A paragraph which we publish today casts a sickly light on the tyranny exercised over: business me Poli fe read that as terests in Shanghai by the Chinese
sequel to the May 80 affair Hankow Road mexebants lost about $310,000 and the merchants in six roads in, Hongkew lost some $400,000, Tal ing such figures as tolerably accurate—and there is no reason why. they should not show a reasonable approximation to the facts of the case—we may cast back our thoughts to the events in the early days in June and then get at the cause for all this loss. In the firs place when any trouble occur Chinese shopkeepers immediately Put the shutters up, but the commercial instinct is 0 strong within them that at the earliest possible moment it is a case of business as usual again, This point need har ly be laboured, for the Chinese are noted as a race who sow and harvest their crops, and buy and sell goods when anybody else in the world would be at a loss. The shops, however, remained closed on this occasion, and days passed without iny outward sign that there was any intention to resume busthess. Municipal proclamations were issued advising one and all to carry on their ordinary avocations, and most eases they were read with avidity. The police and volunteers who distributed them were con stantly asked whether it would be Possible for the shops to re-ope and were given assurance that full measure of protection would be afforded them. These were the days when the defence forces and the Chinese were fraternizing in manner which only comes out such a state of affair Merchants made to avert the recurrence of civil war, which was generally, prophesied, with every appearance of reason, for the beginance from Hupeh and month. Reassur-
Chihli; honeyed words are heard from Kalgan and Mukden; and only yesterday a fresh flock peace emissaries started from Peking for Yangtze province If peace can be maintained, as} we sincerely hope it may, so much truly to the good. But is it peace for the sake of peace, or merely to impress the foreign Powers and prevent collapse of the coming conference? One wishes ardently that Chinese officials and military men would think less of the foreigner and more of China. This is the burden of the masterly article by Mr. Tong Shao-yi which we China win to peace, but by looking to herself and relying, upon her own unaided efforts. And in the long run, China, which is infinitely greater than any group of politicians momentarily posturing in her name, will win, as she has done before. There are many hopeful signs about us, if not where they might most naturally be looked for: the new efforts made in Hunan-and Hupeh to set educa tion on a surer basis; the strong recoil now visible throughout the whole nation against the} insidious doctrines of Moscow; ling that there: was much in the old and tried philosophies which no amount of innovation should be allowed to destroy; in all this is the real awakening of China, and on it one may dwell with pleasure, publish to-day, and its truth|hopefulness and congratulation,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.