Tur case of Ng Ab-dau to which recent attention has been drawn is likely to raise other and more serious issues than that of the illegal arrest of a Chinese subject within Settlement limits. It has aspects which are of the deepest interest to all those who are concerned in the problem of reform in China and it is of the very last importance to Young China, Hero we have the vase against Chinese officialdom in general put ina nutshell, and it is impossible in any discussion of China's future to evade the issues which the present condition of officialdom in the Empire presents. There are, doubtless, many Chinese whose sense of injury at foreign aggression in their country leads them to a passing approval of any act such as this referred to, wherein the Shanghsi Taotai or any of his district officials seem to defy the place. Te the thoughtful among the legal rights held by foreigners in this
reformers in China will, however, stay to think these things through, they cannot fail to realize that any temporary triumph obtained at foreign expense, duet the pursuance ofa hey of pinpricking, considera-rms their cause. Constitaand the abolition of extrality can never be advanced and are certainly hindered by all such shortsighted actions.
It is not needful to dwell at length upon the deliberate breach of treaty obligations which is evidenced in the case under review. That concerns diplomatic: ud the Shanghai foreign authorities and will, doubtless, receive due attention. Behind this, and of very serious import to the programme of reform in China lies the fact of the express disobedience on the pert of officials concerned of the Imperial Edicts relating to certain forms of punishment in yamens, a disobedience in the defence of which no argument is urged. It soams to be taken for granted that, where it happens to suit their immediate purpose the officials of China have a perfect right to ignore the stated law of the land. Now no constitution is worth the paper upon which it is written which does not find its basis in the liberty
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.