August 8, 1908.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT, the last twenty years. Reference to and unwieldy, with no hope of success from this table will show that in that period there military operations, discovers the value of has been a decline of something like 40% in the boycott to emphasise her feelings. War the annual import of opium into Hongkong. is to be deplored. So is a boycott. But In 1888 the import was 71,513 chests; last inasmuch as the latter is more humane in year it was 40,842 chests. To be as fair its methods it is to be preferred, though in the matter as they profess to be the on the other hand it possesses neither the Anti-Opium advocates who represent Hong- heroics nor the picturesqueness which kong as one of the blackest opium spots in fascinate the spectator on the field of East should give these statistics as well as battle. In applying the boycott in this man the amount of revenue derived by the ner the Chinese are entitled to credit for the Colonial Government from the Opium originality of the idea, but in saying this Farm. Though in 1897 the Colony received we must not be understood to be expressing only $286,000 from the Opium Farm the a conviction in favour of the two boycotts import of opium into the Colony that year which we have seen the Chinese institute. was 37,708 chests, while in 1906 when the We simply recognise the value of the new revenue was nearly ten times as much, the weapon: we do not justify its use. The import was not more than 47,566 chests-boycott must now be reckoned as a factor and that was an exceptionally large figure in international disputes, and diplomats will which had not been exceeded since 1892. probably pay more regard in consequence to Last year the import was only 40,8423: The commercial possibilities when differences are increase in the revenue is largely a question being discussed and considered. of competition for the monopoly, and it is After all, it has t› be admitted that wars, simply mischievous and dishonest in the and strikes, and boycotts are barbarous, light if the import returns to suggest that bringing incalculable harm and injury to the increase shown in Colonial revenue from all participating. Happily war has become opium represents an enormous increase in
too terrible nowadays to be lightly the consumption of the drug. In this in contemplated. The strike is A cruel crease in revenue pari passu with a decline weapon which is fortunately lapsing into in the import the Anti-Opium advocates disuetude. But the boy colt has, as we have might indeed find cause for congratula-seen, become popular in this part of the tion, for the bigger the price paid for the monopoly the higher must be the charge to the consumer; and the bigh price of the drug is likely to do more than anything else to wean the opium smoker of the practice. No one can seriously believe that the sudden suppression of the opium dens will prevent people smoking opium and, though we can sympathise with the Government's desire not to seem by inaction to withold from China any support which, as a friendly power, Great Britain can afford her in this matter, we do not recognise in the situation any demand for the extreme urgency with which the matter is being pressed by the Imperial Government on the Crown Colouies. Surely the desire "to act up to the standard set by the Chinese Govern- ment" would be sufficiently expressed in an intimation that after the expiration of the present lease of the farm (which has not long to run), public houses for the smoking of opium will no longer be permitted. The state of progress of the movement in China does not seem to require that the Colony should at once sacrifice a large part of its revenue and at the same time provide a big sum by way of compensation to the Opium
Farmer.
THE BOYCOTT WEAPON.
(Daily Press, August 1st.) One aspect of the boycott instituted by Chinese against Japanese products is per- haps overlooked or at any rate its im- portance is not realised. Hitherto nations have been content to settle their disputes in "the good old-fashioned way," by an appeal to arms, but China, the weak but peaceful, has discovered a new weapon, It is difficult to trace the origin of the inter- diction expressed by the modern term Boycott." It may have had its beginning in China, or it may have been introduced in some other part of the world. Primitive man must have known its value under a different name when members of the community had to be ostracised or another social aggregation had to be ignored. There can be no doubt indeed that the principle is very old, but it was not until Captain Boycott was the victim of Irish organisation that the strength of the move- ment was recognised. China, the cumbrous'
world. Though the tendency of the age is towards peace, which, as the poet tells us, hath her victories no less renown'd than war," though the best in all nations are striving towards a common understanding, yet the differences which separate races and which distinguish men will always be a Rource of danger. Where these differences and distinctions
or
71
Japan with pleasure. Without seeking to justify or blame either party, and without giving offence, regret may be expressed at the occurrences which have taken place and the consequences which followed. Japan insisted on a certain course of conduct. China resented it. The Chinese having shown that they ard not without backbone, and having expressed their opinions on the subject which almost brought two nations to the verge of war, may feel satisfied with the result they have obtained. The Japanese are anxious to be restored to friendship. They are holding ont the olive branch, and by sending subscriptions to China's distressed inhabit- auts have shown a spirit in keeping with their best traditions. The subscriptions have been accepted. Surely now the hand might be stretched to grasp the proferred olive branch? Surely the time has come for recon- ciliation? Both are retarding their deve- lopment by this estrangement, and both are constituting a menace to the peace of the world. Moreover they are interfering with the proper course of trade, which is not altogether beneficial to others. To merely seek to gratify spite when it involves logs to themselves is a suicidal policy for the Chinese to persist in. Neither of the parties concerned profit by the boycott, and as they have little to lose and everything to gain it is not too much to hope that counsels of peace will prevail and that the good, feelings established by reciprocal trade will be restored between two races who have
so much in common.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
One does not look for humour in such a
are not appreciated, irritation is set up,misunderstandings ensue, and unless a wise restraint! is exercised by serious assembly as the Legislative Council, one or both parties, or the peacemaker but on Thursday last the debate was considerably successfully intervenes, a trial of strength lightened by the Colonial Secretary, who was follows. nations this means the outbreak of hostilities contemplate matrimony. The Council smiled In the event of a dispute between in a particularly happy mood when he dealt with those refractory men who refuse to with its attendant horrors. In the event with one accord when he designated the young of a dispute between employers and em- and gay as the "Butterfly Brigade," but while ployed it means a brutalising strike, with I do not feel inclined to traverse his arguments its dislocation of industry and acompany-generally I question the likelihood of any ing loss and starvation to hundreds
member of the Batterfly Brigade" in Hong- thousands. And in the event of a dispute kong perpetrating matrimony as long as he can between individuals, between communities, favour marriage. The expense of living is too fit from flower to flower, Hoagkong does not between rival commercial interests or be- high, and it is only the more daring who rush tween races, a boycott may be introduced in where careful men fear to tread. Even the in with demoralising effects on the individuals, creased advantages of the Widows' and Orphans' communities and races and disastrous effects Pension Fund are not sufficient inducement. on the commercial interests involved. may be, a trite observation to say that trade and commerce are removing the barriers which separated men of different nations and different races, but it is none the less true. Men, imbued with this spirit are perhaps pushing it to extremes when they declare that they belong to no country: that they are citizens of the world. This may not actually accord with our views, but it has to be admitted that this cos- mopolitanism is preferable to parochial patriotism, and it may be welcomed as an expression of the good feeling which it indicate towards men of other nationalities.
We
It
Coming to discuss the most recent ex- position of the effect of a boycott, we have to remember that the agitation against Japanese products is discouraged by the Chinese Government. cannot impeach the bonafides of the Government; and we have to regard the movement as an unofficial one. The statements of the Government and the actions of the populace do not coincide, and though the interdiction was organised it was done in such a manner that the letter of the treaty was not infringed. Thus a boycott which was not a boycott was instituted. Now the friends of both nations cannot regard the estrangement between China and
*
If
Quite right, Mr. May. No married con- tributor to Orphans' Pension Fand would contemplate the Hongkong Widows' and with equanimity the prospect of his widow filliug into the arms of another man. I thought the lady whom I honoured with my name should seek to console herself in this way after my departure from this terres- trial sphere I should revive the ghost businesa would cause the forgetful one to regret her which once was mine, together with a pension baste. To think of another enjoying bliss
for which I sweated so many years, is enough to cause any self-respecting dead civil servant to turn in his grave or to show his disapproval by other means at the disposal of those who have gone on.
and revisit former scenes in a manner that
Even a worm will turn! European residents are being roused to take action to restrain the insolence of chair and ricsha soolies, and during the last week or two a regular orusade has been waged against the offenders with varying results. In some cases the recalcitrant ones have either been leniently dealt with or discharged altogether, much to the disgust of the prosecutors who have probably wasted Notwithstanding the power of the Press, I dare the Magistracy.
attempt to interfere with the course of justice not lecture magistrates on their dutióning.
but nobody, I hope, will misunderstand.
boars, la attendance
at
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