January 6, 1908.]
noteworthy that more than a century before Plato egunoiated his theory of the perfect state, governed by an aristocracy of the wise, the same, or a clcs-ly analogous idea, was carried into actual practice by Confacias, It was but yesterday that Auguste Comte rediscovered the principles of Iositivism which China's great philosopher statesman gave to his country 400 years ago. The intellectual o'asses of China are free from all superstition; they hold no dogmatic faith, and its place is taken by a system o indeperdent ethics based on humanitarian principles.
That extract should startle foreigners, especially those resident on the China const. The picture of a vast empire with all its peasants tilling only for themselves, with nothing like an hereditary aristocracy to
barass them, and all its officials meritorious
"
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CF
C
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
not be "
.
LOOKING BACK.
8
year marked by peculiar religious activity. Wo need refer only to the Morrison Centenary and the meteoric visit of the Another social eveut
Alexander revivalists.
of note, apart from the usual levee, dances, &c. may be remembered in the installation of the Director of Public Works as C.M.G., an order well represented in this Colony. Of husiorss we need say nothing here, as it will be fully dealt with to-morrow, but the published diary includes conspicuosities like the opening of the Junk Bay flour wills, the amalgamation of the Water-boat companies, the Hongkong and Shanghai bank's increase of capital, Sir Paul Chater's hunt for coil in Borneo, and the appearance of the Jubilee issue of the Daily Press. Less pleasing features of the year were the disclosures of the Sanitary Commission, with their subsequent pro. secutions, the heavy crime roll, including thres executions and half a dozen murders, numerous fires, and the fatal cllapse of part of the Hongkong Hotel. The adjacent districts of China were disturbed by re- bellion and crime. Altogether, the year was very like other years before it, and probably the years to come, with a motley mixture of good an I bad, things to regret and thing, to rejoice for. It was begun with who knows what hop s and fears, and the usual sets of god re-olutions, no doubt. Well, hore we are, at the end of it, and it is for such realer to decide what difference it has made-whether to-morrow finds him or her in better or wors case thau they were on January 1st 1907. Doubtloss many will be sharing the spirit of that sturdy Australian poet whose reflection is not quite hidden in the following paraphrase:
For gifts misspent, for resolutions vain "I'is somewhat late to trouble: this i know That were I to live the year over, i should do the same again
find evidence of this “progress," of this onwar march "? What nation has arrived, and where? Why should there an arrest of progress," when we reach "ac:ual perfection"? It is wickedly pessimistic to point out that we fuss unduly, that we progress only in a circle; the cynical philosophy of "cui bono?" is held to be immoral, as tending to deter the progres-ive spirit. It isn't really. Nothing em do that nothing can kill the immort Phoenix. We have shown that youth will have its day, its recurrent days. To it the sunrise will always be a novelty; always its "discovery "of both hemispheres of life's rotundity provides it with the sen- sation of COLUMBUS; always it will yell 'Eureka," and try to set the Thames on men, "the most learned, if not the best," fire. The Utopians are merely folk whose brings us to the other human atribute that, brains have grown more slowly than their like the enthusiasm of youth, dieth not. It bodies; the lustiest reformer is the most is a humiliating, possibly repulsive, reflection intellectually youthful. Writing for older that the product of the mills of the godsheds, we can do no more than remind (of Time) comes out "exceeding small." ourselves that it is possible to take them too Impulsive youth, aggres-ive to translate its seriously. Before we undertake to review ideals into facts, is admittedly a prettier
"the world's progress," let us feel sure that figure than discouraged, resigned age, alive it is progressing. to limitations, too wise to kick against the pricks. The salvation of mankind rests in the fact that both have their innings, each end of life's se saw ascending with the regularity that makes history so digestible, grateful, and comforting a study. It may be that the adhesion of de present genera tion of Chinese students to the constitutional moven ent assures its ultimate victory," but will they adbere? If they had always adhered this world would perhaps have been a Utopia now. The most of them don't. I'eals fide with the years, and the Chinese official, however he beg.n, has as a rule ended with an eye to the main chance. Those who adbere find themselves in a minority, and end as ineffective pedants in some remicte garden. This is, broadly speaking, rue of all other countries as well as of China. Except ideally, theoretically (aud that we may admit) China's constitu- tion has never been able to boast "infinite superiority." No other has, either. Except in the fuciful imagin.ngs of beautiful dre.meis, there never was a community that knew not hunger and worry, hardship and oppression, in some degree. Certainly the Chinese have had their share. In our last we pointed out that for the success of her military r.f.rm Cuina needs to cultivate
(Daily Press, January 1st.) morale. The same need faces her before
Today, in neighbouring columns, we print constitutional reform can come to pass,
our usual review of the year's business, meaning thereby real, not paper, reform.
itemized, an from authoritative sources. Philosophiemy, we We-teruers are lagging |
Those who are interested in the prosperity far behind China's civilization, especially
of the Colony, and that leaves very few out where its intellectual contempt of soldiering
of reckoning, will gathor a comprehensive has been concerned. War is sly: there is
impress ou from that evidence of what the no doubt of it; but pending a miraculous
perind just past has meant for us all. Thera alteration of human nature, it continues to
is still another retrospective v.ev point be necessary. Metaphysicians tell us in
which enables us to get the year's doings their funny paradoxical way that evil is
during the into proper focus; and that is the share necessary to the maintenance of good, and year married to Miss Ho Kai, Other ¦ market, which at Hongkong, being inainly war is a practical necessity. China in her notable marriages were those of Capt. | concerned with industriil s ocks, is naturally palmiest intellectual days has always main-Taylor, A.D.C, to Mis: Brackenbury a faithful index of profit and luss. tained soldiers, even while scorning them. (with its mournful sequel two months later, casual survey shows us a depressed Rialto, China's constituti n was never, even theore- when the bride was taken away so pre-indicating a dull trude year, and we regret eaunot step into the new year, tically, infinitely superior to that with maturely) and of a daughter of Mr. that we which the great American Republic began Shelton-Hooper, Two old China hands bearing any banner with opt mistic device. its existence. Its rapacious Mandarins were removed by death, Messrs W. Ramsay Last year began, from the investor's point were not an "hereditary aristocracy," nor and Macgregor Smith, and there was also of view, in clouds and thick darkness, su
iuclination toward confirme.l our were the "bosses" of the American cities, the demise of Mr. Wei On, solicitor. and we se little to chose between their Lost to us in a less saddening way was the hopefulness and ch serfulness des not help behaviour and that of the tyrants of feudal hon. Mr. Scrcombe Smith, who accepted ¦ us to ignore the fat that the lowering murk is still about us as we enter the Leup yanr, England. Dr. BRODA says its very ex-preferment at Singapore, and there was cellence Was the drawback of China's also the departure of Sir Matthew Nathan, 1908. The only noteworthy im rovinent in stock values his bn that of Baoks," philosophy. "The Chinaman thought his the p-pular Governor whose plac. has been system embodied actual perfec ion; there happily filled by the equally esteemed Siraud as we pointed out twelve muths ago, There is also to i was Home ¡uvest irs, rather than those of was, in consequence, an arrest of progress, | Frederick Lugard. a contempt for the onward march of other record, in the way of access.ons, the advent¦ Hongkong, who enjoyed most benefit from civilizations." But where, please, do we of Bishop Lander, who came to us in a the development and extension of Hongkong
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(Daily Press, December 31st.) Looking backward, though fatal to LoT's wife, has its advantags sometimes. A retrospect enables us to view the present and immediate future in better perspective. It helps to a sense of proportion otherwise not easily attained. To look back, not to turn back, is to refresh the memory, and tɔ add to our knowledge and perceptive powers as does the study of history, itselfa looking- back. In this issue we throw an eye-shot, as CHAUCER phrases it, to a stage in our history fifty years removed, and we also rove, in accordance with our established custom, over the salient incidents of the year that ends to-day. In to morrow's issue, also in accordance with custom, we shall begin the business year by taking stock of things commercial, r viewing the trade of the Colony for 1907. Meanwhile, to clear the ground, there is the general aspect of the period just closing to dismiss with a very few words. Socially it was a year more kaleidoscopic, perhaps, than customary. Our transient guests of im portance included characters as varied as those of the Duke and Duchess of Cou- naught and Mr. Keir Hardie; the Prin- ces Patricia of Connaught and Prince Fushimi of Japan; the Duke and Duchess of Manchester and the American Secretary for War, Mr. Taft; not to mention Loril Li, the Chinese Minister to Llon, H. E. Chang Jea-chung, Viceroy, and H. E. Wu Tong-fing. Chi- nese Minister to Washington. The son
last-named WAS of the
Canton's
new
And the chances are that next year will similarly go,
But that, and the verse it parodies, o not embody the proper feeling with which To we should all hope to rise to-morrow. eschew vain regrets to-day is good; but it is absolutely certain that the year that begins to-morrow will be largely what we make it.
even
!
STOCK TAKING,
A very
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