Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-01-16
FROM HONG KONG.
[oorrespondence Of the Ohio st.tssm.n.l


Correspondence Of the Ohio Statesman.l
HoNG KONG, Nov. Is, 1867.
The majority of your readers will prob
ably remember that the Governor of this
Colony. Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell,
has created much excitement among the
European as well as Chinese population,
by granting gambling license in order to
increase the public income. The order is
so worded and in fact practically executed
that the Government does not only protect
such gambling establishments but becomes
a shareholder in their profits. Now we do
not believe that there is nation on earth,
with which the passion for gambling is as
largely developed as in China. The said
Governor has therefore made himself so
much more the object of blame for openly
encouraging that passion under the pretext
of submitting it to the control of the Gov
ernment, with view to the ultimate sup
preston of that one within the limits of
the Colony. We are convinced, however,
that it will be unwilling to resign the large
revenue it proposes now to raise and if it
be resigned, illegal gambling will be harder
to put down than ever. The consequence
of this imprudent act is that the enlighten.
ed and far seeing part of the public, the
the press and even a proportion of the Chi
nese population are down on the Governor
for his conduct. In other cities Of China
too this order gives rise to much discussion,
and the following is an extract of the re-
port of gentleman who has lately been
In Canton. He says: 81 have just return
ed from addressing a large number of Chi
nese in a service where free discussion and
conversation are encouraged as much as
possible. ~ While speaking, Twas interrupts
ed by q respectable Chinese asking If in
my country gambling was licensed and
revenue derived from it. Upon being an
swered in the negative, he inquired again
if did not know what had been done in
Hong Kong and remarked upon the large
sum paid into the treasury from the source
in question. remarked that it was only
recent thing and that it was exceedingly
unpopular, that it was much regretted and
that it was expected and desired, that it
would only be a temporary measure. The
subject was kept under discussion by the
same person who commenced the colloquy,
femarking that the present Gonernor of
Canton had succeeded in bringing about a
great reform in the suppression of the art of
gambling. I replied, yes, and that the
measure met with the unqualified approv-
al of all the better part of Chinese and
foreigners. The man continued in a tone
of evident satisfaction: sThen by your
own admission, are not the Chinese supe-
rior to the foreigners?" was by no means
unwilling to confess before the large COM
pany of interested hearers, that SO far as
the case in hand was concerned the prefer
ence was decidedly to be accorded to the
Chinese. s
The above is only specimen of what is
often heard. Attention is called to it es-
pecially because of the peculiar turn of the
argument as applicable to the discussion in
the papers of the gambling ordinance In
Hong Kong. 1t is a false impression that
the Chinese are either unobservant of or
uninfluenced by the good and bad Of other
people who come to live among them,
and there is no manner of doubt
that the recent action of the Hong
Kong Government is greatly to be
deplored; not only the inhabitants
over whom they exercise immediate au-
thority will be affected by it. The influ-
ence of this action will extend to the main
land, and beyond that. caused by victims
who might never have been reduced except
for this quasi support by government. 1t
will, give to the party opposed to progress
an in strument of no mean power and it
will serve to decide many important ques-
tions in discussion as to relative merits of
-pass before this will be effaced from the
memory of the Chinese, to the disadvan-
tage of the foreigners. No officials in
China would dare to receive openly rev.
enues from such like sources. 1t would be
tolerated only under disguise and ia secret.
As a political measure, it is bad policy-a
good name is everything. What touches
ciple and right is to be preferred to every
thing. The arguments urged in favor of
the measure do not commend themselves to
the conscience of the Chinese on the other
hand, any shred of reason which may be
fairly awarded to those who honestly
think the experiment should be tried, will
be seized upon by the Chinese, to drag the
whole matter into greater contempt. 9'os
General Grant Breaks Faith with
the President.
1t is reported that President JOHNSON
was greatly surprised on learning that
STANTON had again got into the Office of
Secretary of War. 1t is alleged that the
President had 'an understanding with
General GRANT, some time ago, renewed
and its details recapitulated from time to
time, and finally repeated on Saturday last,
that he (Gen. GRANT, would either hold on
to the office as Secretdry ud interim until the
rights of Mr.. Stanton should be dJudicated in