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to accept any such position. This even President ROOSEVELT's influence was in- sufficient to accomplish, but the United States
a whole can hardly fail, sce the undesirability of adopting a position of antagonism towards a nation whose interests in the Pacific may, by wise policy, be made one with their own. This is the conclusion to which it may be hoped they will be brought by the course of events. If there is to be an acute rivalry between Japan and the United States as to their respective influence in the Pacific, the result cin only be to the disadvantage of both, and their disagreeing on the spriject might leave au opening to some other Power to step in with consequences that both would have reason to regret. That the two nations have increasingly large interests in this direction is only natural from their geo- graphical position, and their wisest policy is clearly to co-operate on a basis that may be fair and acceptable to both.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND point out that his critics are skewering the Japanese may have in view and until him in a loving way. Fancy being "in- this is known it is impossible to say whether advertently misinformed." If he had been the contemplated measures would be of any In any of the something less than a Governor, his speech political significance or not. might have fared worse. The most unkind more firmly established States it would no of iis commentators admit it would be in doubt take a very large number of Japanese bad faste to suggest that the King's Re- or of any other immigrants to become a presentative could be advertently misin-matter of more than economic importance. formed, and His Excellency has room for But the case would stand differently in re- congratulation that so far no one has pre-spect to some of the smaller or weaker South sumed to allude to the impropriety of American Republics, where the presence of a certain utterances which have disfigured the large number of energetic pushing Japanese gubernatorial oratory." Happiness being would probably, before many years. had subjective, a state of mind, its formula | elapse.l, have the effect of infusing Japanese "things might be worse," we trust that influence to such an extent that the political His Excellency has not permitted himself character of the places would be so much to be perturbed by the summer lightning changed, that they would become more and and thunder that flickered and grumbled more and, ultimately, almost entirely Ja- from the last meeting of the Sanitary panase. This possibility, is apparently of a Board. Possibly, if His Excellency has a remote character; and on this account it sufficing sense of humour, our respectful may be too readily set aside as being outside sympathy is quite uncalled for. He may, the range of practical consideration. But in the proper privacy of Government House, at the same time the trend of events, should have allowed himself the luxury of a smile the Japanese emigrate in any large num- or two at the public denunciations of official bers to South America, is so obvious that it "tactics." We do not really think that the cannot be altogether overlooked by far Chairman's appeal to the good sense of the seeing statesmen; and is certainly not Commission's apologists was part of a deep-likely to be lost sight of by the United laid official scheme to burke discussion. It States. Whether it might be better policy was, if we may venture on a diagnosis, merely to offer a fair field for Japanese immigrants the Chairman's hypersensitiveness to con- to California than to assist in any way siderations of etiquette. His appeal to Mr. towards their extending their influence in a very nice HOOPER'S
was an appeal to South American States is good sense bis "good taste." It seemed to him a sort question and it is to be hoped that the of lèse majesté to traverse a viceregal matter will be duly considered and a satis- address before it had had its formal factory solution arrived at as time goes on, discussion and reply in a more exalted There is no reason why the Japanese should Chamber. We have no doubt, in our own
not be a useful element in any thoroughly mind, that His Excellency would rather this established country, such as the United consideration had not been so officiously States, where the danger of their attaining put forward, especially now that it has been undue political ascendancy does not exist; magnified into a further example of official but a large influx of Japanese into weakly obstructiveness. The King's Representative governed States is a very different matter is not entitled to quite the same amount of and might easily lead to serious compli- obeisance as his Royal Master, nor is a
cations. What has taken place in the rampant "Suffragette" entitled to all the Korea and Formosa cannot be overlooked. chivalrous deference due to her sex. Let It is certain that the Japanese have the art us hasten to remove any impression of of gaining the ascendancy wherever it is to odious comparison. People are so ready to their interest to do so; and the danger misunderstand us. All we mean is this, that of their attaining a dominant position the King does not enter into the areas of in some parts of the South American political controversy, and his Representative continent; if they emigrate in large here does. Doing so, and making a political numbers in that direction, is therefore speech, we do him the simple justice of by no means imaginary, The United maintained the admitting that he claims no immunity from States has persistently reply. He would, we feel sure, have been Munro doctrine as against all Europ an as disappointed as anybody if the members nations, and would possibly be ready to of the Sauitary Board had not been allowed uphold it against Japan, but it is not likely to give full expression to all that was in that any such question would arise before the contingency to be averted had already occurred, and some one or two of the weaker South American Slates had virtually become Japanese. Short of this even, a large (Daily Press, 10th April.)
number of Japanese settled permanently in The suggestion, which was thrown out by South America must of itself be a matter of the Japanese Government in reference to considerable political significance. It would the question of immigration of their diminish the influence, which the United nationals into California that, if the United States has long claimed to exercise as the States desired that it should be restricted, |-dominant Power on the American Continent this could be effected; and that Japanese and would give rise to questions which emigrants would be able to find a field in would require very wise handling. There places in South America, where they would has been so good an understanding between be more acceptable, is one of a somewhat the two countries for so many years past, inore far-reaching character than appears that it may be hope that questions of this upon the surface. It takes the shape of a kind will continue to be settled amicably. friendly and sensible solution to a trouble. But no one can ignore that they are likely some question and, considering the many to arise; and nothing can tend more to difficulties constitutional and other, which bring them about than the adoption on the surround the subject, it may be accepted as part of the United States of an unreason- a welcome way out of an imposse, without ably exclusive attitude as to immigration of too much consideration as to its ultimate Japanese into that country. It would pro- bearing. It is, however, obvious that there bably be wiser to have them as friends there, may be many questions in the future of a
even if they competed somewhat unpleasant difficult character, should there be a largely in trade and labour, then as near neigh. influx of Japanese inmigrauts into some of the South American States. The question, of course, is which of these various States
their minds.
JAPANESE EMIGRANTS.
LL
CHINA'S. BLESSED
MEEKNESS.
K The
(Daily Press, April 11th.)_ Every now and then, willy-nilly, the missionary movement seems to force itself upon the attention of those who, not greatly iu sympathy with it, would prefer to ignore it. Our Macao correspondent the other day of some who, wrote of the "indiscretion with the best and most pious of intentions, have been "saving" children from their pagan" parents by the process of kid- napping them. That was ill-done, from any human point of view, but the perpetrators were being cruel to be kiad, hoping, believ- ing, in their reckless way, that " somehow good may be the final goal of ill. widow of a recent Amercian Consul at Shanghai is reported to have returned to New York, where she is identifying herself She is convinced, with slum mission. according to an interviewer, that she can do more good there than in China. Of American missionary workers among the Chinese, she would not offer a goo I opinion, she found them "a little, narrow-minded and she did not blame the Chinese lot, "for often looking down upon them." Another American widow, this time of a Minister at Peking, is not exactly a mis- sionary, though not long ago a paragraph went the round of the Press stating that she had succeeded in converting the Chinees Christian Science." Empress-Dowager tɔ
The latest reference is to her sale of valuable Cuinesc, objects of art, described as loot from the Peking Palace, which netted nearly forty thousand dollars. This affair has been widely commented on in connection with the work of those who intrude their special tenets
44
among a people so advanced in religious thought as the Chinese are." One important journal bluntly wonders what the heathen!' Chinese will think of it all!" and another anticipates “à voice of protest from a land where religion from ancient days has been inculcating peace, honesty, frugality, and philosophy." In- to sectarian con cidentally, references troversies provokes from another journal the remark that "some of these days the Chinese will oppose the propagation of Christianity by quoting what its rival advocates say about each other."
up references have turned
casually, without our searching for them, and doubtless we have overlooked far more. There is one other, which we have saved for the last Our readers may remember that mot many bours with constantly increasing interests | days ago we published Mr. K HUNG- of a conflicting character. It is, no doubt, MING's preface to his new translation of the very difficult to get the state of California 'Doctrine of the Mean," in which the
All these
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