198
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
reports seldom come under the observation | fresh troops, and as the inadequacy of the of those for whom they were especially garrison has been the cause of the "panniky" intended. It would be a mistake to suppose feeling, the Colonial Press is justified by the that fault is to be found with the British action of the Government, if not by the manufacturer only. In these days of publio declaration of the Minister of the strenuous competition Consuls of all nation- Colonies. It is not an easy matter to alities, no doubt, see plenty of misdirected determine the extent of the revolutionary effort on the part of manufacturers at home movement in Tonkin. A few months ago who dream of securing orders by means of the Colonial Press brought to notice some the wide distribution of circulars which nflammatory literature which had been probably not one in a thousand among the extensively circulated among the natives in recipients can understand. The advice Annam counselling an uprising against given by Consul-General MANSFIELD, whose French domination. Later came the Hanoi long service in China readers him exception-incident, complicated by a mutiny, both ally competent to give it, will be admitted to organised, the Minister is reported to have be eminently sound, and we think we may declared, by malcontent Mandarins aud say that many British manufacturers fully certain Annamites" who had imbibed anti. appreciate the need for sending out practical European ideas from residence in China and men to explain the nature and capacity of Japan, and members of secret societies." new machinery. There is no doubt a big As to the troubles on the northern frontier field opening up in China for machinery. of Tonkin, the Minister rightly said these The desire for factories of all kinds seems must be ascribed to the insurrection of likely to develop into something like a reformers against the Chinese Government. mania, but we have no doubt that while
"When a band of reformers have been defeated they make their way into French territory, refuse to surrender their arms. fight to defend them, and pillage to preserve their existence. But it is not probable or logical that these bands are in relations with malcontents in Annam or Tonkin." The Chinese Government, however, do not accept this view, and we may well leave the decision to those who are appointed to
connection with the claims made by France determine this question, which arises in against China for a violation of the frontier. The lesson of the experience is that the disturbers of the peace-be they Chinese or Annamite--can be controlled by an adequate display of physical force. France, however, has its "Little Frankers as England bas its "Little Englanders," and M. HENRI ROCHEFORT has been distinguishing himself recently by advocating the abandonment of the Colony "while it can be done gracefully". His view is that ever since the defeat of Russia by Japan "it has been evident that France will not be allowed to occupy the country for many more years," M. HENRI ROCHEFORT's adviee in the matter is not likely to be acted upon. France would save ten millions of francs a year by abandoning Tonkin, but we question whether "the blow to French pride "would be salved by the saving of that expense.
some manufacturers are wasting their time and money in the manner described by Mr. MANSFIELD there are otherz-British included-who are quietly working in the right way to secure what orders may be going. The merchants established at Hongkong and Canton who represent firms of machinery makers are probably as well acquainted as the Consul with the prospects interested to learn Mr. MANSFIELD's opinion of business in this line, but they will be that nowhere in China are they brighter than at Canton.
FRANCE AND TONKIN.
(Daily Press, 18th September.) The vigorous measures which have been taken by the French authorities in Tonkin to preserve peace within the province and along the frontier appear to have been attended with complete success. In official oircles in Paris it has from the first been maintained that an undue amount of pessimism has been manifested by the public regarding the situation in Indo-China, and the blame has been laid at the door of the French Colonial Press. We have noticed among the rumours to which publicity has been given in Paris one to the effect that an army of 10,000 Chinese revolutionaries threatened the frontier of Tonkin, while bands of brigands, estimated to number upwards of 30,000, were said to be over- running French territory. Coming as it did upon the heels of such rumours as these, the sensational story of the native plot to poison a regiment of artillery at Hauoi-a plot which very nearly succeeded-naturally tended to confirm the previous stories and created much anxiety in France. So much pessimism indeed, has prevailed in France, that the Minister of the Colonies last month permitted himself to be interviewed by two of the leading Paris papers to whom he gave explanations calculated to pacify the public mind. His first bit of advice was in the nature of a warning against the Colonial Press which he declared to be "inspired by motives not always those of the general interest.' We are not concerned to defend the papers of Indo-China from this general charge, but we are at a loss to understand what motives they can have for representing the political situation in Indo-China to be worse than they really believe it to be. We have ourselves attentively read some of the Indo-China papers, and we should rather be inclined to give to the papers some measure of credit for the improvement in the situation. They at any rate, spurred the authorities to action. The Government is sending to Indo-China, this autumn 4,000 1
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CHINESE GIRL COMMITS SUICIDE.
Mr. J. H. Kemp, sitting as coroner, and At the Magistracy en Leptember 17th before
Messrs. J. Clark, J. D. Osmund and J. E. Gome, jurors, an inquiry was held into the cause of death of a Chinese girl named Tung Man Kiu, who died from opium poisoning on the 8th insta.t.
Dr. J. C. Thompson stated that on exami- nation of deceased, he found death to ba dne to opium poisoning. He did not think the girl's life could have been saved, had medical assistance been called earlier. The effect of opium was very uncertain. Symptoms
at times came out severely within a quarter of an hour, while sometimes they were delayed for an hour or more.
Tsung Li, deceased's mistress, said that when she returned home she found the girl unable to understand what was said to her. Witness went to the police station and asked the sergeant on duty to get a doctor. The sergeant told witness to go back and find out what was the matter with the girl. She did not mention at the station that she had failed to get a doctor, bat said she was afraid the girl world die. Witness could not say what reason deceased had for committing
suicide
To a juror-The police arrived about 4.30 P.m. and found the cup before the Court.
After hearing further evidence the jury found that deceased committed suicide by opium poisoning.
(September 19, 1808.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
·
Have you ever noticed the boycott which is silently but effectively waged against number of our most respectable citia ›na? You notice a certain gentleman leave his office. Perhaps he weighs twelve stone. In- stead of the chair coolies making a wild rush owards him they suddenly discover a fare. beckoning them from some distance off, and away they run, disappearing round the corner Observe the taipan's progress. He proceeds to the next stand, only to find that some sentinel has sighted his advance and warned, the chair coolies, who are nowhere to be seen. The taipan feels annoyed and his feelings are not soothed by the knowledge that there is a grin on several Chinese faces. This boycott is not a fantasy of Roderick's imagination. It is to be seen every day,
B few days ago portain Why, only a
gentleman approached Wynd- ham Street only to find that there was not a single chair at the stand. One pair, on seeing him come near, ran up the street a little way, deposited their chair at the side of the street, pulled off the cover and seated themselves among the idlers on the road; It was smartly done bat- Aye, there is much significance in a "but."
well-known
Ricsha coolies are not a whit better. Ia some respects they are worse, because their fleetness of foot enables them to get out of the way more easily than the chair bearers. Instances have been related at the Magistracy
Europeans, while others try to "work the old during the past few weeks of riosha pullers deliberately running away when hailed by "have got one gag" by declaring that they piecee master inside." Surely that is a boycott? The police try to keep the riosha men and chair bearers in order, but unless they are supported by the Magistrates theft Happily a few ex- efforts are of no avail. emplary fines have been imposed on offend ing pullers and bearers, but the evil is by nos police themselves were the victims, and when the boycott is adopted to such an extent one may be sure the feeling of which it is the expression is fairly deep saated.
means abated. I have seen occasions when dis
I can understand both obair bearers and richa pullers not showing enthusiasm to take a particularly heavy fare, and I can also under- stand their seeking to avoid the mean man who takes them a long and arduous journey and only pays the bare tariff. But what I cannot grasp is the attitude which induces them to take one and refuse another where these distinotions do not apply. Riosha pullers will, late at night, ignore a certain ten cent fare for
■ reasonable distance in the hope of securing a man mellow with liquor and the prospect That is of more generous remuneration.
vengeance, The gambling with
a bird dinary Occidental whose maxim is in the hand is worth two in the bash” cannot appreciate such philosphy and doubtless regards this as another of "the tricks that are vain and ways that are dark.”
Perhaps it is the initials, or it may be just the general impression one gets from reading Colonel Beely's speeches, that recalls the fam- ous John B. immortalised in the "Bigelow Paper" :---
John B. Robinson, be Says the world 'll go right if he only says “gee!” John B. Seely must be finding that in his Colonial team there are many jibbers, and that things do not go as he wishes when he mys a gee ! "
Shareholders in the Hongkong Hotel Com- pany must be better satisfed now with tho management of their property than they were some time ago when proceedings at the Statutory meetings were not so dull and prósy as they have since become. On Saturday the meeting was delayed at least twenty miantes owing to the paucity of the tandance and messengers and telephones had to be used to bring the requisite members under the chairmanship of Dr. Nokia. It speaks well for the confidence. which-share holders, have in their directors.
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