The question of the boycott tiwv-ontorad into a uew.stage.here in Canton. The eathusiasm of the people and the determination of the leaders have made the organisation.a strong ove. It appears now that the American Goverament, fearing the result of this attitude of the Chinese, has instructed the Austican Minister at Peking to attempt to stay the development of the native league actions have been ieeroy, from which it may be gathered that the central Chinese: Government has been led to at: tempt to suppress the present movement, or at least to hold it in check. The Viceroy, therefore, first of all issued a proolas which, with "suavity not usual in these official proclamations, he Pointed out the inadvisability of pushing this boycott to such extreme lengths. He also voluted out to the people, that the American Government was not. originally responsible for the laws which excluded the Chinese, but that they were really imposed by the working classes in America. Phon he emphasises the confession which the President is reported to have made, that the Chinese have real grounds for complaint in regard to the treatment they have received, and: that the whole situation shall be discussed in the Senate in the coming December. The. Viceroy further adds, amidst some laudatory remarks, anent the American Government, that ho fears that the present agitation, if allowed to continue and gather force, will lead to mutual irritation and so prevent the smooth settlement of the dis puted question. But the Viceroy hss not contented himself with these explanations in a proclamation; he has called together the seventy-two hongs, which are at the back of the Chamber of Commerce, and has requested that a meeting be arranged ab-the Kwangtsai hospital. to which he sent the Namhoi and the Punyue-magistrates, in order to confer. with the representatives of these hongs, witha view -to induce them to.give -their. promise that they would discontinue this boycott. At thie meeting they. went over again the ground covered by the Viceroy in his proclamation. It is easy to be discovered that the heart of the officials is not very manifest in all this, and were it nob that they have been forced to take steps from Peking, it is quite unlikely that they would have moved a hair in the contest.
The representatives of the business hongs, and the native Pross, however, have stood firm and will not be shifted from the position which they have taken, and which they boldly say they have the right to take, They point out that the best way to get the obnoxious laws repealed is to fight. If the Boycott League were to dissolve itself now, there would remain no guarantee that the American Government would carry out their vague proses. They point out further that if attempt were made at present to suppress the agitation it is most probable that trouble and riots would follow.
Moreover, wore the league, which is now in good fettle and in fighting trim, to be dissolved, arid were it than found that nothing worthy of the name had been conceded, it would be extremely difficult to reunite and take up the strong position which they have secured to-day. Phoy have, therefore, decided to continue as they have begun, keeping to constitutional methods, and this they claim as their right. They maintain that it is every man's privilege to bay what he wants, where ho wishes, and at what time soever he chooses. In a word, than, there is a firm intention on the part of the business people of the south to continue the boycott andtoapply it more rigorously than before. 'The editor of the" Can. ton Times" waxes joyous and even enthusi-ostic over thie firm action on the part of Chamber of Commerce, for he sees therein the-puas of a new life and the beginnings of a vow' fiitlonal existence which shall more and more fit the people to fight against the encroachments of wut-siders and so lead the people of Ch'na to take a stand ant defend themselves. The editor begins his article which reminds one of the begi of une of the chapters of Isaiah. He says "Be con-Gros people, for ye are bound together catulated, be congratulated, oh ye bus-
with strong bands." It is difficult to seo how the Viceroy, or even the Government at Peking can oust the people from this position. They are able to remain passive as far-as their altitude to the officials goes, and also as far as they interfere with American trade. It may he safely assumed that the best way to remove this em-Dargo on American manufactures is not for the American Government to try to bring any pressure to bear on the business people of China, for this will only excite their opposition, and create in their hearts greater bitterness.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.