312
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[April 17, 1909,
cemetery it was described as the Pratest- CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. | effect, and gone far towards making the ant Cemetery. The instance Mr. HOOPER quoted from the Gazette of 1867 is no isolated instance; the cemetery is similarly described in many later volumes. When the fact is made clear that it is a Protestant cemetery Mr. Ho KOM TONG, who objected that Mr. HOOPER's motion would hurt the sentiment of our Japanese friends, will doubt- less recognise that the boot fits the other foot. Primarily it is the Protestant cominunity who have the right to feel aggrieved. We do not, however, write with any bias towards one religious denomination more than another in this matter, Like Mr. Hewett, we have "noview on this aspect of the subject;" but we can quite conceive that members of the Protestant Christian Church might be extremely opposed to the performance of other than Christian rites in the Prote stant Cemetery, and we are equally sure that the Japanese would have no wish to wound their susceptibilities. But at the same time we cannot with any show of justice deny to those of the Budd hist faith the right to exercise their religious rites and ceremonies wherever the authorities direct that their dead shall be buried. The best way out of the difficulty is to provide a special cemetery. In view of the growth of the Buddhist community in the Colony in recent years it certainly does seem desirable that the Government should appropriate a new site and authorise a cemetery for the interment of bodies of persons of the Buddhist and other non-
endeavour to transport ready-made from some other country a system which may not be suitable to the Chinese. The danger, of course, is that they may carry this feeling of caution too far and do nothing, or shelve the matter for an indefinite time.
adoption of a new system comparatively an easy matter. It would, however, be à (Daily Press, 16th April.) Writing in the Contemporary Review Mr. great mistake for other nations to make too SIDNEY Low makes the somewhat amusing rapid deductions from what has been done remark that "The world curiously enough in Japan, as to what can be done by them- has become the laboratory of constitutional selves under totally different circumstances experiment during the past few years. One and in having to deal with a people of very nation after another in the East and West different instincts, tendencies, and traditions. is striving to reform its political system so
For this reason the argument that has so
be our own. as to bring it closer to what is supposed to frequently been brought forward, that what In Turkey, in Russia, has been done by Japan could equally well in Persia, in Egypt-yes even in Ireland be done by China and with far more and in India, constitutionalism on the important results, has to be accepted with English model is that for which many men
considerable reservation. This view has been more are striving, for which some are willing to
than once pressed upon the risk liberty and life."
central authorities by advanced Chinese A specially curious feature in this matter statesmen-YUAN-SHI-KAI among them→ is that it is precisely at the time when some
and it is not surprising that the more con- of the weak points connected with constituervative officials have hesitated to accept tional governments have become prominently it. Being intimately acquainted with both noticeable that this general desire to adopt countries they see
more clearly, than the it has shown itself. Nothing could better best informed Europeans can, that what illustrate the difference between abstract and may be possible in Japan may be quite applied principles, and the necessity for the impracticable in China; and that, however statesman always to have his eye rather desirable it may be to secure some change upon the practical effects of any measure
which may give the people at large a voice than the question of its appearing right or
in the government of the country, or at desirable upon merely general grounds. least bring them more into harmony with That the people should be consulted and it, it will be necessary to do so in conformity have a definite voice in the government of with the wants and traditions of China and their country will be accepted as an unim-not peachable principle by almost everyone. It is, however, a very different question how this principle can be best put in force in a The Christian faiths not at present provided given country and at a given time.
success with which the Japanese established for. As the custodians of the Cemetery representative institutions in their country the Sanitary Board are perfectly within has probably a great deal to do with the their province in making the sugges movement among other Eastern nations in tion to the Government, though we would the same direction. What has no doubt have preferred to see the application come struck many of them is the undoubted fact from the Buddhist community in the Colony that popular support is an For many years after the Colony was
accession to the power of the central founded there were no Buddhists here, so far government. This consideration, we may as we know, except among the Chinese. It imagine, would have very much more weight is only within very recent years that the with potentates who, like the Sultan of subjects of H.M. the Emperor of Japan Turkey, had been long used to absolute have settled in foreign parte, and now that authority, but who found it difficult we have in Hongkong a Japanese com- by that means to hold their own and to munity of probably several hundred persons preveut disturbance and possibly rebellion the Government can reasonably be asked
or even revolution occurring, than a general to provide a special cemetery where the rites desire for good government. The Japanese and ceremonies of the Faith they profess
no doubt saw this bearing of the subject may be performed with consolation to them-
very clearly; and they succeeded in intro- selves and offence to none just as in JapaDducing representation into their government the Government provides special cemeteries for the interment of those who profess the Christian faiths. The arguments used by the Chinese representatives on the Board appear to have been entirely based on the misconception that the site was set apart as a general rather than as a Protestant cemetery; and when it is proved to their satis- faction that they are misinformed we feel sure they will be as ready as anyone else to recognise that the sentiments of the large Protestant community in the Colony are entitled to the same respect as the sentiments of those who have other religious creeds. We regret that the Head of the Sanitary Department offered no word in explanation of his vote against the motion, and the absence of Mr. BREWIN, the Protector of Chinese, when this subject was discussed. is another matter for regret.
The Christian Literature Society for China benefits by a legacy of £100, left by Mr. Thomas Harris, of South Place, Calne, Wilts bacon curer, five times mayor of Calne, who died on November 30, aged 89, left estate valued at £155,131 gross, with net personalty £123,641. Besides the legacy above mentioned the testator left £2,000 each to the British and Foreign Bible Society, the London Missionary Society (of which he was a director), the London Temper- ance Hospital, and the Society for the Liberation of Religion from State Control,
enormous
This would be a grave mistake after the definite promises which have been made; and it is almost impossible to believe that the most reactionary of Chinese statesmen
not see will
the danger which would certainly arise, if after having raised the hopes of the people by an absolute promise that they will introduce representative government in some form, they should fail to do something that will meet the aspira- tions which they have raised in this direction.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
Fastertide has come and gone, and few of us have cared to inquire as to its origin. Enough for us that it brings a welcome holiday, and enough for us that the weather was all that of Easter is not too pronounced in Hongkong, could have beer wished. The religious aspect but we are not worse in that respect than the good folks at home, who are rapidly converting the great religious festival into a holiday. In that way England will be following the lead of Scotland which has practically abolished its old- time fast days in favour of public holidays and takes practically no interest, religiously, in Christmas.
with the result that the Mikado and the Central Government became more powerful than they had ever been before. It is not surprising that other nations should think that they could attain the same ends by the same means; and hence the feeling in favour of representative institutions which has of late arisen in so many and in such
however, is that under such circumstances very unexpected directions. The danger there may be too much generalisation from
Although we do not observe Easter so very seriously we still like to see and taste hot cross a principle correct in itself but which in its nature depends absolutely on the method in
buns which recall happy days of boyhood, but somehow we do not worry about Easter eggs. which it is applied. It is often a mistake Of course it is difficult to take the eggs we see to argue that what has been done success- out here very seriously, and to paint them or fully in one country, can be done equally well roll them why it would be out of the question at the time when representative institutions nineteen eggs daily it might make a differ- in another. There were many circumstances altogether, Had we any fowls like the Ameri- can hen about which I read the other day which were introduced into Japan, which facilitated
ence. Certainly they would be fairly profitable such a measure-not the least being the
ut Easter. necessity which was universally recognised of the combination of all classes to meet a common danger in the threatened war; and the further necessity for holding together when war actually occurred. This centralis- ng influence greatly assisted the change from the old traditions, which was so successfully "ccomplished; and there can be no doubt that the feeling that the Japanese nation may possibly be again called upon to face danger from without has had a consolidating
Talking about Easter-curious association of ideas!-reminds me of fun tan at Macao. The Portuguese Settlement attracted a big orowd of visitors during the holidays; but though some of systems" I haven't heard the visitors had
6.
of any who emulated the min at Monte Carlo
nd broke the bank.
A few days ago I read in the Press of a prospective rival to Macao. This was the border town of Samchun which, lying in Chinese
f
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