During the past week it has been emphatically stated in some quarters, and as emphatically contradicted in others, that a Secret Treaty.has been signed between China and Japan, giving the latter Power carte blanche with China's military and naval reform; and partaking generally of the terms of an offensive and defensive alliance.
As above shown, we are in our usually happy position so far as actual verification of this news goes, but we see no reason why it should not be true; and very great reason why we should true, and why it probably is true.
To put the matter very briefly, the reasons which would probably actuated Japan are:—1.—The opportunity afforded to cripple Russia now while she is weak.
2.—The improbability of being able to check Russie once her railway is eompleted.
4.—The fact that Japan never forgets or overlooks an injury, and has not forgotten the Liaotuny incident.
China's reason is probably that she si in Japan the only Power outside Europes rivalries both strong enough and willing 10 act in her defence. Easterns naturally aflilinte themselves wi ud it is due to Russia's semi-Asiatic nationality that she has gained an ascendancy over China, But China while she cringes to her, has tasted her dominion, and the Manchus are already fearing what they have done, and see in Japan a welcome means of escape. So far as European opinion goes, Japan would be more welcome to us than Rus as the dominant Power in the North, because excesses on her part could be controlled, and with guidance her efforts do make for education, progress, and reform, and she is desirous of bettering her commercial relations with the world; whereas Russia is bent upon restricting them by prohibitive conditions. No one European ower can step into the breach of China's ruination without raising international difficulties and complications of a very serious nature: but Japan can do all is required without involving any other Power in her arrangements, though she would probably be encouraged by moral support in more than one direction.
Japan is fully competent to take this work in hand, and now is the time to do it, and if this Treaty proves to be, as stated, already sealed, signed and delivered, we believe we have estimated pretty correctly the reasons responsible for Peking and Tientsin Times.
PaRLiAMeNt DIssonves by effluxion of time, but Time's fight coly adds to the power of disease if means are not taken to erarlicate it.
Indigestion, stomach and liver complaints especially require urgent treatment, and there are we medicines known which act upon these particular ailments with such success as Holloway's Pills. These grand remedies strengthen the stomach, increase the appetite and rouse the sluggish liver. For bowel complaints they are invaluable, as they remove every primary derangement. They may be used at all times and in all climates by persons affected by biliousness or nausea; for flatulency and heartburn they are specifies. Indeed, no ailment of the Pigestive organs can resist their purifying and corrective powers. lith Oct,, 1898.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.