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THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA.
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[April 3, 1909. for what cause neither themselves nor any- one else have been able to show any Austria and Servia justification whatever. have been in fact, for the last six or eight months engaged in a game of growling and showing their teeth at one another across the River Danube; yet when either has been asked the foundation of all the excite- ment, and a civil request made to formulate the real trouble at the bottom of all, neither has been able to name a single item whereiu it had been wronged by the other. It can hardly be said that Germany either has given assurances that her motives are of any higher inspiration; when asked by the other Powers to use her influence to induce one or the other of the irreconciliables to reason, or at least to state her desires, Germany has on each occasion shrugged her shoulders and announced her intention of allow ing Austria to go her own gait without inter- Now if this proceeded from a genuine respect for the House of Austria, and could be taken as the homage of one wise man to another however much we might cavil at its seeming weakness, we could hold it up to reprobation, but this explanation hardly consorts with indications of the case,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND that suits them for something in the form of representative institutions, there can be (Daily Press, March 29th.)
very little doubt. They have the great While the large majority of those who essential of administrative instinct which is may be taken as authorities with respect to shown in connection with their guilds and Far Eastern matters are lot oninion that other organisation, and there is no question representative institutions would prove un. also that they possess practical common suitable to India, a contrary opinion prevails Hense the "reasonableness" recently re- with regard to China. As respects India, ferred to by Sir ROBERT HART-which is of it is generally accepted that constitutional all things the most valuable in the govern- government would not be advantageous ment of a nation as well as in less important upon the somewhat general ground that matters. On the other hand, it cannot be government by the people is not in accord-overlooked that in another direction they ance with "Oriental " ideas and it would
are certainly of the traditional "Oriental" seem at first sight that, if this argument is type-possessing an almost exaggerated good ns to India, it ought to be taken as
respect for personal authority, and tradi- good also with regard to China, which is tional ideas that the larger questions of certainly An Oriental country, if any governments can be dealt with only by un- country is entitled to be so designated. The restrained or autocratic authority. To term Oriental" is, of course, a very wide effect a change in the existing state of and it is often used without due consider matters, it is necessary that these two dis- ation of the difference which may exist cordant elements should be in some way reference. between nations who are Oriental as com- conciled; and this is the problem which the pared with western standards, but who are Peking authorities will have to solve within very varied degrees. Generally speak the next nine years, if the promise which ing, the idea of Orientalism is that of being has been made is to be carried out. It is governed or governable in a more or less quite possible that it may be found, in prac- despotic manner-in having a strong traditically dealing with the subject, that it will tional respect for personal authority, and a be difficult to grant a constitution to China want of appreciation of power as derived in the fullest sense of the word even when from the people at large and exercised on the nine years have expired; but if the their behalf. It is concluded by those authorities are in earnest in the matter, acquainted with the state of feeling in there should not be any insuperable ob- India that, at all events at the present time, stacles against the introduction of a measure the old traditions which make the people of reform which will tend in this direction- disposed to look to personal authority as and which in the course of time, will lead to the essential element in government is so constitutional government in accordance strong that an attempt to introduce an with the wants of the country. This would administration upon a representative basis be the true policy for the Government to could not be successful and probably upon adopt; and, although there are some reac- the whole this view of the subject is correct. tionary signs which do not look promising, At the same time steps have been taken to it may be hoped that these will be overcome, secure a more definite representation of the and that it may he possible to introduce the people in the Supreme Council, and this looked for new system by degrees, if it can- would appear to be acceptable to those who not be adopted in the rapid manner which have been agitating for a wider recognition has been attempted in some other countries of the popular voice in the government of why by no means encouraging results. The the country.
nation, as well as the official, has to be edu It might be thought that those who desire cated up to the change. Much is being done an improvement in the interual government in the former direction by the force of of China would be content with seeing her social change, but it will require no little accept some similar measures to those which skill to blend the new ideas with the old have been adopted in India in regard to the traditions of government in China. In the same question-but, with respect to China, meantime the Reking Authorities might the opinion seems to have gained ground, possibly take a lesson from what has been not only among Europeans, but among some done in India, and, without changing the of the more advanced Chinese statesmen existing form of government, might gra- themselves, that what would be suited to dually introduce a more representative the Chinese nation, is a system of constitu-element into the chief councils of the nation. tional government in which the wishes of the people would be duly consulted and properly respected. If we are to believe the assurances made at Peking, such a system is to be introduced some nine years hence. How far this promise can be relied upon is, of course, a matter of opinion. Upon this point, it is probable that Chinese states- men themselves are as yet undecided. While some of them can see the advantages
(Daily Press, March 30th.) that would be gained by popular support Few people in Europe will be found to the most progressive may have some doubt eulogise as a type of wisdom or political as to how far such support can be obtained sagacity King PETER of Servia, or his with safety to the Imperial or central precious son and heir Prince GEORGE. authority-the preservation of which they Almost as few will be found to laud naturally regard as of the first importance. the political insight of the Archduke What the Peking authorities will most FERDINAND OF ESTE, who has been probaby do is to endeavour to compromise trying his 'prentice hand in guiding the matters in some way that will meet half destinies of Austria, while with regard way the difficulty with which they have to the Imperial Minister, Barou von to deal, and no doubt many of them hope AEHRENTHAL he has been sailing as close that long before the expiration of the
to the wind as was possible in the case of nine years, some means short of actual
a minister high in the confidence of his popular representation may be found Sovereign. However in the end affairs to appease the aspirations of the may turn out, it is at least certain people in this direction. That the that the four between them have been Chinese differ from the generality of keeping Europe in a state of flurry and Eastern nations, iu haying much in the in excitement during the last six months; yet
سمجھ
This would have the effect of satisfying to some extent the aspirations of those who are in favour of popular government; and would prepare the way to the introduction of a representative system, should such prove desirable at a future time.
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THE BALKANS.
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Germany is quite aware that one of the chief difficulties in the way of the Dual Monarchy is the attitude of the Slavonic peoples under its rule; Magyar and German pretty well understand one another, and both are fully conscious that any rupture of the common bond of self intere-t which holds them together would mean the destruc- tion of both. They can safely growl at one another betimes, secure in the reflection that after all self-interest is a stronger ground of union than sentiment: but with ber Slavonic subjects the case is far otherwise. They have not risen to the sense of common interest, or common nationality, and to their winds, tickled with dreams of an impossible Panslavism, every degradation to Austria seems a victory for the other. This is the ever present danger that the Dual Monarchy has to face, but to which she is momentarily quite oblivious. King PETER KARAGES EGE- WITCH may to onlookers seem but flimsy stuff out of which to but he is the best available. It is not a matter of everyday experience that a hero should come on the scene just when and how a people desires him, but the unwise policy of Austria is going far to make King PETER the hero of the day, and Germany by suggestion rather than by open advice is doing her best to blow up the bubble. Naturally none of the Powers cares to tell Austria straight out the true position of affairs; too candid friends are apt to meet with unpleasant rebuffs when their advice becomes too particular; but Europe sees that a war rashly com menced between Austria and Servia would not unlikely tan into a flame the general nascent antipathy between Teuton and Slav, and as each mutually interpenetrates dis- tricts where the other predominates, a wasteful and mutually destructive civil war could be the only logical result. eventual war between Germany and Russia on racial grounds would be a thing of horror untold; and would not impossibly destroy the boasted civilisation of Europe, or leave the road open to another Asiatic advance and with a view of these possibilities, the common sense of Europe has been striving to bring about a settlement in the Balkan States which offer some chauce of per- manency.
An
Every one engaged fèls that, brought down to the level of common sense, there is positively nothing worth quarreling about, yet false pride or silly sentiment interferes
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