The subjoined article will, we think, be read with much interest generally Of the many innovations introduced into China by Foreigners, none can at present appeal more directly to their faculties than the Foreign steamer. A passenger accustomed to rude native boats, when stepping for the first time on board a well appointed steamer, cannot but reflect that here he sees evidence of wealth, power, discipline and skill, foreign to his native land; and further thought must suggest the question, Are these strangers, then, really the rude outer people we have been taught to lock down upon as beyond the pale of the civilizing influence of the Middle Kingdom and Celestial teachings? The same thought must also arise to the native or to Shanghai, when he walks along the Bund and compares the mansions of the Yang-hangs" to his own puny dwellings.
But the steamer, inasmuch as it penetrates throughout the land, has doubtless ben the greatest lever towards removing the barrier of self-superiority assumed—an ignorant prejudice which, although it may still find vent in words, no longer, we think, really exists in mind.
Next to steamers, perhaps no movement can have been more striking than the vehicle inaugurated for the expression of public opinion by newspapers. It is now over six years since the Shenpao was started in Shanghai. At first, many officials, from the fact of its articles presuming to discuss questions of administration, affected to despise the organ and refused to subscribe, Gradually, they found their acts argued by men, their equals in culture and intelligence, and in such a way as rendered it at least advisable to read. Next, they thought it would at times be desirable to guide, by attempting to dictate what should be inserted and what suppressed. Lastly, they found that a newspaper, however advantageous to the people, was not only inconvenient to themselves by undermining that almost despotic power pertaining to provincial and departmental rule, but actually dangerous in exposing malfeasances, which otherwise would not have come to light. Then followed the determination that the Shenpao should not be suffered to exist, The officials of Shanghai, at the outset, deemed it a matter that could be disposed of locally, and directed their attack against the native employes, Finding that there were questions of Foreign interest not to be treated so summarily, they then resolved to run the paper down by an opposition journal. The result is known to our readers, In the meanwhile, more than one High Provincial Oficial memorialised the Throne to have the Shen pao stopped. The answer from Peking to all these did not transpire, but one to the Governor of Chekiang is said to be on record to the effect that the Shenpao was a foreign undertaking and could not be closed without reason; moreover, that the perusal of the Shenpao gave satis faction in Poking.
Here have we proof that the Imperial Government of China has awakened to the fact that there is a means introduced by foreigners, by which an insight into the internal affairs of the nation may be gained otherwise than through the ex parte, and, but too often, suppression veri, statements of its own officials. And, that it does not pass over all accounts in the newspapers unnoticed, may be instanced by the froquent appearance of memorials from Censors in the Peking Gacette, suggesting reforms which had previously been advocated in the columns of the' Shenpao, The most recent proof, however, of the growing power of the Press in China, is contained in the Peking Gazetic of the 4th of the 11th moon of last year. It is in a memorial from Mei, the Governor of Chekiang, in reply to an edict addressed to the Privy Couneil:—"A certain person memorialises that the troops (around Hangchow) have been committing disturbances, and that acts of robbery are continually arising. Let instructions be given to investigate the circumstances. Respect this."—The edict was
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.