Ware many among us are complaining somewhat bitterly of the apathetic attitude which is alleged to be generally characteristic of our representatives, it will at the same time be admitted that "geal without tact," to quote Corres. pondent, is also very strongly to be depreonted. The phrase Si vis pace, para bellum, is undoubtedly applicable to the position of foreigners at the open ports of China, It is well that we should live in a state of constant defence. Preparations for the protestion of our lives and property should constitute our normal condition, and it is in the piping times of peace that we should see that such preparations are organised and completed. Any sudden movement on the part of our authorities when public matters assume 8 somewhat threatening expect cannot but have ect; doubly injarions, indeed, for it is calculated to create unnecessary alarm in the minds of the foreign community as well as to put the disaffected among the Chinese upon the qui vive. It is considerations of this nature which induce us to call in question the expediency of adding, at the present jauotare, a Veterans' Company to the existing Volanteor Force, In the first place, we believe that the uneasy feeling said to pre among the Chinese has been very much exaggerated.
The market difficulty is it being gradually smoothed over, as we always bel it would be. The 'I'ao-tai has not shown himself unreasonable in his consultations upon the sub. ject with the Senior Consul, and a modus vivendi has been apparently arved'at in the shape of a Resolation 6 text of which en in the Inst published Minutes of the weekly Council Meetings. Any angry feelings which may have been originally aroused among the marketman have certainly had time to cool, and we do not see any reason for feating a further demonstration if only the courage of the Mixed Court Magistente can be screwed up to troating all would-be rioters with proper firmness. It was thought that matters looked less settled on Wednesday, when Chen so far forgot his position as to with a number of maloouud there is no doubt that such Mok of firmness is to be condemned.
At the same time we believe that the isis of the affair is virtually over, and feel sure that the Council wil such further policy as will facilitate the wishes of the Tao-t'ai to place the matter on a permanent and friendly basis. As regards the case of the de. tective, we do not see what grounds exist for ferring a collision with the Chinese. As the matter now stands, the man is actually in custody awaiting and it is difficult to see what possible cause can exist for exasperation on the part of the Chinese against foreigners. It would be different if a man for whose blood the Chinese were thirsting wore under the protection. of the Municipality. Then s raid-upon the' premises where be was confined might be possible enough. Bat the man about whom the dispute has arisen is ia'-the custody of his own authorities; whats ever is done with him hereafter will be done in 9 regaler and official way; and when be is tried, as we suppose he eventually will be, we presume that the regularity of the proceedings, and the presence of both' Chinese and foreign officers will be sufficient to render any popaler outbreak la the highest degree aulikely, Such respectable and intelli-gout Chinese as we have conversed with on this matter the hostile fo inanity at large are very greatly magnified; and they urgently deprecate the sudden and somewhat sensational atop of forming a Veterans' Corps as likely to inflame a pack of rowdies who by no means represent the Chinese community asmuch. The measure is, as we all know, a defensive one; but the lower orders of Chinese will immediately regard it as motly offensive in its nature, and intended us a possible first stop towards attack. The better-informed classes, those who are in constant intercourse with foreigners, are of course cognisant of its true intent; they know porfeatly well that it is no more than @ measure of defence. But the rough cannot be expected to make these distinctions, they will very probably regard as a threat, Nothing can be more deplorably foolish, ill-judged, and rash, than for the representatives of the Volunteer force in Shanghai to pose as "spoiling for a fight;" and this is the not unnatural interpretation put upon the measure we now precate by the most turbalently iaclined of the Chinese. The formation of a new company or of any namber of new companies, is a good thing; let us have all the defence, and show ourselves in all points as strong, as or resources will permit, But our con tention is that the moment for doing this is ill-chosen. Had the Company been formed two or three months ago, it would have attracted no more notice than the formation of a German Company or a any other addition to, or vai our then existing Force; and it would have atterned a respectable amount of efficiency by to-day. Any appearance, however, of hurried preparations hostile nature ata moment when revengeful feelings are supposed. to pre~ a certain section of the to provoke a conater-demonstration on their part than to frighten them.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.