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August 15, 1895.]
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I have much pleasure in seconding.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the
121
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were lost by the audience. Bishop Burdon de- the whole community-one universal outburst should be loft to older and wiser heads than livered an exceptionally fiue address, which con- of deep sorrow for those ladies and poor | mius, but I hope the home Government will tained pathetic references to the departed mis little children and the one man, Mr. Stewart. now realise that the Chinese officials a e power- sionaries, and his vigorous attack on the Chinese wounded and killed. It seems difficult to con- loss to act, and I am sorry to add I feel they (Loud applause). I officials was warmly received. At the end of ceive how these wratches who made the attack are disincliued to act. Mr. Francis's speech, which was very forcible but could have wi hheld their sympathy from the have now to second the resolution proposed by too long, there was an unfortunate misunder-appeals for mercy as they hacked and cut at Mr. Jackson. (Applause).
It is very
The CHAIRMAN-Ladies and gentlemen, standing between him and the Chief Justice. those poor women and chiklren.
resolution which you have heard road His Lordship was not acquainted with the exact difficult indeed to speak in mehsurbl terms of terms of the motion which Mr. Francis proposed, such things as this, and we can only hope for has bon proposel and it has been seconded. and thought it was different from the one he brighter and better days-though at present no- It is altogether unnecessary that I should put had seen This slight interruption was soon thing of the sort appears probable. China is it to you as a question of adoption by this meet- over, but it is a curious fact that the resolution drifting closer and closer to revolution, a rebellioning. I assume naturally and necessarily that by which Mr. Francis read out after the explana- against the Government, and my own opinion is your presence here you adopt in the fullest and tion varied, in words but not in meaning, from that this is not an anti-missionary movement, not most enthusiastic way the resolution as proposed. his original one. The meeting lasted just over|| altogether an anti-foreign movement, but a move- (Loud applause). Therefore, ladies and gentle- an hour, and we give a verbatim report below ment against the Government of the country, men, I have the honour to declare that it is un- Dr. CANTLIS-As convener of this meeting and that it is intended to embroil the Chinese animously passed at this meeting, and if I may along with my colleagues, I have much pleasure Government in trouble with foreigners. But it do so I will take the opportunity of respectfully in asking Sir Fielding Clarke to take the chair. is a low and despicable means of attaining and sympathetically tondering it, on behalf of (Applause).
their ends, it is true, and one which I hope this meeting, to his Lordship Bishop Bardon, China will be strong enough and willing enough for conveyance to those to whom it directly refers. to put down. In connection with these troubles, (Applause).
Bishop BURDON, Who Sir FIELDING CLARKE (who was received we have always to deplore the unwillingness or
was received with with loud applause) said-Ladies and gentle- inability of the mandarius to keep good order applause, said-If it was difficult for Mr Jack- men, I feel greatly honoured at having been and prevent bloodshed. (Applause.) I hope Lord son and Mr. Dodwell to speak calmly of this called to the chair at this meeting upon this Salisbury, one of the most energetic and able horrible outrage, it is infinitely more difficult for melancholy occasion; and I very willingly do so, inen we have ever had in the Government-(ap-me. Many of the victims murdered were my because although I was not in the colony when plause)-will take such steps as to rendor a re- personal friends. The attack came down as a this sad and terrible news reached yo, I know petition of these things improbable if not im thunderbolt upon these people. They were not perfectly well that it aroused the deepest and the possible. (Applause.) It seems difficult to know in the slightest degree prepared for it. When I strongest emotion in the hearts of you all; and what can be done. In the midst of our indigan- arrived in Kucheng last autumn the rumours it is obviously right and própor, although we tion and sorrow and sympathy we must condescend of trouble were just beginning, the mutterings may be unanimous and are unanimous in out to think of hard facts. The Government of China and threatenings were commencing, but they sentiments, that the public voice of Hongkong is in a difficult position; the strongest Govern all seemed to be directed solely against the should be expressed in a public manner in the ments of Europe have found it impossible native Christians. I believe they came from way it can be at a meeting of this sort. (Applause) to put down secret societies, and no doubt China this Society which has been mentioned already, The programme which I have to submit to you is must find the greatest difficulty in coping with called the Society of Vegetarians, one naturally and necessarily one of very limited this movement. I hope the foreign powers one the many secret societies in China. They began character. It is to express by your attendance and all will lend such pressure and oven help as by sending parties of men to reap the fields As of some of the Christians, who were of course here the sentiments which all of us feel about may be required to put down these societies. this dread.ul disaster, and in the forefront of the the Chairman has said, feelingly and earnestly, utterly helpless. They appealed to Mr. Stewart, and Mr. Stewart appealed to the magistrate, who neties which you have received you will see that everything that could be said in expressing sor- naturally the first thing that can occur to us is row for those who were killed and sympathy for perhaps in mockery sent a couple of yameu an expression of sympathy. the deep and heartfelt the wounded, I need not add anything to his runners for the purpose of expostulating with sympathy which I know is felt by you all, for the words. I will therefore simply conclude by mov- the robbers. Whan they came, naturally the poor innocent victims of this horrible treatment,ing the first resolution-"That this meeting robbers laughed at them and told them to go back the poor, innocent, helpless victims and their desires to express its sorrow at the cruel murder and mind their own business. Afterwards Mr. friends, families, and fellow-workers; sorrow of so many British subjects, and to pass a vote Stewart appealed again, but the magistrate said for those who suffered, sympathy for those of sympathy and condolence with the relatives he had no troops, and therefore he was utterly Some of you may powerless. And so things went on; how and who are at the present moment in the direst and friends of the deceased." distress. It may seem that there is small need have seen the latest telegram received, but for what was done from that time to this I cannot for a meeting of this sort, but if it extended no the benefit of others I will read it." Arch- say, but I know that Mr. Stewart felt so further the expression of a community like that deacon Wolfe states that the soldiers sent anxious with reference to his people that he of Hongkong of its sympathy for those ia dis-by the Viceroy of Fokien to protect the with his whole family stayed on in that region tress is of itself valuable and fell justification missionary property in Kucheng instead of for the purpose of protecting them-(applause) -with no idea whatsoever but that the whole of this meeting having taken place; and then, protecting have looted the house of the late Dr. in the next place, following and accompany. Stewart and plundered everything of value. He opposition was directed against these native ing that softer sense of sorrow there is an also states that the Vegetarians number some Christians. I should think, but I am not quite expression of a stronger feeling, that of deep 12,000 men in Kucheng and the adjoining dis- sure, Mr. Stewart must have appealed to the and steru indignation-(applauso)-at the tricts; that they are well organised and armed, British Consul at Foochow, when he found that treatment of our fellow subjects in a country and quite able to withstand any Chinese troops he could not get any redress from the magis- which boasts of its civilisation and which is, that the Goverment can send against them. It trate at Kucheng, and if so, there must have politically speaking, on friendly terms with is well known that about 400 heads of the Society been a despatch sent in to the Viceroy. In any Great Britain. We know that Hongkong is, are holding constant meetings in a village about case the Viceroy must have been perfectly con
scious of what was going on.. With the system in itself, a small community. But in attending sev-v miles from Kucheng." here to-day and expressing the feelings which Mr. G. B. DoDWELL -Mr. Chairman, ladies, which exists in China-constant supervision and bave mentioned, you are joining in a universal and gentlemen, I have been asked to second the constant knowledge of all events-it is utterly shout which has gone forth not only in these resolution proposed by Mr. Jackson, and in impossible that the magistrale at Kucheng and Eastern towns but from the democracy of Eng-doing so I desire to express my heartfelt sympathy the Viceroy at Foochow did not know all the land, a shout of indignation, and if the indigna- in the present movement, for it is too much time what was going on. (Applause.) From the tion of England be aroused that feeling is not to to endure that such a brutal massacre can be fact, however, that Mr. Stewart stayed in Ku ba lightly reckoned with. (Loud and prolonged possible so near us and in a country supposed to cheng, with the whole of his family. I conclude applause). Ladies and gentlemen, I have shortly be civilised. At times like this one's feelings that he had no idea but that the native con- verts alone were threatened and not the Eng- in these few words stated to you what is the object get the better of one; they are almost uncon- and meaning of this meeting. It is not proposed trollable and moderation of speech is almost in-lish women and children. The telegrams have told us that there was no provocation what to enter into a formal discussion of other possible; but I do nevertheless advocate modera- exceedingly interesting and moving subjects tiou if we are to convince our Government that soever; and from my own personal experience I can declare that this was the absolute truth. which must be in all your minds. The nature the time has arrived for strong steps to be taken. of this meeting and the way in which it has Most of you will have seen the reports which have These people-the Zenana Sisters, highly ladies worked been summoned would bardly admit of that, appeared in the public papers bout these brutal educated English Christian and, therefore, without detaining you and without massacres, and Mr. Jackson has just read to you quietly, kindly, and patiently in the country, mentioning the horrible details which are all Reuter's telegram from Foochow which shows and when I went through the district I met -fresh in your minds and which are too amply that the attack upon the missionaries was an or- them by twos and throes here and there, and verified to admit of the slightest doubt, and ganised affair, that the disturbers are very nume found them perfectly friendly with the native which are too painful to admit of discussion at a rous and well armed, and that the Chinese Go- women, and the natives with them; the Chinese
delighted to come
to them and public meeting, I will content myself with vernment is utterly incapable of contending with women
about calling apon Mr. Jackson, in whose name the disturbance; and in addition to what Mr. they gathered the female children
Those happy, peaceful homes will stands the first resolution to be proposed. Jackson has read we have an Express" cir- them. (Applause).
culated this morning that there are further riots long continue in my memory as proofs of Mr. T. JACKSON-Ladies and gentlemen. I at Fatshan and that more missionary stations the devotion and true purity of motive of those. am sure you will agree that in the whole course have been attacked and property destroyed. I women, and that they were creating the very of the history of oar colony its inhabitants hve hope the meeting will unanimously approve best possible impression among the people as to never been called together on such a sad and of the resolution, and that as a consequence the feelings of the English towards the Chinese. melancholy occasion as the present. I remember of this present meetina telegram will be (Applause.) Let me speak on one point-I hope at the time of the Tientsin massacre this sent to the home Government asking them it will not be treading on anybody's toes There
take prompt and decisive colony was stirred to the very depths of to
measures. is no such thing as religions rancour in China,
understand We
the the expression ; sympathy for those poor people who suffered, (Loud applause). I do not wish to dwell on as
That is a matter that Chinese themselves may be said, from our and a similar feeling now prevails throughout' what should be done.