Bat be that as it may, there is doubt that railways and communications 0 of the very first importance in raising the character ut " people, aod, io a great measure at least, in developing 1040 rreoarces which are calculated to the people, aod to add to the prosperity. (Cheers) China 1d is now, progressing in her She does not know bow to go about it, In some parts progress alone. Her own enterprise, her own engineers, her own an ambition to reckopiog in Chi ficance that will have to be taken hold of by that vow development, that new system, that new constitution, China is not old except in years, because ber tality is not dimioiehi China a latent streagib, nationality and patriotism, which will bring the Chine-e forward as great and vigorous people. But it is not yet, and it would be wise for them, in forming ® new constitution, to be carefal that they do not set aflame great deal of combustible matter which during the Taiping rebellion we knew the horrors of (Cheers.) 1 think, however, that Chioa may on the whole change. It great country measure, The Government is it has bren and, in a great
divided.' The Government in its persons and in ite whole executive power is absolute, the people euffer—and the people's vice will eventually make itself heard There is " retribution, jast as certain s the san river, that il overtake and sweep away the mists and clear the way for the sunshine that we Jost so surely will Chien be cleansed from the fog that obscures it at present, that keeps its people downtrodden and tieraled, and I believe that the day will come when Chios will be reinvigorated and be able to hold ber own in face of the nations of the world, (Cheers This Anscciation has, I believe, from ite inception never lost sight of the interesta of Chin, and of what shoold be done for the advantage of her people, Now the time bes come when China mast do more for herself, but I do hope the will recognize that she has a daty towards those countries which here led her into the path of progress, and with mich obe has treaties. be observed.
West, are ea: earoaring to make railways themselves:, In one place they have succeeded ins marvellous degree. I believe that between Peking and Kalgen there is now in operation a very good made by Chinese. There are in other parts of Chios leo railways being enterprize, and I believe they will, in a fabian, be made. They will be made with danger to the people who are induced to use them. Of that there can be very tle doubt. I like very mach to have belief in itself, bat the mi that will be made will be ce-tly in many ways; and it would better, if the Chinese coald only see that they should be a little longer patient ander tutelage, and instead of endeavouring to ran before they can walk, strive to crawl reasonably, and then to walk, aod afterwards to ron. (Cheers.) That is the condition in which I think the rai way enterprise is at thie time in Chios, That will pass. Chien has taken one of the snrest_ ways of preparing itself for a covstitotional gover ment with party inter-ate, and with copy of our party system; and that ie to yget into debt to the fall extent that people will advance her money. unless of her engagement: (Hear, hear.) It is right of Chico, as of every pation, to represent that a has come which in which engagements were enter' into, and that therefore should be allotted for some change or amelioration, or some advancement or improvement. 0 there conditions; bat that should be all—resprct for engagements ought to be the first condition of her impro ment, Now, gentlemen, there is that opium question. believe that that question has been greatly misrepresented, bat I do not enter upon that; that is my own private opinion. Ido not believe in what has ben steted about opiam. But be that as it may, Obios hae and ought to conditions to ibod, and it should be only by mutual consent, and not by pratal act of tyranny or power, and by taking advantage of the good fecliag of nation, that snytbing approaching regard of those obligations should take place. (Cheers.) I do not know that with regard to China I need aay mach more, bat there is a neighbouring nation. There is Japan, which ths Association is also connected with,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.