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tion.
CHINA'S NEED.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
of China's backwardness must give to the reform movement a powerful impetus. Frequently we are told that China's great need is that of a strong consistent leader, powerful enough to carry out the ideas of reform by which he must be imbued, and uniting with a reasoned belief in the efficacy of his projects tact and firmness in their application. Japan, it is suggested, had such a leader in Iro. But we may point out that Iro was a product rather than the seed of the Reformation in Japan, and if we seek to apply to China the experience of Japan in this connection we have to say that the great need in China is, in the first place, a sympathetic Court ready to give the utmost encouragement and support, not to one strong leader merely, but rather to a powerful group of statesmen animated by the same convictions and absolutely loyal to their chosen leader as well as to each other. Obviously a strong guiding force is what China imperatively needs at the present juncture, but the men best qualified by knowledge and experience to shape the destinies of the Empire are by some malign nfluence denied the opportunity.
THE DEFENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
(Daily Press November 22nd.) China has now had twelve months of government under the Regency. An era of enlightenment and progress was believed to have dawned for China when the aged Dowager Empress passed away within a few hours of the decease of the Emperor KWANGHSU, and the infant son of the latter's brother was appointed to reign in his stead under the Regency of his father. The closing years of the last reign, associated as in history they will be with the recognition of the imperative need of reform; and the promised gift of constitutional government, furnished the Regent with a high ideal and a definite object of patrotic ambi- What little was known of Prince CHUN at the time inspired confident hopes and expectations that some definite progress would at last be made, and early confirmation of these views came when it was apparent that His Highness was disposed to lean for advice and guidance upon progressive statesmen like CHANG CHIA TUNG and YUAN SHIH KAI. Edicts imbued with the spirit of reform streamed from the Palace, and the flow continues to be unceasing. But CHANG CHIH TUNG has passed away, YUAN SHIH KAI has been relegated to obscurity, TANG SHAO YI has
(Daily Press, November 23rd.) been in retirement since he completed his The recently announced decision of the important mission to Europe and America, United States Government to make Pearl and generally the prospect of real and solid Harbour (Honolulu) their chief naval base progress in administrative reforms is not in the Pacific rather than Manila, has so hopeful as it seemed six months naturally created a good deal of discussion ago. Some of the recent unpromisin the Philippines, and especially, we in circles other than American. ing signs-such as the appointment of the Regent's brothers, inexperienced Grave dissatisfaction is expressed by the and ignorant young Manchu Princes, desti- Spanish paper Libertas, a daily newspaper tute of technical training," to the highest published in the interests of the religious commands in the army and navy-have been orders of the Philippines. In the opinion ascribed to female influence. The power of the Libertas, the decision of the United behind the Throne, Dr. MORRISON stated States Government in this matter is only to recently in a communication to the be explained by the suggestion that in the Times," is believed to be the Regent's event of war with Japan, the Philippine stepmother, who regardless of the wel- Islands will be abandoned by the United fare of the country, uses her influence States.
financial That the present towards the personal enrichment of her embarrassments of Japan will impede her family." These appointments are said to from "having if out with an opulent nation have provoked widespread dissatisfaction in like America" is ridiculed by the Libertas, China. But some satisfaction may be de- | who reminds its readers that in 1850 rived from the fact that China's Lord High Prussia was the most miserable country Admiral has by command of the Prince Re-in Europe. 'Her territory comprised gent gone to Europe and America for the express purpose of studying the naval arrangements of the great Powers of the world. Whatever opinions may be enter tained regarding the definite objects of the
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a strip from the Niemen to the Wesser on the Baltic, composed of dunes, marshes and forests of stunted firs, and a few forests on the banks of the Rhine and in northern Germany." But the Prussians had a
[November 27, 1909. that Japan could have driven out the Americans long ago and would not have waited until the Americans had so firmly established their hold upon the islands. The inhabitants of the Philippines can rest fully assured that the decision of the United States Government to make Pearl Harbour in the Hawaiian Islands its chief naval base was not dictated by any thought of allowing the Philippine Islands to be annexed to the Japanese Empire. It is not to be supposed that because Manila is not made the chief naval base, that the United States Navy Department is indifferent to the defence of the Philippines. Corregidor, which com- mands the entrance to Manila Bay, is at the present time being strongly fortified in a manner which is designed to render it im- possible for any hostile ship to enter. One of our American contemporaries ventures to say, indeed, that no other salt water seaport. in the world will be more easily defended than Manila behind the impregnable works at Corregidor. Be this as it may, there does not seem to be the slightest warrant for regard- ing the acquisition of the Philippines as a fixed object of Japanese policy, and the fears expressed in the Philippines, if they may be taken as representing to any extent the views of the native population, are interesting only as evidence of the preference shown for the United States as the sovereign power in the Islands.
REGISTRATION OF CHIN SE PARTNERSHIPS.
(Daily Press: November 24th.) We observe that one of the first cases, to engage the attention of the International Court at Bangkok is one to determine who were the partners in a Chinese firm, now bankrupt. In the judgment declared rendered by the Court it is stated that in the last year or two a great change has come over the business methods of many of the Chinese firms in Bangkok. "It is a matter of great difficulty," says the Court, “to find out who the responsible partners in the firm really are men of straw are put in as managers and found to be possessed of no means when judgment is obtained against them--and as soon as the premises are at- tached, people against whom there is no judgment come forward and lay claim to the property and repudiate all liability for the personal debts of the judgment debtor." Hongkong,
mission, everyone appreciates the great. precise, clear ideal, and to realise it they familiar anghai, and Singapore are
advantage to the cause of progress and reform in China of these grand tours by Princes of the royal blood. How deeply the Prince Regent was impressed by what he saw when he visited Europe a few years ago has been very apparent in the Imperial Edicts since His Highness became the virtual ruler of the Empire. Similarly we may be sure that Prince HSUN's outlook upon the world will be widened by his tour, and His Highness will return to China far more sympathetic than he probably ever was before to the new ideals. His Highness will have seen the fruits of "western learn- ing" not merely in dockyards and arsenals, and even though China may still have to wait for an imposing fleet, the knowledge of the wide world and its affairs which the Imperial Prince will have acquired by the time he returns to Peking will, we cannot doubt, lead to increased sym- pathy with the ambitions of his Imperial brother for the advancement of China along Western lines. Those ambitions may be of the vaguest description, but the recog- nition by members of the Imperial family
conquered Denmark, Austria and France, opulent nations, especially the last, whose budget in 1870 was six times as large as that of the Prussians." France, moreover, the Libertas reminds its readers, was at that time the first nation of the world in power, in wealth, in diplomatic and political worldly influence; her fleet was second only to the British, yet she was conquered and subdued by the Prussians, and Germany has risen from poverty to wealth, from small to great with no other patrimony than poverty placed at the service of talent. Our Spanish con- temporary goes on to declare that Japan is pursuing similar ideals with extraordinary sagacity in the selection of means and with relentless tenacity in executing them. She conquered China, humiliated Russia and probably will overcome everyone who crosses her path, opposing the realisation of her ideal." All this is very interesting reading, but the calm observer will perceive that the arguments go far to allay the fears they are meant to excite. For if the conquest of the Philippines forms any part of Japan's ideal, the arguments of the Libertas go to show
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these things. On many occasions the advisability of insisting on the registration of Chinese partnerships has been discussed in this Colony, but practical scheme has been evolved to over- come the difficulties arising from the difference between English and Chinese law without prejudicing the flow of capital from China into the business life of the Colony. These considerations, we imagine, do not greatly affect the questionat Bangkok, and the opinion expressed by the International Court; if it does not lead to legislation, should at least induce the leading Chinese firms of that city to meet the need voluntarily in order to maintain the high reputation for commercial honesty which the Chinese people have heretofore enjoyed abroad.
The Chinese Government, a nativė paper? says, decided that decapitation is a barbarous way of depriving criminals of life; the example of foreign nations is going to be followed hereafter in all cases in which the death sentence has been passed. Rooms for electrocution will be provided for every provincial Judge,
so that this new and humane method may be introduced.
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