The Truce in the East and Its Aftermath; Being the Sequel to 'The Re-Shaping of the Far East, ' (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 Excerpt: ...invited by this railway stalemate is the ill success which Chinese efforts, intrinsically beneficial to the whole Empire, will meet with, unless there is a little more common sense and a little less perfervid speech-making. That every one is terribly in earnest it is best to admit for the sake of argument; but that there are some kinds of earnestness which partake rather of the nature of a camp revival meeting than of a gathering of hardheaded business men, is at the present moment equally patent, when one reads the speeches and resolutions of patriotic provincials in mass meeting assembled. Indeed, such meetings are almost like the old kind of missionary meeting, when fervour and sentiment took the place of figures and facts. Speech-making is useful in its own way, but hard work is much more to the point. What is wanted, and what will probably be conspicuously wanting for many a long day to come unless there is outside help, is a working scheme which will allow enthusiasm to be crystallised into dollars, and then to develop naturally into something as permanent and as tangible as railways. In all the meetings of the gentry which have taken place in so many of the provinces of China, the only place where money has been actually subscribed, and a small first call paid up, is at Canton. Opinion is still divided as to whether the 1,000,000 sterling subscribed at Canton will ever be actually available or not; but supposing that it is, it will require at least another million sterling to complete the railway to the northern boundary-line of Kuangtung province. Where is the money coming from? How is it to be raised? Who will be bold enough to exercise effective supervision? These are some of the questions which immediately press for reply. The answers are ...