar habit of the Chinese. This fact is not without some elements of danger, on the Chinese generally recognise that it is was mentioned first by one of the Commis- the well known principle that " a little possible for them to obtain some knowledge sioners of Customs, and from his report it knowledge is a dangerous thing". This of of statesmanship and administration from found its way into a Blue Book, which latter course is undeniable, but it is still a question the hitherto despised foreigner, a great was quoted chapter and verse in a letter, to whether in some cases a little knowledge is step will have been made in the direction he London Times, in answer after all less dangerous than complete of ultimate improvement. This has hitherto screaming arguments as to the disgrace to ignorance. The beginnings of new studies heen almost hopeless from the Chinese our escutcheop, etc., which were made in the are always apt to take a fantastic shape: inveterate habit of looking backward rather course of a debate in the House on this year 1878: Knowledge of a specialist character is than forward, and considering that all the favourite topic. This was in the usually overestimated in value and is apt defects in the country are the result of their No reply was attempted by the Anti-Opium to engender the kind of conceit which has departing from the infallible principles of Society or anyone else to this unanswerable been a fertile subject of satire-"la belle Government of ancient times. If they will argument, and the question was considered chose de savoir quelque chose." But it is only face the actual facts and recognise as set at rest for the time being. It is no doubt well not to be impatient of such little that the ancients are the ancients, but that thought that sufficient time has now elapsed manifestations of weakness, and to they are the people of the present day, for this and other equally convincing facts recognise that they may have a useful as there is a hope that they may set to work to be forgotten, and thus the never-ending well as a comical side. They no doubt take in earnest to obtain a system of government controversy has been revived, with all the a crude and at times a ridiculous form at suitable to existing circumstances and the fervour of theological controversy. first, but after a little they may prove to Dear future, instead of trying to hark back Different kinds of belief are necessary to be the initial stages of what may turn out to the conditions existing in the time of the differently constituted people; and it seems Bone who cannot exist to be an advance in knowledge such as Mings and the still more distant past. that there are may lead to solid and valuable results. The Such a change in the Chinese mind is a without the belief that all the evils that have ever arisen in China are due to our writer above referred to is not wrong in very great one; but there seems to be room considering that it is no small thing to find for hope that the stirring events of recent having introduced a pernicious drug, which the Chinese getting out of the old grooves times have in some small degree brought it we did not introduce, and whose pernicious- in any way. It is a great step in advance about. The fact that the Chinese have ness, if used in moderation, is by no of the old state of Chinese opinion that they manifested a general desire to acquire a means established. Whatever may should recognise that there is anything in knowledge of English, as is stated by the the exact facts on this latter point, upon foreign book-knowledge worth serious con- writer to the Times, would seem to indicate which opinions differ, in the same way as sideration; but at least this point has been that they have at last realised that there they do in regard to the use as opposed to reached, and it may be hoped that it will are facts and possibly even principles of the abuse of alcohol, the fact remains that be the beginning of better things. We are government which they can learn with the Chinese authorities have no more idea
much inclined to accept
our own advantage from foreign nations. This once of putting an end to opium smoking than standards as the only ones worth consider-realised, the great obstacle to improvement, of turning back the ocean. They know ing that we find it difficult to understand namely, their self-sufficiency and conser- only too well that the one would be as easy that the Chinaman does exactly the saine vatism, will be at least modified, and may in as the other. The only question that really thing with regard 10 his standards. time be removed, and the way may be thus interests them is whether more revenue can Hitherto he has looked upon foreigners (as opened for the introduction of necessary be got out of Chinese opium or out of the it must be admitted in fairness they have reforms. This process must of necessity be imported article, and it has been to this very largely looked upon him) as people of a very gradual character, and it is not point that attention has been directed by having nothing worthy the name
of likely that any such sudden change will the Chinese authorities from the very first. literature, and has concluded that nothing occur in China as has taken place in Japan This fiscal question, like many others in could be learnt from them except practical It, however, the Chinese honestly endeavour China, is one upon which the Imperial and science and this chiefly in the direction of to improve the administration of their the Provincial authorities have opposite more formidable warlike appliances than country by what they can learn from foreign interests. The duty upon imported, opium the Chinese had yet become acquainted with. nations, there is every reason to hope that goes to Peking; the squeezes which are The idea that a foreigner might have written their practical commonsense will enable levied by local officials by first prohibiting something which could compare in wisdom them to make improvements in each directhe use of the drug in their districts in high- with the Chinese classics has until recently tion where improvement is necessary in been looked upon as altogether outside such manner and at such times as may be consideration. This view, however, caunot suitable for the changes that have to be fail to have been shaken to some extent by made. what the Chinese are well aware has taken place in Japan. They find a nation who took a large part of its literature and civilization from China herself studying with respect the civilisation and literature of foreign nations; and, as a result, they also see before them a vast improvement not only in exteroal relations, but also in the internal administration of that country. This fact cannot fail to strike them quite as much as the material success of Japan in the late war; and, notwithstanding all their prejudices, they cannot but recognise that the position of Japan has been largely due to her study of foreign institutions and her acquaintance with foreign languages and literature. The writer notes that the demand for Western literature has increased enormously since the abolition of the old methods of examina- tion. Literature, modern, healthy and instructive," is, he says, "being brought into China by the ton. There is immense
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THE CINESE AND ORIUM.
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(Daily Press, 10th July}) Fondly imagining with many others that the Opium Question' was a dead horse as a subject of interest, we confined our remarks, when referring to its recent resur rection in Parliament, to the melancholy spectacle presented by latter-day legislators who seem afraid to entertain any opinion likely to cost them a vote. But the old ad captandum statements are re-appearing, the former mendacities again rearing their hoary crests. In the present day, it seems almost absurd to argue upon the subject seriously. It has been over and over again proved to demonstration that the opium question in China has never really been anything else but a fiscal matter, and that the Chinese never have made, and have never had the slightest intention of making, any real and bona fide effort to put down opinion smoking;
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sounding proclamations and then receiving bribes to let infringements pass, goes into their own pockets. There is thus always a large class in China who would gladly see the importation of opium done away with; and it is in reality from sources such as thi (little as the good missionaries who are primed up on the subject suspect it) that the bulk of the complaints which they are made the instrument of bringing forward really emanate. These facts are so well known that it seems almost absurd to restate them, but for the fact that a motion has now been pushed through the House of Commons condemning the opium traffic. This, of course, will be highly gratifying to the Anti-Opium Society, and to that vast set of people who love being extremely moral in respect to distant countries, especially when they know little or nothing about them. The answer which was made. by the SECRETARY of STATE for India is not, eu :ouraging to these however, quite 80 enthusiasts as they might wish. Mr. Jon MORLEY, now Secretary of State for India, must have deeply regretted the trammels of office, when he could only reply that "if
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