Ox many occasions we have had to write in plain terms regarding the aims and conduct of the institution known as the "China Merchant' Steamer Company," and have shown how detrimental to the interests of native trade, and how oppressive to the Empire at large, was the organisation of which it formed a part. Got up with the loud patriotic cry of ing the foreigner, it has been discovered by the native merchants that its real result was to hamper themselves, in order to place in irresponsible hands the entire control of the carrying trade of the Empire, and to draw still tighter the bands whereby a corrupt bureaucracy has contrived to enshackle the life of the State. Of late our columns have contained allusions to an enterprise proposed to be started in Shanghai under the management of nominees of the Viceroy of Chibli for the manufacture of cotton piece goods, the prospectus of which will be found in the N.-0. Heraldof the 21st February. Wehavebeforedrawn attention to the benumbing influence of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.