December 21, 1908.)
daily growing, and it is apparent that the appeal to the country cannot long he delayed. It is, of course, quite possible that the Liberals may be again returned to office, but it is apparent to the student of politics that the day of big majorit es is over. Were it not for the weakness and divisions which still characterise the Opposition, they might reasonably hope to re-ume government res- ponsibility on the next dissolution, but even their most sanguine supporter can scarcely hope for such a result. The two great parties being split up into num rous fac ins and t'e Labour and Socialist Party, aggres. sive, though divided, makes any forecast of the future unusually hazardous. Immediate success will fail to the party which can amalgamate the various heterogeneous ele. ments into an effective voting force, but such success will only be of a temporary nature and we may aicipate a future of many parties and many changes.
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REFORM IN CHINA,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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people there is a growing recognition | now entered into the ordinary routine of of China's backwardness among the existence and the facility with which the nations of the world, and their sensi- machine can be carried on bourd ship, and tiveness on the subject manifesta i'self in a transported from one country to another keen sympathy with every effort to remove has materially altered the conditions of life, this reproach from their land. We observe and carried into the ordinary human being's very little evidence of a fundamental existence, one of the main enjoyments of the craving for a constitutionally-governed humble snail-that of being able to carry land"; if any such craving existed about with him practically his whole hous- its satisfaction probably would not be so hold, without the one great drawback of the long delayed. The promise of a constitu- snail's life-his inability to exceed a crawl. tion is to be dangled before the nation for Now it is undeniable that the habits another nine years.
As yet, the aspirations engendered by this moderu facility of move- for reform are vague, and the people appear ment, bave made vast changes in our hom in a frame to mind to accept any method of lives and customs; and it may be almost achieving reform that the Government at said in our morals. Unfortunately, too, it Peking may decrce. A Constitution will
niy be said, not always for the better. If put tremendous power in their hands, and we are becoming quicker in our thoughts, it looks as though the Government were an more rapid in our movements, we are content to await that devolution of power | als› apparently as a nation becoming more before attempting to deal with the frivolous and careless of consequences. root of the trouble the rotlenness of What the introduction of the electric the financial administration. Until that telegraph did for our co umerce, that of the task is taken in hand it would be futile byke and motor-car are doing for our to hope for any substantial and permanent private life. Our merchant used to be a man progress in China. For the present it is the of wide knowledge, who had to undertake sense of humiliation that inspires progress in a long and difficult operation a ter due China. The presence of the troops of seven study of all the eventualities, with as much nations in the capital of the empire has done care and precision as the mathematician more for reform in Chion than could have ureded in working out the orbit of some been accomplished by all other means in the expected celestial visitor. Now-a-days he course of a century. May it not with is me has exchanged his place with the speculat›", confidence be said that the end and aim whose sole occupation is the mere counting of all the effort in the minds of the majority of the chances, often without the slight st is to "
recover the rights" which China knowledge of the article in which he is has lost during the last sixty years ? It is dealing or the circumstances of the markets what Count HAYASHI, formerly Japanese for which it is destined. Real trade is thus Minister to Peking, has called an ebullition hindered and the merchant too often placed of anti-foreignism." We can believe with
at the mercy of the mere heedless speculator, the Count that it will increase in inteusity as whose highest mental effort is to play a mere the awakening of China is quickened; but game of pitch and toss with Lady Fortune. so long as this "anti-foreignisu is mani-The same influences are at work in the fested in peaceful effort to so improve ad- social life of the day; the careful and con ministration in China that she may, by-and-scientious worker in science finds himself bv, take her place among the nations of the handicapped in his researches by the smat world on an equal footing, anl so lay claim terer who has pickel up perchance some of 10 recover her jurisdiction over the present the shibboleth of the craft from Settlement areas, we can, watch the progress publications as Science Siftings, and is able of the new movement with sympathetic on such pabulum for the moment to pass as a man of research, and so retard ad infinitum the work of the real master of his craft. The publisher, like the stockbroker who strives to make his buying and selling a real business, finds himself cut out by the mere panderer to the taste of the moment; and is forced to deal in literary options and futures, to the destruction of everything that is real or genuine. Haste rather than quality has b come publicly and privately the order of the day, and feverish worry takes the place of wisdom.
(Daily Press, December 15th. } In a recent article on Chinese affairs a writer in The Spectator confessel that after reading a large part of what has been written on the subject of the national ileals of China and their progress, he was still unable to perceive what the springs of the movement really are. Are the reforms he asked, only the inevitable result, and no more, of the impact of European influences which have become so much stronger since the "Boxer" rising? Are they the result of the resolute and brave administration of a few enlightened rulers like Yuan SHI-KAI, and will they ass away if weaker men come into office? Is the burden of the Man hu drones finally to be removed from a country which has been long suffering in supporting them, as in everything else? Is there a fundamental craving, which will in the end become irresistible, for a constitu- tionally-goveruel land? To all t'ese questions the London journal replies
We do not know." This a'titude interest. of doubt and uncertainty may nakethe eternal riddle of China" all the more fascinating, but even if the result be un- satisfactory it is worth while seeking the solution of the riddle. It can certainly he affirmed that no single one of the develop. ments mentioned in the above series of questions has inspired the new national ideals, but they all have helped to create and maintain the grand ideal of a Reformed China which shall command the respect of the civilised world. Perhaps the mainspring of the movement is to be found in China's sensitiveness to the humiliating position she occupies in the world, and to a growing sense of her impotence in many directions. The time has not long passed-we are not sure indeed that we can even now say that it has quite passed-when the sentiment that "there are no e like unto us" reased to be thoroughly believe in. But the steadily incr asing impact of European influences is producing its due effect: a great change indeed has come over the spirit of the people's dream, and what with the new educational movement and the steadyxtension of the newspapers press, carring enlightenment
to
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13
THE AGE OF INVENTION,
(Daily Press, 16th December.} Perhaps for the past three or four hundred years no invention has created "n equally great social revolution with the simple byke, " and its follower the motor car; both have in their way increased the ordinary facilities for locomotion, so that distances, that but few years ago would have required the exercise of much force, and occupied a notable period of time, as well as needing much preliminary preparation of person and raimant, may now be covered in the period usually occupied in one's daily walk. The byke, too, is essentially the poor man's conveyance: it costs him nothing for fuel or fodder, and only requires such repairs and attention as the ordinary clever mechanic can do himself. It enables further his children to go longer distances to school, and so enables them to take advantage in a way before unthought if the benefits of a higher education than is offered at the ordinary local school.
What the humble byke is to the poor millions, the foundatios of reform man the motor car is to his more wealthy and progress are being solidly laid. į neighbour; it stands always ready to be Thes reforms may be attributed with good mounted, and in an bour or two will carry show of reason to the resolute an brave him over distances, without inconvenience, administration of a few enlightened rulers like YUAN SHIKAI, but we do not believe they will pass away if we ker men come to office. These enlightened rulers are simply taking occasion by the hand. " What we have to note is that among
名菜
the
which would, even ten or twelve years ago, have needed extensive preparations, and probably entailed all the necessities of a railway journey, and carriages at both ends. The periodical break-up of the household, often once a week for the "week end," has
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such
Such are, of course, the thoughts of the pessimist. There is a vast ain unt of truth in them, and it is unfortunate that every step in civilisation has had from the beginn- ing of the world to contend with similar drawbacks, It is quite possible that th Australian "by "wh wanders nhout-eat- ing the filthiest food, clothed only in the merest rug to protect himself against the inclemencies of the weather, enjoys life just as much as the fur-clad beauty in het most up-to-date motor car; neither is perhaps to blame for acting on the motto "carpediems" only each step secured in advance wakes the step backward sem the more horrible : and so, whether we like it or not, we are carried on with the irresistible current of our surroundings. This seems to be to, us more particularly the case at the present time. It was but the other day that we were complaining that the inventive talent of the day had come to a standstill, yet within the last few years we have seen the steam tur bise striding on to the supercession of JAMES WATT's great invention of the reci- procating engine; nay, we have seen the
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