170
CANTON PRESS AND PUBLIC SPEECH.
"
[March 18, 1907.
there was not the same fierce opposition of classes as is to be noted, to-day. Of course in a large measure this is to be attributed to the capture of the constituencies by the working classes; but it cannot be doubted that the intensity of the divi sion between the classes has been very much aggravated by the altered condi tion of the House of Lords itself, and the large infusion of men sprung from what the working man cannot but look upon ая bis own class. Since the hegiu- ning of the
last century Bome five bundred new peers have been added to the House of Lords, and though a large propor tion of there have been re-creations of titles which have merely died out in the eldest line, possibly nearly half have been now men ennobled for mere momentary services. Against such a class the democracy in all ages have ever borne a grudge, and it is against the actions of these how peers who have become, as they think, more obstructive than the old Lords of the Realm, that the present outcry is in great measure directed. The radical members of the present Govern- ment, themselves incapable of construction, do not hesitate to turn the attention of the democracy to these presumed enemies. 'See," they cry, "these men never come down to the House when any useful measure is to be discussed, but if you have expressed your opinion on any subject, however neces-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND Germany, these and many others have provided proof of this. The English gagging acts of the Georgian period (Daily Press, March 9th.)
were another notorious failure of this kind, In Canton, the one city besides Shanghai and it is now a political truism with the where the Press has arisen and flourished more intelligent administrations that the as a mighty public force, the newspapers safest procedure as a rule is to "let them appear to have been making haste too talk." Political agitations, if not officially quickly. There is a danger that the free obstructed, have been known to end in talk, and independent newspaper there, like some
whereas interforence often fans the flame to of its foreign prototypes in other countries, greater fury. We notice that a missionary | may become, instead of a public safe is anxious as to whether the Viceroy's new guard, a public nuisance. It has for law will apply to religious meetings. It some time been an occasion for fear might not always be pleasant for the and trembling for foreign editora desi- missionaries, but if it did, and were persisted rous of quoting from their Cantonese con- in, there could hardly be anything more temporaries, so reckless do the native scribes | likely to cause a revival. If stolen fruit be seem to have grown. Quite recently Viceroy sweet, forbidden fruit is always highly CHOU FU has been putting on a temporarily attractive, Meanwhile, we have not yet effective brake, but there will have to seen that the Viceroy's order confirmed be something more than official checks if from Peking; and we do not think it the general body of native, jouruals are to
matters much either way. We predict for deserve well of their constituents. It is him in any case a repetition of the failure inevitable that in such a land of "
of SYDNEY SMITH'S "Mrs. Partington." squeeze corruption should reach the toembers of the Fourth Estate as well as others, and there appears to be sufficient ground for saying that some of the Canton productions might fairly be entitled the "Daily Blackmail." For a price, it is stated, news, or matter pur
(Daily Press, 11th March.) porting to be news, may be either published The six hundred odd lords of various ranks or suppressed, and we remember during the who constitute the Peers of Parliament have American boycott a well-informed China- not over much to thank their pretended hand remarking that for a certain sum,- friends on both sides of the House for. Asary for your welfare, they pour the amount was by no means extravagant-hundred be would guarantee to enlist the Press of
53
Canton on the side of the American mer.
easy
THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
years
ago
the Upper House consisted of a compact and influential body of members, separately and collectively chants. Be that as it may,-and we do not representing the highest interests in the deny the possibility of exaggeration-the State, nearly all possessed of the quiet and Cantonese papers, or some of them, appear unobtrusive influence which only ancient really to have gone to undue lengths in residence and ancient prestige can confer, commenting on railway affairs. There un- and understanding well not only the doubtedly was a good deal in connection traditions of government, but the more with the promotion of the Canton-Hankow difficult task of holding their own amongst line for which honest and fearless publicity their neighbours and dependents, without was the best remedy. Outspokenness was exciting jealousy or raising any opposition of desirable, but in their perhaps justifiable class to class. The dilution of the ranks of indiguation, some of our Lative contempor- those honoured with titles of aristocracy had, aries have weakened the case of the people it is true, commenced some little time prior to by saying too much, by publishing state the beginning of the century by the whole ments of a nature to discount the genuine sale creation of a number of Irish Peers, and necessary allegations. The result temu- whose only recommendation had been, that porarily is a strong official policy of repres as members of the House of Commons of sion, and the alienation of some measure Ireland they had through thick and thin of public sympathy and support. On the supported the Ministry of the day in other hand, His Excellency the VICEROY effecting the union of the two Parliaments. in his annoyance at certain newspaper But the House of Lords as such was yet reports, has taken steps not to free from such intermingling of the nouveau justify, and in one particular may be said, riche as would sensibly lower the general as a transpacific adage has it, to have prestige of the House as a legislative assem. 'bitten of more than he can chew." At bly. Indeed the additions to its ranks were one meeting of railway agitators some very scarcely more than sufficient to provide strong language was used, and one enter for the wear and tear inherent in all prising editor, who managed to secure a aristocracies, as well as to add the necessary full report, was arrested. It was not alleged leaven of new ability to the political that his report was unfair or inaccurate, discussions of the assembly. After the and he offered the characteristic and shrewd beginning of the last century it excuse that he had done no more than b:s unfortunately became the practice at the duty in recording the proceedings, maintain-end of each session to reward the stauncher ing that it was only right that officials and supporters of the ministry of the day by others should know what was going on. The raising them to the peerage, independent of upshot was, apart from the release of the other consideratione. Formerly, except in editor and the arrest of the orator, that special cases where statesman had been Viceroy CHOU Fu decreed that in future long in office and had so acquired a no public meeting of more than fifteen corresponding social status, men selected persons may be held without an official per- for the honour were either of nobl: families mit. This is a trouble-saving, machiavelian or had belonged to the great untitled device, quite natural and quite excusable aristocracy, but this soon came to be a from the viceregal point of view, providing needless qualification, and the new nobility he be strong enough to enforce it. The never thoroughly became assimilated with history of the world, however, shows that the old. Still, of course, ns is customary in nowhere and nowhen has such a measure such cases, they 'soon became even greater ever been permanently successful. More sticklers for the privileges of their class than often it enhances the trouble it seeks to the oldest of the old nobility itself. The avert. The early Christians in their Cata consequence is seen in the present position combs, the Russian malcontents in their of the Lords as compared with the Commons. cellars, the Culturkampf agitators of It is undeniable that a hundred years ago
in
deliberately and defeat it." Such men as Mr. LLOYD GRORGE, who but the other day had won the execration of all classes by their unblushing support of the open enemies of their country, do not in their present temporary spell of prosperity hesitate to announce their intention, even by violence if required, to upset the institutions of their country which have stood the test of centuries. Foremost amongst their projects is, of course, the abolition of the House of Lords, forgetful of the fact that were it not for the presence of a mo lerating element in the Constitution they themselves would at the moment be in hard case, and
may be equally 80 to-morrow. Now, as we have said, the House is scarcely in a satisfactory state at the moment; but it is not the fault of the House itself, nor of its individual members, as much as of the Ministers chosen from both political parties. According to the system of unmitigated party govera. ment, for the last century and a half the Ministers have owel their office to, the changing temperament of the House of Commons, and have used their power equally effectually to lower in the eyes of the nation the upper Chamber. As a consequence the House of Lords has ceased to be representa- tive, either of itself or of any interest of first-class importance in the state, and how to restore its dignity and utility is now, it must be confessed, one of the chief problems of the day. To destroy it altogether would be to deprive the State of the governor necessary
not only for the safe working of a State, but of every piece of ma chinery. How, for example, would the metropolis get over the mischief that might be evolved in a single night were the electric supply works to be deprived of their effective centrifugal governors? We see the same necessity for checking irregularities in working in every process of manufacture. The common sense of mankind bas from time to time in the vastly more important machine of government applied a similar system of check and counter-check, but unfortunately through the mistakes of three generations of statesmen the controling element itself has been put out of gear. This we may allow without committing ourselves to one party or the other. But
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