310
THE INFLUENCE OF THE DRAMA.
4
[April 17, 1909.
the old and at all times important emporium of Chinkiang. Compared with other parts of China, there is absolutely no prima facie reason why the Shanghai-Nanking Railway as compared with other lines, should not bring in ample revenues to its promoters.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
silver streak" and the absolute security of Great Britain from attack on account of her certainty of superiority at sea, has (Daily Press, April 12th.)
become so strongly impressed on the mind The papers at home have been much exer- of the generality of the public, that they cised, as well they might be, with the curious were impatient of anything that might fact that the mass of the British public disturb their accepted theory, though
Most of the other railways in the Empire, who paid but little attention to the serious fact after fact told them that circum- besides the useful purposes they serve in warnings by Lord ROBERTS as to the need stances bad altogether changed. There the distribution of commodities, bring in of a territorial army should have been is another bearing of the incident very considerable revenues to the State, suddenly moved to unexpected efforts by a which is worthy of consideration. Of late while this, absolutely the most promising of play which was put before them. The there is an undoubted tendency in the public | all, showed for last year, after providing the Englishman's Home" which caused so not only in England but in other European interest on the borrowed capital, an actual much sensation - brought forward nothing countries to form its judgment upon the loss of no less than nine hundred thousand that was new to any one who has read the opinion of numbers rather that of authority. inels. The Likin authorities and their history of any war; but it seemed to have Get a number of people together and address supporters have, in fact, so much.overdone the effect of awakening the public the firs them and elicit their applause, and euch in the affair that they have themselves supplied time to a sense of what an invasion of the lividual will accept the opinion of the others the most powerful argument for their own country would mean. What, it may be around him. Such of course is largely the abolition. They have been unwise enough asked, was the force which produced so effect of a drama. The audience, both on this occasion to bring themselves into powerful an effect, and how was it that the directly and by a subtle, perhaps it might be direct antagonism with the Imperial power, public, or at all events a large portion of it, said, psychological influence, has as much to and have brought tangibly into view the seemed absolutely deaf to warnings that do with the effect produced as a whole as the very worst feature of the system, in the were of a much more authoritative and speaker himself. Some such influence was hindrances it imposes on the circulation of definite character? The first ilea that no doubt at work in this curious matter, commodities. In the early part of last year would occur is that the British public is and it thus came about that a play could do a satisfactory commencement had been made very lacking in imagination; but this is to what the greatest authorities Lad failed in. towards the large goods traffic expected some extent negatived by the effect pro-Something of this nature has of late heen along the line, when suddenly the watch- duced by the play itself, as, after all, it was largely invading public life, and it may be wan in charge of the goods station only an appeal to the imagination. A want feared that there danger in it, if its effects at Shanghai found the premises invaded of power to realize what would be the state he not carefully watched. There are occa. by certain unknown individuals who were of facts, if only the public mind could be sions when the excitement of large public prying into the godown, taking notes, and brought fairly to consider the point, cannot meeting may be desirable. They are useful generally acting as if the place belonged to therefore, be taken as explaining the matter. to call attention to a given matter, but when them. Enquiring as to who they were, he To get an accurate idea of the cause, w it comes to deciding, calmer and more ordin. failed to get any satisfactory reply, where- have to look a little deeper; and an explary methods are desirable. Here iu Coma upon be very properly turned them out of ation may be found to some extent in the
the premises. The next day an indignant inherent dislike which the British mind has
letter was received from the authorities, to anything in the form of mere abstract
demanding the reason why one of the em- argument upon matters which have to be
ployees had committed an assault on the dealt with on a practical basis. English
Lakin Officers. Unfortunately by the agree men as a rule do not care to prepare for a
ment with the Syndicate half of the Direc- contingency which, after all, may never
tors are Chinese, and these not caring to run arise; and are inclined to let matters go
the risk of carrying on a dispute against until the necessity or immediate action is
their own officials gave way after the feeblest forcad upon them. In this frame of mind
of protests. Of course a protest after the they are disposed to regard those whose
act has been condoned is according to Chi- position makes it nece-s ry to look ahead
nese practice utterly u-ele-s; the growing as being over cautious or over anxious, and
goods traffic was from that day effectually it requires something to stir their interest or
killed, and came in a few weeks to be con- their feelings, to arouse the attention that
fined to a few parcels, and the goods traffic is required to estimate the true bearing of
instead of bringing in tens of thousands, the warnings that are given. No doubt RAILWAY ENTERPRISE CHOKED
never amounted to more than a few hundred most people would admit that the Com-
taels in the course of the month. No direct mander-in-Chief's views as to what would
attempt was made to strangle the passenger be required to prevent invasion are entitled
traffic, probably because any direct inter- to every respect, but it would be time
ference wou'd have aroused open resistance, enough to consider them when invasion
but there is no doubt that a good deal of was more seriously threatened. This is the
influence was brought to bear in encouraging kind of "flattering unction" that the
the native passenger boats. In fact there is vast majority of British people lay to their
little reason to doubt that in addition to the souls and had done so, when the little play
influence of the Likin farmers, a formidable which has produced so great an effect awoke
organised opposition on the part of the old them to the fact- obvious enough one would
boat owners had to be faced, and the fact think-that there would, in all likelihood,
that Peking having on its own account be very little, if any, warning, and that they
raised the necessary capital by means of a would be as much taken by surprise by an
foreign loan, on which in any case interest invasion as the Russian fleet was at the
had to paid, was in provincial eyes a matter opening of the war with Japan. The drama,
in which they had personally no interest. therefore, while appealing to their imagina.
whatever. tion, illustrated and actually placed before them an undoubted fact, and at last the attention that was necessary was aroused.
On the whole the incident is not flattering to our national judgment, but it may be consolation that we are, not the only people who are affected in this way. With the masses, the concrete will always have far more weight than the abstract; and if, in coming to a conclusion, a nation is inclined to wait for actual facts and not to act upon abstract arguments, it is at least a fault on the right side. But like all good principles, this may be carried too far; and undoubtedly, up to the present, such has been the case with respect to national defence. The old idea of the
gome
we are but too familar with the harm that is often worked by excited gatherings, and it is a noticeable fact that the Chinese in times of political excitement keep a very watchful eye upon what goes on at their theatres and sometimes close them altogeth- er, being well aware of the powerful in- fluence that may be excited when large numbers are gathered together. In the instance which has called forth these re- marks that influence was no doubt beneficial, but it is impossible to overlook that a force of the kind may be called into play with evil as well as with good results,
BY LIKIN.
(Daily Press, April 13th.) MORE than once during the past twelve months we have had occasion to mention the extraordinary invasion by the Likin Authorities, whoever they may be, of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway; and its dis astrous effects on the revenue of the line. Not the least curious part of the whole proceeding is that it has never yet appeared at whose instigation the step was taken; nor how it came to pass that neither provincial nor metropolitan governments, though compelled to stand by, and acquiesce against their better judgment, had anything to say to the claim in the first instance. The effect of the imposition is, however, serious, and touches closely the Government No one of the railways in China started under more favourable auspices than this line. It had for its terminus Shanghai, | which is well up within the first ten foremost commercial cities of the world, and has at the other extremity Nanking, the second metropolis of China, which, though not as yet a commercial depôt of the first rank, is an important trade centre, having large distributing conveniences, and serving a considerable area. But in addition to Nanking the railway serves Soochow, which with Hangchow shares the honour of being the wealthiest and largest commercial city in the Empire; in addition to which there is
Now that Peking has had it brought home to it, that it and not the foreigner will have to pay for the eccentricities of the provin cial Lakin, the affair apparently appears there in a different light; it is at all events a sign of promise that enquiries have been instituted as to the reason why the most promising of the Chinese lines of railway should be unable to pay its own way. Re actionaries such as SHENG KUNGpao, who are largely responsible for the present very unsatisfactory position in which China finds herself financially, and who have so far succeeded in blocking every attempt at introducing financial responsibility, have been pressing on Peking their private ideas as to the alleged extravagance with which
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