The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-08-17
CHINA SURELY
IS AWAKENING
lis Press Being Cultivated ana
Fast Becoming a
Power.

father Of II. A. Heen. the young Ha-
zvaifan-bred attorney now practising in |
shanghai. exclaimed as he handed the
Advertiser a clipping from the North
China Daily News of July 2.
II have just received il from my
SON. the father said, and it IS very
good news. I hope you viii print 1t IN
tomorrow Advertiser"
The article is an editorial in the
paper above named, under the head a
Free Press for China" It reads as
follows:
Less than four years have elapsed
since the sedition trial popularly
known as the Supao Case was hearo
in the Mixed Court at Shanghai. me
case at the time aroused considerable
interest. not only in China but IN
every civilized land as wen, and was
the occasion Of the Prime Minister
making a. statement in the House OF
Commons. The nature Of the onehss
for which the seven chinese were ar
rested and put on trial may De gam
cred from the Geographic dispatch, al
leoA5 10 have been received Dy the
| shanghai Taotai from the Nanklng
yic.rov. which read as follows:
/ Among the newspapers IN Shangflal
+he Supao IS the most insolent anu
| fearless. 1t is to be stopped and pun
;sbea j" Prior to this case there hao
been but few indications that the chi
/ nase authorities were very much con-
| ..~,.4 with what was published from
/ time to time in the newspapers, winch
were then beginning TO exert an ln1lo-
arca over the minds Of the people
since that time. however, the NUMBER
| of newspapers in the Chinese language
has Increased at a phenomenal rate
SoDa If them have attained TO re-
| s,actable circulation and exhibit con-
/ siderable skin and ability IN the way
4bav are conducted, whilst others, on
the contrary. managed by unquahneo
I and irresponsible persons, are IiaoIe @
Al more harm than good by preJuolclhg
+,,a minds Of officials and others against
journalistic enterprise. At case trlec
a. the MIXED Court recently. the court
in ordering the confscation Of one OF
+basa ,,e+tv newspapers. remarked that
Il vas Of opinion that there were toe
Z m y II
s,a1vhai The leading article publish
ed on May II in the Shun Pao. unde
the heading Of The Consequences =
The Tramways after Operation tWhicl
led to a Chinese being charged recentl!
in the Mixed Court with the pubicatlol
of a seditious hbeD, the main ooJec
.tof which seemed to be TO create dis
content and disaffection amongst IN
CHINESE residents of shanghai, and I
promote feelings of hostility and III
T-YlT between different classes OF PEG
ME in the foreign settlement, is q
. illustration Of the harm that may Q
. so,a nv those who are unified TO ez
arcise properly the power conferred
the freedom of the press
The freedom of speech and the pres
3 has ever been regarded in Wester
1 Lands as one of the principal bulwark
AGAINST tyranny and oppression
The Tinted states a law incorporate
:, The Constitution guarantees this
the naonIe. whilst in Great Brltal
lord marlborough. one of England
most eminent jur1sts, and Sir Wllilai
blackstone. the great law writer, nav
! shown by their writings how large
I measure of freedom is enjoyed by Il
lneorle in this connection. 1t must a.
he forgotten, however, that the Angl'
saxon race has, by a long process
education. been fitted to be entrusle
with this great privilege whicn q
I v-;a,,elv carries with II corresponding
Great responsibilities To grant sucn
E. privilege with all that it implies ar
moments notice, as il were, 70 Peep
-, 4,ax,a never gone through the j
aisnensable preliminary stages, Won
mot be likely TO produce very hapi
- results. The late Governor OF ANN
! who had the reputation OF being We
o. auti-foreigr in ali his ways, appareh
re Il had some linking OF TINS IU
e. -ba, he repudiated the asperslon al
r,ain+ained that he was ali for pro
rses hut a gradual progress sueh
.ba intellect and character Of the Pc
ME demanded The Systematic 60
eating OF the people in order that In
- nav be capable Of using wisely
-,o1-ar 70 be entrusted TO them is wh
Is needed at the present June1ure- I
~ chinese Government is beginna
e - understand this IS evidenced Dy |
3 aeForts that are now being MADE gra
uaIiv 10 prepare the people ioF
vran+fng Of a Constitution ana r
lament in the near future The ina
: 4o~enra 81 characteristic OF the ~
y. 49, they have always exhiolted
4Lair NATIONAL affairs-conhning N
tattention 70 their own local anu -
,s~,+sras+s-is being overcome IN sol
r,ea SIRE By the increased e11csl-i o'
facilities afforded them In TINS =