October 11, 1909.]
on till LATHAM having nearly accomplished his daring flight across the English Channel, within a couple of miles of the English coast, fell with his aeroplane. He was not, however, like LILIENTHAL, killed, but, warned by previous disastrous accidents, was able to float in his machine till help opportunely arrived.
Now all this bears a remarkable resemb- lance to the methods of Nature. Nature has, however, one enormous advantage over man in her experiments; her time is unlimited, and besides she carries out all her experiments á l'outrance. A good example of her methods of working is afforded in the case of the horse, whose history we can now almost read in detail from the very comme ncement of the Tertiaries. The first we learn of the family is the appearance of
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
in the face of facts as we know them, quite reconcileable with the more advanced view, of the ordinary processes of inheritance,
THE STATE OF TRADE.
"}
(Daily Press, October 5th.) When the Hon. Mr. GRESSON, as Chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, addressed the half-yearly meeting of shareholders 3, ionth ago he said in regard to the state of trade":" We are still waiting for the long expected turn of the tide. It can- not be said that trade in the Far East is yet in a flourishing condition, but there is pro- mise of improvement in some directions, and I see no cause for taking a pessimistic view. small three-toed On the contrary, news from India ungulate, scarcely larger than a diminu- of the climatic conditions, upon which, tive chevrotain, He evidently answered particularly in that country, so much de- the purpose for which he was intended, pends, is favourable; silk crops in both because his remains are proportionably China and Japan are reported to be well up numerous. But climate and soil changed, to, if not above, the average; and new life and
our proto-horse had to become has been infused into the Straits Settlements modified to suit. Doubtless many of the by the success attending the cultivation of alterations and additions which from time rubber, a product which bids fair to become to time were introduced were unsuitable, a valuable and, I hope, a permanent addition and as in the case
of LILIENTHAL's to the exports of that region. These factors flying machine, the individual perished must all have a beneficial effect on the im- miserably; others, as BLERIOT, proved port trade which has been in a more or successful, and the individual for some less depressed state for a long time time was at the head of his race till super past, and, needless to say, any improve. seded by one better mounted. We need not ment will be welcomed by all who are here recapitulate the various stages of interested in Eastern commerce. The progress; like BLERIOT in his rivalry with tone of the Eastern markets is distinctly LATHAM, the one who possessed the soundest more hopeful to-day than it was a month and most enduring organs in the end ser- ago, and confidence is felt that the tide is at vived. As BLERIOT succeeded in crossing length on the turn. We learn of an the Channel where LATHAM fell into the unprecedented rice crop in Japan; in water, our next better fitted horse succeeded China the crops are reported to be no less in establishing himself in better and richer promising, while the reports from India since pastures than his predecessor, and so the the end of the monsoon predict bumper race went on improving in strength of harvests in all parts of the country. A adaptibility, till at last the race has cul- month ago it was expected that the minated in a Gladiateur or a Blink Bonny, crops of the United States this year who for the moment holds the champion-400 millions sterling, and it is would be of the value of something ship.
It was thoughts like these, which had the individual had the knowledge or the perse- verance to have pursued them to the logical end, would have enabled him to have forestalled DARWIN, that the latter owed the almost unanimous approval with which on their first promulgation his new and daring view was accepted by the more advanced scientists. Here was no mystery, but the application to a particular case of a principle which of necessity must dominate all creation, "Where did I come from,"the writer remem- bers to have asked his nurse in a moment of infantile curiosity. "You were found," was the response," in the Cabbage Garden." With many of the wisest of the day, the answer to the simple question, "Whence came humanity? was practically identical. They were created. Of course, in one sense all men, as the Cathechism inform us, were made; but no one consciously holds that he was not born in what is usually termed natural succession from his elders of a previous generation. In this sense DARWINISM, as it has come to be called, is quite consistent with the theory of evolution under natural conditions of experiment. Some of us turn out indeed failures, while to others is granted the privilege of enlightening succeeding generations. We know not all the reasons for the difference, but we can all understand that it does not require much interference with our ordinary processes of reasoning to reconcile our Catechismal teachings of special creation with the very evident fact that each of us has in reality come into the world by the perfectly natural process of being born. The cabbage garden view is,
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obvious that this factor must have a highly stimulating effect on the general commercial and industrial position. The monetary position is said to be satisfactory, and a feeling of quiet confidence has prevailed But the news we publish to-day is likely to have a very disturbing effect, for the prosperity of the United States is so im portant an element in international trade REUTER informs us to-day that the total closing of the Southern cotton mills contemplated, owing to the dearness of raw cotton. Presumably this results from a failure of the crop in Texas, where much deterioration was feared owing to pro tracted drought. A recent cotton report stated, however, that
"full crops
are probable in Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas, but these are just the States where the holding power of the planters is strongest, and where their interests are most consolidated; whilst Texas, where the crop is short, is just the State where the farmer acts most independently." The action threatened by the Southern millowners may have upon the planters the effect which the foregoing extract suggests is desired, but the situation will create a good deal of anxiety, and news of the develop ments will be eagerly awaited. When we turn from America to England it is our pleasure to note that the Board of Trade Returns of the external trade of the United Kingom have recently been more satis factory than for a long time past. The July returns, which are the latest received, re corded an advance in exports of £1,782,000, or 5-2 per cent., while the imports showed an
307
improvement of £3,548,000 or over 7·6 per cent. The returns for the first seven months of the year show, as compared with last year, an increase of £6,899,559 in imports and a decrease of £11,277,530 in exports of British goods. The exports of foreign and colonial merchandise, however, had increased by £8,316,140, so that on the whole there was an improvement of over four millions sterling in the total for the seven months. July was the first time for many months that the Board of Trade returns had shown a marked advance both in imports and exports, and we note in the Indian papers a telegram to the effect that the improvement was well maintained in the month of August. It is interesting to note that Textiles, after their somewhat protracted period of depres sion, showed great improvement'in July. Of the increase in the exports, cotton yarns and fabrics accounted for £523,717, woollen yaras and fabrics for £374,633, silk for £25,036 and other textile goods for £245,250. How far the crisis. in the weaving trade in the United States, reported in to-day's telegrams, will affect the recovery of the world's trade it is difficult at the moment to say, and perhaps it is wise not to attempt to prophesy on the subject until fuller information of the crisis comes to hand.
Y AN SHIH KAI.
been
(Daily Press, October 6th.) Rumours have for some time prevalent of the recall to office of YUAN SHI-KAI. In view of the intense distaste with which he was viewed by the Imperial Family, and more especially by the present EMPRESS DOWAGER, who has always attributed to him the greatest part of the indignities to which the late EMPEROR had to submit, it seemed in the least degree un- likely that the REGENT would agree to his led to the dismissal of YUAN, we took care recall. While explaining the causes that to avoid using towards him the injurious language employed by some of our con. temporaries, YUAN is in many respects an able man, and possessed to a larger extent than most Chinese officials of the day of the power of administration; and there is no doubt, in the last days of the late EMPRESS REGENT, he did much to restore the damaged reputation of China. Still, withal, and that s possibly the worst to be said of him, he was above all things an opportunist, and so was often led into courses which a man of higher standards of duty would have indignantly disclaimed. The absurd theory that he in any way represented the Chinese element as opposed to the Manchu has apparently died a natural death; and the only ground for advising his recall by the present REGENT has been the ple that he above the other Ministers of the Court had an intelligent acquaintance with foreign affairs, and could be trusted to guide the State in the present rather complicate.1 position of affairs. The position is a characteristic illustration of the ineptaess of the present generation of Chinese statesmen. Since the rise of YUAN SHI-KAI, not a single official has prove himself capable of grasping the situation, which has been continually becoming more involved; and this in spite of the fact that the REGENT himself has shown every disposition to encourage men of ability to come to the front. To his enemies, of whom he had mae many, YUAN's chief characteristic was an over-reaching ambition, and he was even accused at aiming at the Throne. Tuere does not seem on a review of the circum-
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