October 25, 1909.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CHINA AND FOREIGN CAPITAL.
(Daily Press, October 23rd.)
353
elaborate a general State-aided scheme at Perhaps, the most important of all branches | recast it on the lines of the more advanced reduced rates to encourage emigration of of Colonial enterprises is agriculture, and this European States of the period. To fit suitable settlers under well-considered is what the average English emigrant is most himself for the huge task he rendered conditions." There can be no doubt from ignorant about. Let the Governments then himself a wanderer for many years, and did this carefully-worded resolution that the show a little enterprise and train for a short not disdain to assume the character of an London Chamber of Commerce is awakening time the thousands of men who desire ordinary mechanician, and work with his to the fact that the question of emigration to to emigrate so as to make them useful own hands in the shipyards of Europe. the Colonies has not received the considera- to the Colonial farmer. Farm Colonies could When finally he returned to his Empire he tion or the support that is due to it, be run by the Home and Colonial Govern- took with him a large entourage of skilled whether regarded as a solvent of labour ments, and the men, after being well initiated officials, to whom he allotted the task of troubles at Home or as necessary for the into the work, could be drafted out to the reforming the various departments over development of the Colonies and their various districts where they would gain which he had placed them. preservation as essentially British domains, further experience and finally have an The latest statistics we have at hand opportunity to become small settlers them- show the density of the population in selves. The cost would be small compared England to be over 600 persons to the square with the inestimable benefits which would mile, whilst the densities of population in accrue from such undertakings. A full the North American Colonies, Australasia, tide of emigration on an organised scientific and South Africa were 1.5, 1.6 and 7:0 basis would prove a great benefit to the persons to the square mile, respectively. people emigrating, the Home Country and Only one-sixth of the South African populathe Colonies, and the resolution passed at tion are Europeans. These facts alone show the Sydney Congress is one,which deserves; how desirable it is that everything possible to receive the fullest consideration in the should be done to encourage the surplus proper quarters. population at Home to overflow into the Colonies, where there are almost limitless resources awaiting labour to develop them. Yet the monthly Board of Trade returns indicate that emigration from England to It is curious to observe how all the world, the principal Colonies is this year ou the with the solitary exception of China, feels decline rather than on the increase. There grateful when British financiers offer
to would appear to be several reasons why this come to their assistance with loans for the stream of emigration is so small and so re-construction of the Railways. But a few tarded, and they should have, as the resolu-weeks ago we spoke of how very different tion expresses it, "the constant solicitude was the action of Canada, when certain of the Home and Colonial Governments." English and New York capitalists offered to One direction in which the Governments can build a line to connect the new Grand Trunk do good work is in finding the type of men Pacific Railway with Hudson's Bay, with required, and then sending them out under the intention of subsequently connecting the organised supervision. The appearance new port to be opened on that Bay with from time to time in Canadian papers of Europe. The last instance in point is advertisements, for assistants, with the inti- Russia. Lord REVELSTOKE, partner in the mation that "No Englishmen need apply," great banking firm of BARING, BROS. and Co., is not due to a rooted objection on the part and a director of the Bank of England, has of the Canadians to Englishumen as such; in been investigating the financial position of fact, many of those who are most against that Empire, and is so well satisfied that he employing Englishmen have only been in the is willing to advance, with proper guarantees, Dominion a few years themselves; the money for the completion of Russia's system objection to Englishmen as employees is due of railways. The most remarkable thing to experience with them in that capacity. about the proposal is, not that it has been For example, a young Englishman emigrates made, but that it has been looked upon with to Canada filled with a sense of his own favour, almost approaching to gratitude by importance and anxious to let everyone know Russia, even with the accompaniment of he is "not a Colonial." Then he wants to requiring proper care and supervision, which find a job exactly similar to what he has been Lord REVELSTOKE has been careful to include trained to at Home, and assuming he is in-his proposal. With this we may again successful he finds things are not done there compare the recent attitude of China when as they were done in the Old Country! similar suggestions were made to assist her He wants to introduce his own method, financially in the construction of those lines, forgetful of the fact that the method in whichboth nations alike see to be necessary the Colony has been built up on for their well-being. British financiers experience of the Colony's requirements. have, in fact, being offering capital to China We all know that. once these insular on even lighter terms than Lord REVELSTOKE prejudices are overcome he becomes a com- suggests on the part of Russia; yet the petent and usually successful Colonial, but suggestion from which China has turned in the initial stage many fail and much preju-away, with her nose in the air, is one which dice against the new emigrant is created. It any other nation on the face of the earth would be a valuable feature if the Home would accept with an alacrity almost Country could in some manner bring home amounting to gratitude. In matters of to intending emigrants the importance of finance Russia and China are not in any adapting themselves to the new country from important matter in a different position: the beginning. Another feature of non- both countries are rich in natural resources, success in emigration has been the drifting which in neither have been fully or wisely of English mechanics and journeyinen into developed; in both capital is in a stagnant Colonial towns where their particular trade condition, and there is not sufficient to float already has a surplus of workmen. The such huge undertakings as are needed for best type of emigrant is the man who is the completion of their railway systems. Be prepared to turn his hand to any honest core 1689, when PETER THE GREAT assumed labour. If he cannot find immediate employ-qontrol of the Empire of Russia, the country ment at his own trade he will take up some-
can hardly be counted as having entered the thing else until he feels his feet, or, as category of civilised States, and was in all they say in Canada, "make good.” What things behind the China of the age. PETER is required is some organised means of com-devoted himself to the raising of his country munication between the Colonies and the out of her lowly estate. This he saw could Home Country as to the number and class not be done unless he were content to of men wanted from time to time, so that metamorphose the entire system of suitable men can be selected and sent out. government politically and financially, and
PETER was wise enough to see that unless he gave his confidence to the men whom he had so far trusted, his efforts with the country at large would be in vain. As soon as he had found his foreign officers were trustworthy he gave them each full control, and his confidence was in nearly every instance amply repaid; for not only did these foreigners for the most part throw in their lot with their new country, but their descendants to the present day are in many cases to be found in occupation of the highest posts in the government. This was, in fact, the distinguishing feature of PETER'S great scheme; and it was this that enabled him to transform the but half-civilised realm of Muscovy into the modern Russia. PETER'S contemporary in China was her greatest monarch, KANG-HI, and China was in those days, infinitely in point of all that makes a nation great, in advance of her now great northern neighbour. Russia, it is true has not had another PETER THE GREAT, and her
has never been cursed with sovereigns such career has been a chequered one; still she as KIA-K'ING or HIEN-FUNG, nor has she ever fallen into such straits as has China of the present day. Through the force of circumstances rather than from any designed plan on the part of either China or any of her foreign friends, China after the capture of Shanghai by the rebels found herself rescued from dissolution by the timely assistance of a few foreigners. With no far-sighted policy in view, but merely to fill a temporary gap, the foreign Consuls in Shanghai put the Custom House in com- mission, and this being found to act benefi- cially for China, the Foreign Inspectorate has lasted up to the present with enormous advantage to China, who now for the first time found herself in possession of a source of regular revenue. At the same time she was glad to employ an American soldier of fortune to put down a rebellion that was eating into her vitals, and which had it not been for WARD's early assistance would in a few more months have utterly destroyed the Empire. WARD, the soldier of fortune, unlike many of the type, was true to his salt, and died fighting China's battles. His successor proved of a different calibre- and it would have gone hard with China had not the British Government placed at her disposal the services of Major GORDON, afterwards General, one of the most promis- ing of her rising officers. China had thus the opportunity, had she acted honourably, of without any loss of prestige pulling her shat, tered Empire together, and restoring herself to the same high standard that she occupied under her great sovereign KANG-HI. How did she treat these men Did she, like Russia place confidence in them, and give them the complete control which is necessary for the, due discharge of their functions? Quite the contrary; from the moment of their taking office they each and every one found them- selves marked subjects of suspicion; their juniors were set to spy on them, and it was. considered an act of patriotism to cross them in every direction. We may quote the treatment of Colonel GORDON, whom the Government thought, after the insult of the beheading, of the Wangs it could appease by
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