Never did China need firm guidance as she does now. These words. and their: meaning is simple enough, and one worlders. why is that foreigners who are charged with the serious mission of representing their various governments' affairs in this country cannot grasp the simple meaning. Was foreign influence in China ever at such a low ebb? Was there ever a time when we needed a strong outstanding character in the Legations who would come boldly out and dare to do something? And where is the policy of caisse: faire I ing us? It is surely making us the laughing stock of the Chinese people everywhere, and the present time will prove that when affairs like that at Lincheng, the murder of a merchant or missionary here and there are allowed to "slide," and uncensured and undefended sults to foreigners take place in various parts of the country, we foreigners are doing China much more harm than good in not taking a firm stand. China always appreciates strength. Foreign influence has always been the result of force. The Chinese ca not be awakened by other meat All virtue subconsciously passes with the average Chinese as weakness, Tam an Englishman, and 1 deplore the way in which Britain has allowed her influence, which at one time was sparklingly Paramount not only in China but throughout Asia, to wane among a people whose unquestioned respect we enjoyed for many generations. If some of the old Chinese who did business with us in the days of the East India Company were to come back, they would stand either horrified at the way in which a miserable Chinese Government carries on or would exult in the way in which their successors can to-day treat foreign merchants and their Governments and "get away with it."
By being weak we are not helping the Chinese. Freedom was never won by the weak. We foreigners are guilty of malevolence towards China when we show any sign of weakness, and it does not always pay to let them know when we are kind:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.