Aug. 29.
Ir would be idle to pretend that there are not several opinions as to the wisdom of the calling off of the state of emergency. 'For while to outward appearances Shenghai has resumed the normal tenour' of its way, neither strike nor boycott has been led off. The under-current of bittern: exists; every sign of a weakening lof the strike is followed by a renewed burst of energy on the agitators' part to keep it going; land there is even occasional intimidation, On the other hand, the mass of the Chinese are unclout ly sick of discord, Tempér has cooled; they are suffering severely by both stell land boycott; and they realize now that China stands to gain far more by peaceful and reasonable means, than by allowing herself to be led by the nose by, hotheads. This state of mind suggests a hope that some serious effort by responsible parties to come to a settlement regarding May 30 would stand far better chance of success than was the case some weeks lage; and if that affair were only out of the way, a potent lever would have been taken out of the agitators' hands, to whom lat present the average Chinese must submit for face ike. Meanwhile, it is to these Chinese that the Council, in lifting the state of emergency, makes a gesture of friendship, with confidence that they will quietly use whatever influence they possess—and they do possess it—to show that the trust has not been misplaced.
In another direction also the Council's action is likely to have important results, To the Feogfen commanders round Shang-it says more plainly than the Council believes that they can und will keep order outside the Settle: ment, as it, in turn, believes that onder will be kept within, When in time to come we all look back upon this unhappy crisis—then, tru:
long since suitably all realize that debt of gratitude is due to General Shing. It realized that he has been in a dificult and by no means too strong position. Over-vigorous measures towards the atrikeleaders might have had results the reverse of what- anyone would have wished; and while he was criticized for reopening the unions which he had cloged, hho has certainly succeeded by-hit own mathada in repressing the worst forms of intimidation which, about that time, had become #0.conspicuous.
But apart altogether from the strike, the present situation round Shanghai is anomakeus and, it is to be hoped, will agon be regularized. The principle of, a Civil Governor for Shanghai sounded well in theory, especial-when bullets were flying apd {the countryside was di with the marching and counter-[marching of armies. But it is very much open to doubt, whether, under all conditions of China to-day, a Civil Gavernorship, whoever were: appointed to the post, is the best, or even feasible means of administration for the district, The fact that the municipal gaols are bursting with outlaws, and there is no court to which they can be hand-}ed over, is but one aspect of the generally unsatisfactory state of jaftairs. The previous Defence Commissionership led to war, not through any defect in itself, because Chekiang held on ito a portion of Kiangsu's terthey|zitory. Rectify the borders, et have to reckon with—hupger—|Shanghal be subject to Nanking past, for reviving the old post.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.