Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-08

s.Islanthe'' i'm Hong Kong.
 CANTON, China, Jan. %, 1884.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 I zee that considerable is being said just nov in American newspapers about Colonel Mosby, our American consul at Hong Kong, and that his business integrity is not only called in question. but openly impugned From circulating among those here and in Hong Kong who, by reason of their official relations, would be expected to have opinions on this subject, confident that these stories are unjust. They doubtless grow out Of certain social traits and eccentricities which Colonel Mosby has the misfortune to possess, and which are not attractive to most American travellers His seems to be one of the sad cases of dsnationalization previously mentioned. If popular report and personal evidence may be believed, they unite in de- claring that he has caught the universal in-
 aation that pervadss the Hong Kong atmos- phere. American tourists who call at the United States Consulate do not have pleas ant time unless they can present some cer- tificate as to wealth and position; and doubtless out of these characteristics, so jn- trinsically obnoxious to a loyal American, have grown the baseless charges as to official irregularity. Of course the charge that he is selling the protection of the United States to opium dens, by extending for the sum of fifty dollars the privilege of carrying on the prescribed business under the American flag, is in the nature of things false since Colo nel Mosby enjoys no immunity from the ju- risdiction of the colonial government. This 1rd cfo Sua sfQrfad Tank the Chinese lecturer, believe, who must be rather careless in his utterances, So far as can learn the head and front. of our consul's offense is simply that by repeated acts of dis courtesy to Americans here, notably the mis- sionaries, he has become popularly offensive Some idea of the general tone of Chinese feeling, together with an insight into the de- fensive policy adopted, may be conveyed by a few extracts from 8 translation of one of the recent proclamations issued jointly by the Imperial High commissioner, Peng Yu Ling previously mentioned, and Chang Shu Sheng, the viceroy of this province. Here are the most interesting portions: '*** The undersigned, having received the imperial mandate to take in hand measures of mari time defence, have already reported to the throne the institution of system of local militia and fshermen's contingent. **At the present time, when danger threatens from the sea, it is the duty of the nine dis tricts of Nam-hoi, Pan Yu, lung Kuan, Shun te, Hsiang Shan, Tseng Cheng, Hsin Hui, Hsin Au and Hsin Ming, to be animated by the same sentiment, ard to fortify them selves by the union of common resolve; to check internal treachery by the working of the system of joint security of tithings; and to resist foreign rapins by means of To- cal defense corps. If peace Is maintained, homesteads may be in security and the pest of piracy aliayed by dividing for patrols and combining for pursuit If war should be begun, by guarding approaches and by chain of defencss, our renoIn N1il be en hanoed. while military expenses are rendered needless. The undersigned have learned that in the districts named offices have al- ready been opened, the tidal lands assessed for contributions, and a large number of guard boats and patrol boats collected; and that drilling goes on upon dry land, so that at 8 given signal thousands of men can be assembled. A general order has now keen issued to the civil and military authorities to collect the managers of the various recruit ing offices, to continue drilling systematically, to use every endeavor toward the selection and enrolment of crews for the patrol ves- sels, and the detachment of the latter to guard strategical points and as to the mill tia to secure the collection of fores ef men of fine physique and good training to defend their native villages, and to be ready to be mobilized should invasion occur. For de- lending the provincial capital, for ho ding strategic points, for obstructing and inter cepting the enemy, for following him up in the rear, for rendering services by successful slaughter of an enemy, for the burning or capture of his vessels of war, or for blowing them up by torpedoes, there will be scale of rewards given without fail. On the other hand, all persons who, as head men of fish ing stations or others, make this the occasion for dishonest extortions from the Tanka peo- pie, or cheating them en pretense of taking flag or license fees, and all persons who SUD- ply provisions or warlike stores to the inva- der, or who disloyatly consent to act secretly as guides, shall be on discovery proceeded against and punished by military law.
 ''Should the enemy actually proceed to open hostilties and give battle to us, it follows that the wrong lies with them for not ob- serving treaties. Then ell soldiers and civil ians should devote themselves exclusively to driving away the enemy. With the remain ing nations with whom we have commercial dealings, amicable relations have continued hitherto, and no disturbance of these by ous breaks is permitted, which will be severely dealt with. It is hereby proclaimed for the guidance of all heads and members oe militia corps that all should vent their antagonism, and show the good disposition with which heaven has giftt them that they should act in full unison with the naval and land forces and that the militia in city and country tory it is written:
 'As the people geo. SO heaven sses.
 As the people hear, 20 heaven hears.'
 s.Never has it been known that strauge tribes coming from distance of thousands of miles should penetrate far into bor- ders when the minds of our people were uni ted, nor defy heaven by their overbearinR aggression.
 From the spirit of loyalty and order comes 8 security ss great as that given by walls of pure metal and meats of boiling liquid.' Extraordinary heroism assuredly shall be rewarded by recommendation and promotion. Such is what the undersigned earnestly hope. A special proclamation not to be disTegarded."
 It will be seen that long sentences are as dextrously tossed about in these heathen pronunciamentos as they are in legal docu ments at home It will also bs noticed that the proclamation is pervaded by loquacious complaisance that is liable to deceive the reader It must not be inferred from this liberal bulletining of plans that the authori ties keep the people fully informed. On the contrary, the proclanations, in the absence of newspapers, are issued in purely nominal difference to the masses. They may or they may not tell the whole truth It Is a wonder to me that any people can suffer themselves to be such ciphers under government. Some day they may accumulate sufficient spirit to rebel en masse-ln the course of 8 few hundred centuries perhaps.
 It cannot be denied that the numerical re- sources of the Chinese army are almost linn itIess, and quite an extensive navy has been gathered together during the last decade, but the weakness of both army and navy in point of discipline cannot be denied, and the care bestowed upon equipments is not calculated to promote their efficiency.
 The steamers Kangaroo, Sherard Osborn and Agnes are DOW engaged in laying the cable frsm Saigon to Hanoi and Haiphong, from which point the line will be continued to Hong Kong-perhaps by way of Macao. This rounds out the circle of cables center ing at Hong Kong, afording communication with almost every important Oriental port. Of course tho new line won't begin to pay 1 for itself for long time to come; but in the present exigencies it is almost necessity. | It is confidently predicted that in time Hanoi | and Haiphong will become important rice | markets, when the traffic will be considers bis. The new line is to be neutral and inde- 1 pendent
 Sunday morning last there was considera- l ble eommotion in the harbor here, incident | upon the departure of 5000 picked Chinese | soldiers for the island of Hainan The ru- ! nor that the French were likely to occupy l th,s island as guaranty for the payment of |