Urging the Chinese merchant classes to unite and to oust the corrupt officials from the government of the country, Mr. Edward F. Mackay, the taipan of Taikoo (Messrs. Butterfield & Swire), delivered a strong and helpful address to a gathering of the leading Chinese merchants and bankers at the Union Club last Friday.
The occasion was a farewell tiffin given by his Chinese hosts to. Mr. Mackay, who is leaving Shanghai to-day by the Empress of Russia on six months' furlough. Mr. Chu Pao-san presided, and, speaking on behalf of the hosts, Mr. Chang Nich-yun paid a high tribute of esteem to Mr. Mackay, in whom the Chinese business men reposed great confidence, and whom they regarded as a friend and wise counsellor, Mr. Mackay, replying to the toast recalled that in his speech as Chairman of the. China Association recently he had mentioned that government in China had reached a state of inefficiency, which called for special measures, and he was not sure that the merchant class in China were realizing sufficiently the seriousness of the situation, and their own share of responsibility in allowing matters to go from bad-to-worse. He wished to state that he believed that the merchant class, strong and sound of judgment as they were, could unite throughout the country by means of their Chambers of Commerce to oust the official class, and io assume office with foreign advisers if necessary until they felt their own feet and could govern efficiently without such help.
He believed, however, that there was no royal road to success. It was hard plodding that succeeded. It was not a single genius that was wanted, it was a national effort, and great progress had only been attained in any nation when that nation had worked together for a common end.
Men in high positions, even in commerce, had duties to perform, which they were.not justified in neglecting. The golden altar had been raised very high in Shanghai amongst foreign as well as Chinese merchants, and amongst foreigners there was another, the Goddess of Sport, to whom much adoration was paid; but, nevertheless, although time might be profitably given to both, he hoped that there would be always amongst foreigners and Chinese many citizens who would give up, some of their time to pub-hie duties.
Among the Foreign and Chinese guests present were: Messrs. H. G. Simms, A. Brooke-Smith, T. H. R. Shaw, G. L. Wilson, T. G. Drakeford, E. F. Goodale, E. 8S. Ben-howe Rowe, Major Hilton Johnson, I. Mackay, Fu Siao-en, Chun Shut-kai, T. D. Zar, Pan Ching-poo,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.