The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-11-25
AN nnD DOCUMENT.

the Western Powers ana the Chinese
government appears in the advance
sheets of the Consular reports FOR No
vember 8. II China can be Inundated
she certainly is by this document But
one cannot tell in dealing with orien-
tails what point of view they will take
We know our own point of view, but
we may be perfectly certain that it is
not the Chinese point of view.
The protocol consists of twelve arti-
Giles, with some half dozen subheads.
The first provision was with reference
TO the murder of Baron Won Ketteler.
The expedition of Prince Chun to Berlin
is now matter of history, and anything
but satisfactory expedition it was,
but besides that eXpiatory expedition
the Chinese government has erected
an arch, the whole width of the street
and bearing and inscription in the La
tin. German and Chinese languages, ex-
pressing the regrets of the Emperor Of
China for the murder committed. HUI
man monuments, even the haughtiest,
do not last long. one wonders how
long Won Ketteler's arch will last.
Article IL dealsl with punishment of
individual princes. OF these we know
that some minor ones were executed,
but we equally know that the great
culprits have escaped punishment en-
tirely. 1t is amusing in the light of
facts to read that "Tsai-I Prince Tuan,
and Tsai Ian Duke Fu-kuo, were SEN
fenced to be brought before the Autumn
nal Court of Assize for execution, and
it was agreed that if the Emperor saw
fit to grant them their lives, they
should be eXiled to Turkestan and there
imprisoned for life, without the posi-
bility of Communication of these punish
ments." This lot of rubbish is so
thoroughly oriental and takes one back
TO the tales of Haroun AL Rashid.
Another queer statement in Article II
is "posthumous degradation" upon
certain officials who have gone to the
great beyond, and the rehabilitation
of the memories" of certain other Off
Gals who had been put to death for
having protested against the outrage
Gus breaches of International law"
And this is the twentieth century of
the Christian era. 1t reads like a para
graph from Gibbons Decline and FAN.
1t is not modern it is hardly medieval.
1t is stuff of the far off years which we
are pleased to describe as b. G.
During the Boxer time the Chinese
enjoyed themselves by destroying the
grave yards of the Christians, so eX-
piatory monuments are to be put up 1t
the expense of the Chinese government
in "all foreign or international ceme-
teries." However the cost viii not
come high, since ten thousand taeis
will cover the Picking expense, and five
thousand taels the outside cemeteries
scattered through China. \ tael, by
the way, is distinctly valued, so that
there can be no nonsense over it, Arti-
Gle VI, settles it in the coinage of every
power interested. This is the table,
Haikwan Tatel=marks ........3.O55
=Austro- Hungary
crown ..........O.i4Z
~ gold dollar .'...O'I2
francs ..........3.I0O
} --pOuiu 9lti llll6 ''O'oS W
yen ..,.......... 1.4O1
Netherlands flo
rim .............1.796
gold rOuble a.
=. ,424 dolias fine) ..1.412
It is interesting to note that the Rus
sian coin has to be distinctly defined, |
as to value, all other Western Powers |
have a true and honorable standard |
but Russia has a trick of debasing her |
coinage, and the fact that she does is
made manifest in the above table. odd |
things creep out when one least ex-
poets them.
The most important article is the
fifth. This refers to the prohibition of
the importation of arms and ammuni-
ton. This is an article which is GER
tain to be violated. Not only are arms
and ammunition forbidden, but the inn
portation of materials exclusively |
used for the manufacture of arms and
is also forbidden. How
are the powers going to stop such inn
portation. Their own subjects are go
ing to violate this article. The very
fact that the importation of arms is
prohibited in China is going to create
a fine trade in the prohibited articles,
But governments and diplomats are
curious creatures. They see theoret-
cally, and half the time they have little
knowledge of the practical bearing
The protocol has laid the lines for
fine contraband trade in China, and not
one which will affect individuals like
the old contraband trade between Eng
land and France but one which will in
vOlve the Imperial government. More
over, it is all very well making law
or a regulation, but what is the worth !
of them unless there be a penalty. VINO |
is going to enforce the penalty for Vio-
Iation of this clause? Are the Western |
Powers prepared to make another cam
paign to Picking? 1t is very doubtful
indeed. one thing may be regarded as
certain and that is that the United |