Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-23
CHINA Anp JAPAn.

CHINA AED JAPAN
By the arrival ef the steamship Arabic
at San Francisco Saturday we have Hong
kong dates of September 2Sth and Yoke.
hama dates Of October Sth.
CHINA.
One Of the frequent droll squabbles be-
tween Macao-which claims to be an old
Portuguese colony, though China has never
admitted the claim-and the Chinese au-
thorities of Canton, is now in progress. A
Canton revenue cutter seized junk sailing
from Macao, and killed one of the crew,
who resisted. The Governor of Macao
sent in remonstrance. Troops from Can
ton to the number of 400 marched down to
the boundary line of Macao and encamped
in ten tents. The Governor demanded that
the place be cleared in eight hours. The
Chinese then took down Sly tents but with
drew no soldiers. Then the Governor rose
in his might and notified his cavalry es-
cort, the national guards, the police and
what not, to prepare for the fray. They
prepared and marched to the boundary
line, where at last accounts the two armies,
abou. equal in strength, stood making faces
at each other. No more will probably be
heard of this affair, but others will con.
tinually recur, until the proper positions
and rights of Portugal and China are defin-
i.ely decided.
Troubles are threatening again betwe en-
the French and natives at Hanoi, Tonauin,
Chinese troops in considerable numbers
appear to have come to the assistance of
the Annamites, and there seems to be no
foreign authority sufficient to preserve
order in the disturbed district.
British Admiral Willes is again on his
way to Picking, having returned from a
second visit to Corea.
JAPAN.
United States Consul. General Van Buren,
returns home this mail on leave of absence.
1t is reported that he goes to make appli-
cation for one of the Judgeships contem.
plated in proposed new bill for reorgan.
izing the American judiciary in Japan and
China. His friends proclaim HMM
strong letters of support eminently fitted
for the new post, and. indeed, the transfer
would be most desirable if it could put an
end to the extraordinary practice of writ.
ing letters to the newspapers on all possible
subjects to which he is now addicted. The
| little settlement of Yokohama ia kept in a
state of unwholesome excitement by com.
municatious either known or reasonably
believed to proceed from the American
Consul General, and many bitter quarrels
have consequently been engendered.
| The temporary withdrawal of the Con.
sul.General brings once more into relief
some of the defects of the American Con.
sular system. In his absence the Vice
Consul. General acts for him. But there is
virtually no such thing as Vics.Consul.
General. The title exists, but, except
when the Consul General goes away, the
official has no definite position, nor does he
draw any salary. 1t is therefore the Gus.
tom to name some clerk or attache Vice.
Consul. General, and take the chances Of
his competency in time of need. The pre-.
sent incumbent, it may be said, has a sort
of double non-existence for he stands on
the payroll as interpreter until he is
pushed forward as Vice. Consul General.
He claims to be only simple clerk, but is
compelled to appear in two other capacities,
for which he has no qualifications. The
Government will not pay for useful and
necessary clerks, but will pay for inter.
prefers who know no language but their
own, and will create temporary Vice. Con
suls General who know no law. OF all the
great powers here represented, the United
States is the most open to ridicule on points
like this. The Ministers and Consuls dc
not even live, altogether, in their houses.
They live, more or less, in their jails, oil
Court-rooms, since their residences are
partly built from appropriations for prisons,
etc. That, however, may not be disgrace.
full cut the exercise of judicial functions
by person entirely incapable, certainly il
disgraceful.
Cholera has returned-in fact it has
never been driven away this year. Officia
returns show that since the LIST Of MAY
over AZ 900 cases have been recorded, o.
which nearly rs. G00-more than one half
ended fatally.
Customs returns show that in recent
months the exports from Japan have ex
ceeded the imports.
1t is reported that the Japanese Govern
ment proposes to station a gunboat in the
otter and seal region next year, to proven,
the wholesale robberies committed there
by vessels Of various nations. Up to july
this summer, it is estimated that 6 OO(
seals and a few hundred otters had beer
killed, and the season was then far from
ended.
The Corean King has issued proclama
ton IN which, as is not infrequent in thu
extreme East, he attributes to his own lacl
OF " virtue" and failure to observe roya
duties, all the troubles that have lately Wis
tied his land. He accuses himself Of EN-
ploying incompetent Ministers, and of ne
glecting the welfare of his kingdom anc
people. He promises full amendment, with
the aid-it is implicit the imperia
authority of China, to which he returns
thanks for quelling recent disorders. TIL,
terms OF this edict would appear utterl,
abject and contemplate to Western read
era. but will not be so regarded in Asia.
There is much doubt as to the where
abouts OF Tai In Kun, father of the Corear
King and instigator of all disturbances
He was inveigled ON board Chinese ship
ot-war and transported, much against hi
will, to China. He refused to meet L
Hung Chang-the active ruling agent in al
Chinese affairs-at Tientsin, and, by uni
versal report, was taken onward to Picking
Presently three high commissioners arrived
IL China from Corea, bringing petition
from the King that the captive be released
and permitted to return home. 1t is no
generally believed that he has been re
leased, although reports to that effect hav,
circulated. The Japanese camp is still
kept up in Seoul, the Corean capital, ane
is said to preserve order on all sides. Til,
Chinese camp, of much larger numbers, il
also stationed in Seoul. Fugitive Coreanl
daily seek protection in the Japanese camp
where discipline is strict, against aggres
sions and outrsges of Chinese soldiers. WIKI
are in q state of misrule. The situation il
difficuls and delicate, but reports from
foreign observers declare that the Jaoanes,
bear themselves with discretion in all cases
The Chinese authorities have promised te
advance the money required for the Corear
indemnity if Corea is unable to raise the
amount-l50, 900 yen down and lOO, OO(
yen annually for four years. japanese
officials are now directing the destruction
of the posts erected by Tai In Kun in ali
highways, bearing inscriptions hostile t.
foreigners.
TIE PACEF.c COAST.
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