THE  CURRENCY

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ini  body  of  Chinese  bankers,  organised  as  such  when  Europe
did  not  yet  know  the  science,  will  accept  the  change  only  if
they  are  shown  the  possibility  of  greater  profits  than  under
existing  conditions.  The  compradors  and  shroffs  may  be
trusted  to  do  their  best  to  resist  any  attempt  to  curtail  their
privileges  and  profits.  Even  the  native  merchants  and
tradesmen,  who  will  benefit  enormously  by  simplification  of
the  currency,  will  also  oppose  a  change  from  the  present
system,  in  which  each  man  counts  confidently  on  getting
the  better  in  the  encounter  of  wits.  Ordinarily  the  proletariat ­
  remains  neutral  in  such  a  question  ;  but  in  China  the
merest  coolie,  earning  sixpence  by  a  long  day  of  hard  work,
will  spend  an  hour  of  his  time  to  gain  on  exchange  the
equivalent  of  ten  minutes’  work.