Show I PROGRESS IN CHINA I has commonly been supposed that I the proposal by the Chinese Government to abolish the likln I lux the charges imposed on internal commerce between the provinces was a sign of advancement advance-ment but Archibald n Colrjuhoun I claims In The Independent that it IB l not so that the compensatory duties on Imports and exports would far exceed the amount of the likln that as thin averages no moro than five per cent whereas the Chinese proposition Is to impose n seven per cent tare on imports I and one of twoandahalf to three on imports the burden on commerce would be greater than before But Mr Colqu lioun argues from the English and the free trade standpoint he has no concern con-cern for the Chinese point of view To our mind the Chinese proposal is a very great advance in statesmanship To use a parallel that willbe easily comprehended com-prehended this country suppose two t-wo had been paying a likln or transportation trans-portation tax averaging 5 per cent on commodities as they pass from one State into another and statesmen of our courftry had proposed to nbolioh that sort of tax and to Impose Instead an Import tax on foreign goods amounting amount-Ing to seven per cent l saying nothing of the export tax forbidden by our Constitution Con-stitution would not every one of us say that the proposition was welcome arid statesmanlike But the foreign na lon donot like Chinese foreign trade to be taxed and as they have the upper up-per hand In China and are able to prevent pre-vent the Chinese Government doing what it desIres to do In this matter probably the proposed import and cx porl taxes will not be Imposed though the denial of them will be an arbitrary act and a clear Infringement upon the nne cear natural sovereignty of that empire The I way the European nations are dominating I domi-nating China is a shame to Christian civilization They not only demand the pound of Mesh but deny the means whereby the pound of flesh may be obtained ob-tained Japan alone seems lo be jilayi Ing a Christian part toward China and Japan Is a pagan country As Mr Col quhoun says Among all the powers who are at pre ent deeply Interested In the future of China Chi-na Japan alone selma to bo maintaining her position by legitimate means and working for tho real good of that much harassed empire I was Inevitable that tho Japanese allied In race and near neighbors should play a part In any movement toward reform I China Un til recent times there was great antagonism antago-nism between the two countries and the Chinese despised the Japanese even more than tho barbaric Westerners Sinco the Poking affair this feeling has been remarkably re-markably modified and as a proof we find Chinese students hocking In large numbers to Japanese colleges Chinese workmen sent to study In tho workshops and arsenals ar-senals of Japan educational and other commissions sent from Peking to Toklo Pelcns tho founding of n ChlnoJapariCHo press Japanese steamers and launches on Chinese Chi-nese waterways Japanese foremen In workshops and professors In colleges Jap col anese drill instructors replacing Gorman In tho viceregal armies mid hmllv tho foundation o n powerful bodv tho Fast Asian League to promote good feeling and mutual Interests between Chinese ellJ Japanese This league has apparently es raprd notice In tho Wr t < rn pro but It Is Increasing in numbers and power and has atteauy I diliv paper ociiud In a Japanese and published at Peking oil all I sides we see slgnn of this proJapanese al Utudo of Chinese officials and the cpnernl assumption that Japan Is Chinas model and ally This Is the one sign of genuine reform to bo seen In China And we should not be at l surprised to see that same East Asian League become the most powerful factor In resistance re-sistance to European aggression And In exact line with what Is said above about the closer relations between Japan and China Is the recent dispatch from Toklo anent the establishment of an International ChinoJapan bank In Peking for the purposb of financing Japanese enterprises In China this bank to have a capital of close upon ten million dollars I Is evident that Japan Is to be Iho leader of thcyallow races |