To the Editor of the Srm,—One cannot but regret the appearance of such letters as the one signed ult, surely the wiser plan to make "Kin-ming," in your paper of the 26th
the best of t recently concluded instead of di-imaginary or to make the Chinese think the very worst of it.
Kin-ming" is, I suppose, not a Chinaman; although from the way in which ho appears to have disposed of his b on Nov. 2, one would gladly give benefit of the doubt, and assume that he is a "native."
Yet native or foreigner, how extremely vague, not to say, prolix and involved, is his Letter. What does it consist of, after all? A somewhat garbled version of the treaty of peace, and many guesses as to what might have happened had thes two pires gone to war. Now these surmises and prophetical guesses are of little valu All we can aay is, that in "Kin-ming's" opinion, so and so would have resulted but possibly " Kin-ming" is mistaken, and 40 and so would not have happened. Is it worth while, on such slender grounds, to foster discontent in Chinese minds? May T be permitted to present to your readers another view of the treaty; and another fancy picture of the future.
I have conversed with the subject, and their tone of exultation than of humiliation. Dit not Japan demand five million Taels indemnity; and now she is fain to accept a sorry tenth of that sum?
Did not Japan desire a slice at least, if not the whole eastern seaboard of Formosa; and now she is hastily to clear out with the definite and formal acknowledgment of Chins's authority over the whole Island?"
Japan has doubtless come off well from of words; but. the " humil tion in the eyes of the civilized world" is not all borne by China. The treaty, as it appears to me, and as it appears to many Chinese, is singularly equitable; and no one will blame the Chinese if the word "indemnity" is changed by them into consolation Taels"; whilst the Japanese meanwhile are gratified by the cash.
As to the future, has "Kin-ming" forgotten that if (as he so confidently assures us would have been the case), the Chinese had been worsted at first by the Japanese, internal revolution would surely have broken out? The rebels, probably, (perhaps the old Chang-moon), would have joined the Japanese, giving to the latter Formosa at least as' the price of alliance and "Kin-ming's" 2,000 or 3,000 of dead Chinamen, would surely have swollen into two or three millions.
"Kin-ming," with his prophetic eye in a fine frenzy rolling, saw railways and telegraphs everywhere established as the peaceful fruit of war.
To my dim eyes, the picture of bloodshed and fire and devastation, inland and along the coast, from Japanese raids and Chinese rebels,' rose up, and made me thank God that it waa peace, and not war.
"Kin-ming" is very angry with Mr. Wade for being a peacemaker. Perhaps in this, his crowning misdeed in "Kin-ming's" eyes, he has done more direct and positive good to British interests, than during his long diplomatic career, This, at any rate, I know to be a fact many Chinese are far more grateful to Mr, Wade than is '¢ Kin-ming."
Lromain, Sir, Faithfally yours, Amusements,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.