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Kucheng, in the neighbouring province of Fubklen, on Thursday, the rst instant, harrowing details of which have been duly published In these columas. The Theatre was crowded In every part by ladies and gentlemen of all nationalities, except Chinese,
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The proceedings commenced with a few words from Dr. Cantlle, who moved that the Hon, the Chief Justice, Sir Fielding Clarke, take the Chair. The Hon. E. R. Belillos, C.M.G., seconded the motion and amidst loud applause Slr Fielding Clarke took his seat at the centre of the table on the stage. The Right Rev. Bishop Burdon was seated on the left and Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., on the right side of the Chairman. The other speakers, Mr. T. Jackson, Mr. G. B. Dodwell, and the Hon. A. McConnachle, were also seated in the front part of the stage, while at the back were Mr. A. G. Wise, Captała W. C. H. Hastings, the Hon. C. P. Chater, the Hon. E. R. Belillos, C.M.G., the Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Messrs. E. N. Mehta, H. N. Mody, M. D. Ezekiel, G. Sharp, Dr. J. C. Thom- son, and Drs. Cantlie, Hartigan and Stedman and other prominent residents. Among those seated in the stalls and pit were Captain Stirling, A.D.C., Mr. G. C. C. Master, Captain A. Tillet, Captain A. W. Miller, R.N., Mr. A. G. Romano (Consul General for Portugal) Mr. J. Kramer, Mr. G. G. Brady, and a very large number of well known residents, while in the dress circle were a large number of ladies.
Sir Fielding Clarke, who was received with cheers, sald: Ladies and gentlemen, I feel greatly honoured at having been called to the chair upon this melancholy occasion; and I very willingly do so. When there outrages had been made known, I know perfectly well it stirred the deepest and strongest emotion in the hearts of you all, and it is obviously_right_and proper that the public views of Hongkong should be expressed in a public manner in a way it can be in a meeting of this sort (Applause). The programme I have to submit to you is one of a very limited character-it Is to express by your attendance here the sentiments which we all of us feel about this dreadful disaster, and in the forefront of the notice you will have observed the first thing that can occur to us is to express to the relatives and friends of those poor, innocent and helpless victims our heartfelt sympathy; sorrow for those who suffered, sympathy for those who are at the
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the direst distress. Following and accompanying the softer sense of sorrow it is now proposed that this meeting should express * deep and stern Indignation (loud applause) át the treatment of our fellow subjects in a country which is on, politically speaking, friendly terms with Great Britain, Ladies and gentlemen, la attending this meeting here to-day you are join- ing in a universal shout which is going forth from the Democracy in England—a shout of indigna- tion (Applause). I have stated what the occasion and object of this meeting is. It is not now proposed to enter into a formal discussion, and
the way the meeting has been summoned would hardly admit of that. Therefore, without detaining you longer, and without mentioning the manner in which these cold-blooded murders. too painful to enter into-bave been committed, I will content myself by calling on Mr. Jackson who will propose the first resolution (load applause)
Mr. Jackson-Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you will agree with me that in the whole course of the history of our colony its inhabit. ants have never been called together on such a sad and melancholy occasion as the present. I remember at the time of the Tientsin massacre this colony was stirred to the very depths of sympathy for those poor people who suffered, and a similar feeling now prevails throughout the whole community; one universal outburst of deep sorrow for those ladies and poor little children and the one man, the Rev. Stewart, who was wounded and killed. It seems difficult to conceive how these wretches who made the attack could have withheld their sympathy from the appeals for mercy as they hacked and cut up those poor women and children. It is very difficult indeed to speak in measured terms of such things as this, and we can only hope for brighter and better days; though at present nothing of the sort appears probable. China is drifting closer and closer to revolution—a rebel- Hon against the Government-and my own opinion is that this is not an anti-missionary movement, not altogether an anti-foreign move. ment, but a movement against the Government of the country, and that it is intended to embroll the Chinese Government in trouble with foreign nations. But it is a low and despicable means of attaining their ends, it is true, and one which I hope China will be strong enough and willing enough to put down. In connection with these troubles, we bare always to deplore the unwillingness or inability of the mandarins to keep good order and prevent bloodshed. (applause) I hope Lord Sallsbury, one of the most energetic and able men we have ever had in the Government~(renewed applause) —will take such steps as to render a repeti. tion of these things Improbable if not impor sible. (loud applause.) It seems difficult to know what can be done. In the midst of our indignation and sorrow and sympathy we must condescend to think of hard facts. The Govern- ment of China is in a difficult position; the strongest Governments of Europe have found It impossible to put down secret societier, and na doubi China must find the greatest difficulty la coping with this movement. I hope the foreige Powers, one and all, will fend such pressure and even help as may be required to put down these societies. As the Chairman has said, feelingly and earnestly, everything that could be said in expressing sorrow for those who were killed and sympathy for the wounded, I need not add anything to his words, I will therefors simply conclude by moving the first resolution
That this meeting desires to express it sorrow at the crust murder of so many British
subjects, and to pass a vote of sympathy and condolence with the relatives and friends of the decessed. Some of you may have seen the latest Reuter's telegram received, but for the benefit of others I will read it." Archdeacon Wolfe states that the soldiers sent by the Viceroy of Fahkien to protect the missionary property in Kucheng instead of protecting have looted the house of the late Rev. Stewart and plundered everything of value. He also states that the Vegetarians number some 12,000 men in Kucheng and the adjoining districts; that they are well organised and armed, and quite able to withstand any Chinese troops that the Government can send against them. It is well known that about 400 heads of the Society are holding constant meetings in a village about seven miles from Kucheng."
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Mr. G. B. Dodwell was the next speaker. He al-Mr. Chairman, ladies, and gentlemen, I have been asked to second the resolation proposed by Mr. Jackson, and in doing so I desire to express my heartfelt sympathy in the pre- sent movement, for it is too much to endure that such a brutal massacre can be possible so usar us and in a country supposed to be civilised. At times like this one's feelings get the better of one; they are almost uncontrollable and modera- tion of speech is almost impossible; but I do nevertheless advocate moderation if we are to convince our Government that the time has arrived for strong steps to be taken. Most of you will have seen the reports which have appeared in the public papers about these brutal massacres, and Mr. Jackson has just read to you Reuter's telegram from Foochow which shows that the attack upon the missionaries was an organised affair, that the disturbers are very numerous and well armed, that the Chinese Government is utterly incapable of coping with the disturbance; and in addition to what Mr. Jackson has read we have an "Express circulated this morning that there are further riots 11 Fatshan and that more missionary stations have been attacked and property destroyed. I hope the meeting will unanimously approve of the resolution, and that a* ■ consequence of this present meeting a telegram will be sent to the home Government asking them to take prompt and decisive measures. (Loud applause). I do not wish to dwell on what should be done. That is a matter that should be left to older and wher heads than mlae, but I hope the Home Government will now realise that the Chinese officials are powerless to act, and I am sorry to add I feel they are disinclined to act. (Loud applause). I have now to second the resolution proposed by Mr. Jackson. (Applause),
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The Chairman-Ladies and gentlemen, the resolution which you have heard read has been proposed and has been seconded. It is altogether unnecessary that I should put it to you as a question of adoption by this meeting. I assume, naturally and necessarily, that by your presence here you adopt in the fullest and most enthusiastic way the resolution as proposed. (Land applause). Therefore, ladies and gentle-
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men, I have the honour to declare that it is un- animously passed at this meeting, and if I may do so I will take the opportunity of respectfully and sympathetically tendering it, on behalf of this meeting, to his lordship Bishop Burdan, for conveyance to those to whom it directly refers. (Renewed applause.}
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The Right Reverend Bishop Burdon, who was loudly applauded on rising, said.-It is very difficult to feel.or speak calmly on such a subject as we have before us to-day. Many of the murdered were personal friends of my own. The brutal massacre at Kucheng Is only to be paralleled with that of Tientsin in 1870. It is even worse to one way. The murderers of 1870 professed to have as their motive the avenging of the supposed slaughter of babies whose eyes were said to be taken out and stored in jars in the cellars of the mission premises. In the Kucheng
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pretence of a pretext. It arose from the intense hatred of the foreigner. The blow fell like a bolt from the blue. I cannot say it was a clear sky It fell from. For months before there had been mutterings of threats, and more than matterings, but they seemed to be directed against the native Christians. The trouble was just at its com- mencement when I last visited the region in September or October last year. A Society known by the name of "Vegetarian,” practically one of the many secret Societies of China, sud. denly showed their enmity against some of the native Christians by sending out parties to reap their fields, carrying off the produce. The Chris- tians appealed to Mr. Stewart, and he appealed the chief magistrate of Kucheng who made a pretence of interference by sending a couple of yamen runners to stop the robbing of the fields. The robbers laughed at them and bade them to mind their own business. Mr. Stewart appealed again, but the Magistrate's reply was that he had no troops and was there- fore powerless. What other steps the Vegetarians took to annoy and frighten the native Christians during all these intervening months I do not know. The enmity was at work, however, in secret all that time, and Mr. Stewart stuck to
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native the purpose of standing by the christians and doing his utmost to protect them. He must have" appealed in the course of these months to the British consul at Foochow who would, in that case, address the Viceroy, but I do not know this as a positive fact. From the fact that Mr. Stewart kept his whole family in Kucheng until the very last, I cannot suppose that he considered the foreigners to be In actual danger. The fearful blow came sul- denly and without warning this day a week ago. The telegrams have told us that there had I can per- been no provocation whatever.
of the sonally testify from what I the working of the mission in my journey through the district last autumn, that this is the absolute truth. [At this point the venerable Bishop was too deeply moved to proceed and paused for a while.] The sisters were on the best of torman