320
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
she had
not
life
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[November 12, 1908.
THE PACIFIC.
The
WA
Russian Ministry of Trade and Commerce | least dalliance at any time with even the to discount the happiness that may be to consider the to be or not to be of main- mere idea of it. Academic complacence coming. To be over anxious of the future taining in peace the free-trade policy towards it on one day may mean a rash is to be less sane in the present. Crusoe's considered desirable during the war. The impulse another day. It is singular to example of drawing up a balance-sheet of Novoe Vremya is for free-ports, arguing notice how small a cause sometimes suffices advantages and disadvantages of the present that as there is at present no local industry to prompt such a deed. Often, as in one situation is to be recommended,” to protect, protective tariffs will merely pathetic case unfolded in our columns this desperate would often so find arguments check the development that is so desirable week, the provocation lies largely in the against des; air. Our modern Hamlets and necessary. It might be helpful once imagination. The writer of one of the would then realise that it is not a question that development gets a fair start, but most intensely touching letters we have of flying to ills that we know not of, but of neither before the birth of industry, nor ever read in such a connection remarked,fying from goods that we are similarly after it reaches robustness, can our con- "unless one is happy, I see DO use in failing to appreciate. temporary see that protective tariffs at living". Careful examination of the Manchurian or Siberian ports would be evidence shows that her unhappiness was anything but harmful. It says protection more saticipated than actual; and here only does harm to a sufficiently developed perhaps we may be useful if we recall bow industry, for “it tends artificially to raise much this tendency to "borrow trouble is the price of all products, making the cost apparent in modern life. The burden on of living greater and at the same I me this young woman's mind, it is clear, was as d priving traders of an invaluable impulse much the future as the present. Over and towards improved production. In this over she speaks of it. "There seems excess of protection lives the old sin of our nothing left to live for ". The work she bureaucracy, a sin which has cost the did not feel fit for Was new work country very dear". Fiscal revenue ought to occupy the secondary place. Experience has shown that Siberian producers need cheap materials from abroad; manufacturers of matches, soap, &c., are continually asking the Ministry of Finance for rebates on indispensable materials imported from abroad. The Novoe Vremya, vainly we fear, tries to allay the doubts of the Moscow and Lodz manufacturers, who dread foreign competition. It avers that under free trade Russian goods held their own against foreign; and that the latter actually entered more freely when a tariff barrier was erected. There we fancy the Russian journal has been misled by studying values instead of quantities, for the foreigu imports it quotes are expressed in rouble terms. 3,772,672 roubles' worth in 1900 6,470,561 roubles in 1901, and 19,999,004 roubles in 1902. Then also, the increase of smuggling caused by the high tariffs was bound to affect the imports from European Russia, which in the same years dropped in value from fifty-seven millions to thirty- eight millions. "In any case", concludes our contemporary,
"the interests of the local population should be considered before these subsidy and rebate-fed manu- facturers at home". Other merchants who wish to introduce their goods at southern ports will prefer that Vladivostock should go back to protection.
A SECULAR SERMON.
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(Daily Press, 9th November) "He being dead, yet spesketh " may truly be said of the late Mr. SEDDON, Premier of New Zealand, for the paper received by the inst mail from the United Kingdom give deserved prominence to a letter that be wrote, and a speech that he delivered, shortly before he died. The Pacific and Great Britain's not yet entered upon; it interests therein is the theme of these was
18 she actually found eminently patriotic contributions, and it, but the life of the future, as she imagined cannot doubt that many who followed the it would be, that was blank. The absence fashion in cheap sneers at the living states- of anything "bright to look forward to
man will feel both regret and respect when apparently appalled this young wind, which digesting the last message of the departed had found, perhaps, its keenest joys, as well oracle. Under date March 22nd of this as sorrows, in anticipation. It is a p'atitude year, Mr. SEDDON wrote as follows to a to say that no one can realise the luture; correspondent of the London Standard :--- and it may be because it is a platitude that
"The Pacific Islands question is of paramount people ignore the fact, and persist in pro-importance. Under the altered conditions now jecting their minds to points of time better existing, which in the future will be greatly changed, to the advantage of other nations, by left out of reckoning. The sanest and the construction of the Nicaragua and Panams happiest people are probably they who live cinal, nambers of industries will be greatly in the present. There are so many who get affected. In fact, it is difficult to grasp the no satisfaction out of to-day, because their momentous issues involved, Unless British vision is strained to scan to-morrow. Some statesmen grasp the situation and provide there- religionists allow their faith in a future life for, they will find in years to come the work to make them positively disrespectful and spot. They will discover that the most deadly blow will be struck at our Empire in the Pacifie contemptu us in their attitude toward this.
itself. The illustration of the miser who exists miserably to die rich is familiar enough. In the Far East, there must be many people who fail to appreciate their daily opportunities of happiness owing to, the habit of looking forward to " going Home";
and we have before now heard how that particular anticipation leads to after dis. appointment. As with individuals, so with communities. In these last few years of grace we have beheld the utopia-mongers, neglecting expedient makeshifts in favour of ideals of a redeemed and perfect race that is to be. The reforiners appear quite willing to put half the present generation to the rack and thumbscrew, that some future generation may be blessed. The radicals, and socialists, and communists are not much concerned with history. The rise and fall of previous civilisations is nothing We to them. They look ahead, always ahead, and with the eye of faith see what they want
to see.
Others less liable to suicide, we hope-cannot see just the same things. They see the real bone; its reflection in the stream of the future is not so clear to them. Even when the foreseers direct their attea-
(Daily Press, November 8th.) Recent tragic events must have diverted attention in Hongkong for a while at least from politics and policies to that great riddle of life which faces all alike. know that it is so; there have been many earnest conversations, dealing with the ethics of suicide almost invariably. It has been remarked that this way of avoiding misery or trouble or even ennui is much more common among Far Eastern com. munities than it is in Europe, and without tion, they fail to see eye to eye with them. One definite statistics, enough of these painful in. witty observer in this position sees only “a cidents occur to warrant the impression. Not population punctually heroic, each citizen long ago a preacher at Shanghai was giving performing his good deeds under the same currency to a similar reflection there; and irresistible impetus that induces bin to the astonishing number of people of all sorts pay his tares, all having achieved who are ready to admit the conceivability of automatically virtuous humanity, and circumstances warranting such a way consequently automatically happy, in a out", almost seems to indicate that the personally-conducted Cook's-tourist sort of Far Eastern resident has acquired such a world". There are many adages that may familiarity with the idea of self-slaughter by cited in support of forethought and as to breed contempt. This, if so, is a pity, prudence, but we have high authority for because no academic verdict in favour of its considering it less rational than is popularly being possibly occasionally right can alter supposed to "take thought for to-morrow the fact that it is nearly always foolish and The habit of anticipation would appear to be unnecessary. As it is such an essentially a dangerous disease. It is certainly the case irrevocable act, there should never be the when anticipating trouble, or endeavouring
"
an
The Japanese have stopped the Russians in the East, and what is going to happen in the West, who can tell? It is well ever to be pre- pared. With industries crippled and food supplies stopped, the people in the heart of our great Empire will be in a bad way. It is not
too late for action. Prevention is better than cure, and we must be up and doing. If our kindred at home do their part, then the self- governing Coloni-s wil not fail when the occa- sion arises. Meantime, wherever possible the British flag should float over the islands of the Pacific".
It is easily demonstrated that with the opening of the Panama Canal, now within measurable distance, the importance of securing pre-eminence in the Pacific will be greater than ever. There is no estimating at present what it will mean to great Britain, America, Japan, or whichever Power is fortunate enough to fly its flag most conspicuously ou this great and greater growing commercial highway. It may be assumed. moreover, that Japan and the United States a ed no reminding of this, and that Germany and Frauce are alive to one Power that any opportunity. The needs awakening is the Power 10 which Mr. SEDDON has addressed himself, and the Power which already has the greatest responsibilities in this direction. The pre- sent apathy of the home-abiding British may be gauged by the notorious indifference that has been shown in the past. New Zeland's policy of conserving for the Empire the islands of the Pacific was mis- the late understood, even jeered at, as statesman remarked in one of his last
Samoa public speeches.
was foolishly thrown away, when Downing Street looked the gift-horse in the mouth, and failel to recognise the sigui ace of the opportunity. New Zealand remembers gratefully the efforts of Sir ROBERT STOUT and Sir JULIUS VOGEL to save that important neighbour
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