A REMARKABLE JOURNAL.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 145, 17 July 1880, Page 2

A REMARKABLE JOURNAL.

The official organ of the Chinese Government known as the Pokin Gazette, is certainly a most remarkable journal. Not only is it the oldest newspaper in existence, but it is the first journal ever published, and, what is more, it is the first that was ever printed ; for it is pretty well setded that the spread of news by written document* was attempted in Europe at certain periods long before the days of tho printing press. The contributors to the Gazette are now, and have been for many centuries, the ablest men in the country noted for the attention paid to education. Ou this account the files of the paper must at some future time prove of immense service to tho historian who desires to write an account not only of the Chinese Empire, but of the Asiatic nations with which in times past, she lias held diplomatic intercourse. Although the paper is published under the immediate supervision of the Government, this muoh must be said of it—that its columns have been open to those holding divergent opinions, and from this point of viow it has carried out the modem idea of a review more thoroughly than tho modern conception of a newspaper. An instance of' this impartiality can be found in the recent publication by it of the lotter written by Wu-ko-tii, one of the board of civil office, just beforo bis suicide,, reflecting severely on tho usurpations actions of the Empress Regent. The intent of this dooument was to force them to abdicate,' and the argumenti against- their further oontinuauce in power were very strongly given. A civilised despot would have deemed it advisable to suppress this seditious communication; but the Chinese rulers have perbape shown their good souse, aa they certainly have their consciousness of strength, by giving it the publicity its authors desired.