June 16.
The Return of Viceroy Tsen and yet there are indications that some hidden idea, some superstition perhaps, working. Time will show The Dragon Festival has passed off very show of boats has been interesting spectacular effect would be bette wore in some sort of uniform, but draw nsat the hows bad very striking viswges and long beards, They file past Shameen in succession for hours, and would perhaps be nous the worse for lighter *tom-toming." Still the beat of and clash of cymbal is necessary All these arguments have been set forth in these columns as recently as on the day when the dens in the native city were closed, and they are clearly potent factors in any final adjustment of the question: We miss, however, io the Municipal Minuies a clear statement of policy, which would have been more in harmony with the Cou position in view of the certainty that the request of the Chinese authorities for the closure of the opium houses will duly be forwarded to it, Considerable misunderstanding would be obviated at Home, if the Council boldly declared its policy in the face of the new situation! caused by the enforcement of the opium prohibition in the native city aod left the next move in the matter to the Chinese authorities, The facts stated in to-day's Minutes are indisputable bub as we are always ready to meet the Chinese half way, when their sincerity is above question, perfectly reasonable in the present they will find the community
instance. In the firat place, as the revenue from the licences paid by opium houses is hypothecated until March 31, 1908, there no need for the Chinese authorities to suggest that the dens should he closed before that date.
The interval will serve to establish their ability to enforce the prohi tion in their own territory. They will realize that they are asking the Settlement to forgo Tls. 75,000 from ite annual revenue, and are forcing it to incur additional expenditure in providing extra police super sion to see that the prohibition when enforced is strictly carried out. Authorities who are now determined "not to be a laughing stock to outside country will not coolly put forward such requests without proposing an) adequate quid pro quo. There are many that might be suggested monetary compensation is out of the question, but the loss of revenue to the Settlement might be made ion of the Municipality's j In the meantime it is incumbeub upon the Diplomatic Body in Peking to see th.t the security of the Huangpu The question of the hour is the return of BLE. Viceroy Tega, and opinions are freely clashing. The mere fact that he routes great opposi quarters need not be tak sive evidence that he is not " suitable Viceroy for the Liang Kuang. At the same time it onnnot be denied that seems to have the defects of his qual rustic, bat his ener well directed, and sppears—if universal report does not traduce bim—to lack whet mey be called a calm outlook on fond of Berserk method of our old friend " forriter in re," but never of "suaviter in mode." Hence he creates unnecessary friction, and he ight be calli namely, to govern more by consent and less' sheer force, But it must not be forgotten that, io those days of transition, above all things a strong hand is needed in the provinces, xs it is curious fact that the Chinese, almost more than sny other race, have s capacity for passing by nearly inatantanoous gradation from frarae of mind to insane anarchy. The problem of ruling modern Chios is bard to solve, and one reads with a geim sense of hinmour the easy criticisms of persons who can scarcely manage their own Chinese servants. If these good peo felt the train for few months of ings from a and be less ready to condemn the average Chinese Governor. Ho has indeed to grapple reality, and may do so in a way that Western nations have happily outgrown, but nothing can be worse than letting the social fabric go to pisces, Reform in admittedly desirable, but order come first, and it is a d theory that by upsetting the government China will be emancipated from all her political troubles. The Grat effect of revolution would be to produce a state of blood and agony too hideous to contemplate, and there is guarantee that the end of it all would be better government. "That will come gradually, especially the Foreigi Powers would honestly Ipit on, but. there is no force with rong enough to change the system into that so vaguely out! the patriotic party.
The Unrest in the South is not yet really serious, but it might Lecome so. The return of Viceroy Tséa ought. to aid it rebels a1 reputation for Gercegood stead whea The only Roxer rising? It is to be hoped not, the first Dragon Boat through Empi we now regard as a fossil. Q shoul the thought make us proud humble!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.