615
(8)
or upon any armed force that the Chinare por | Tess is to rely upon a broken reed, for every <fficial implicated by active aid in this massacre or by connivance-every official, no matter how high, to whom can be brought home the know. ledge of what was going on-must be degraded, and our Government must see that the degrada. tion attaches to him for the remainder of his Hie (loud applause) that that man must not again be promoted or rewarded in the service of the Chirese Government, and that some guarantee must be taken for the proper and effective carrying out of the punishment of the guilty officials and the criminals, What that guarantee shall be must rest with the Govern- ment, but we, with our knowledge and our experience and as members of the great English community throughout the world, bound together by a single tie, we are entitled to express our opinions as to the complete failure of the messures hitherto adopted by the British Government to obtain justice from China and as to the measures that ought to be adopted by that Government in the future, and we are entitled to join our voices with the voice now calling out loudly in England for punishment of and for retribution from the murderers and from their Government. (loud and prolonged cheers). And now, ladies and gentlemen, I beg to move the second resolution as follows -- That this meeting desires to express its anger and indignation at the criminal connivance of the Chinese Government and its officers in not affording adequate protection and not taking proper precautions for the defence of the unfor- tonate sufferers at Kucheng; and this meeting destres-"
At this point Mr. Francis was interrupted by the Chairman, and after a few moments' con. versation between them
Mr. Francis sald-Ladies and gentlemen, it will be for you to decide. The Chairman appeals to me to ask you simply to content yourselves with expressing your indignation without definitely directing that indignation against any one, (cries of "no, no," " Your own resolution," loud applause, and disorder) That, gentlemen--" The Chairman (interrupting the speaker)-I was drawing Mr. Francis's attention to the fact that the terms of his motion that he is making before the house- before this meeting-bad not been previously shown to me or submitted to me. The motion, as shown to me, appeared to be different. I was not saying that I objected to the terms of the motion; it came upon me as rather a surprise.
Mr. Master (seated in the Stalls)—I beg to propose that Mr. Francis's motion, whatever it may be, be read (loud applause). We are here to decide whether or not we will adopt it. (renewed applause)
The Chairman-May I add one word in order to prevent any further stopping of these pro- cecoings. I merely spoke to Mr. Francis because it was a matter of surprise to me, as I had not seen the terms of the motion, I had not the Mr. slightest intention of suggesting that
Francis's moilon, in the terms in which he has drafted ft, should not be submitted to the meeting.
Mr. Francis-I have only to apologise to the Chlef Justice (or having misunderstood what be! Was saying to me. (laughter and applause). I beg to propose this resolution-" That this meeting destres to express its horror and Indig. nation at the crime committed at Kocheng; ty anger and Indignation at the criminal connivance of the Chinese Government and its officers in this and other recent attacks on missionaries and missionary property; and our disgust at the apathy and indifference of our own Government (loud applause) and its failure to recognise the gravity of the situation, and to take adequate measures for the protection of its subjects, and for the punishment of their murderers "(renewed and prolonged applause)
Hon. A. McConachle now stepped forward to seconded the resolution, He said-Mr. Chair- man, ladies and gentlemer, Mr. Francis has so ably and folly expressed our great horror and indignation at the brutal, cold. blooded murder of our inoffensive country. men and countrywomen, that little remains for any one coming after bim to say. I am sure the indignation of all present here to-day, when first they heard of this terrible massacre, rose to boiling point. I know mine did. I do not of course know what steps our Government may take in this dreadful matter, but I hope they will be such as shall prove a lesson to the Chinese in future and make it quite clear to them that the lives of British subjects cannot be atoned for by money. (loud applause) With these few remarke I beg to second the resolution proposed by Mr. Francis.
Mr. G. C. C. Master-May I be permitted to suggest an amendment in the nature of sa addition to the last resolution ? There has been a good deal suld about the outrages and as to the insufficiency of the compensation. I belleve that the compensation hitherto has been con- sidered to be sufficient if dealt out in money. Now, I think that it should be added to this resolution that this meeting is of opinion that money compensation is wholly inadequate. I beg to propose an amendment by way of addition to this resolution in the following words, “and that in the opinion of this meeting money compensation is wholly inadequate rearess for outrages of such a nature and that the position demands swift and stern measures by the British Government." ("hear, hear," and loud and prolonged applause).
At this point the Chairman spoke to Mr. Francis and then said-I understand that Mr. Francis is willing to accept the proposed amend- ment as part of his resolution, and, therefore, in- stead of moving the resolution and then the amendment, the more convenient course will be that the addition be proposed by Mr. Francis as part of his own resolution. (applause). I have now formally to read to you the resolation moved by Mr. Francis and seconded by Mr. Mc Conachie, which although it is, as I ventured to
suggest, new to me in point of form is not in point of substance, (applause)
(0)
The Chairman then read the amended resolu- don in extenso and added~I propose to take the same step with regard to this resolution as I ald with regard to the last, and assume, in the absence of any further address to the meeting, that this resolution is unanimously and enthaal. astically adopted (loud cheers.)
At this juncture Dr. Hartigan stepped forward and said-Before we break up from what I think we may call a very successful meeⱭlng, I have to ask your hearty ihanks for our learned Chair- man, who came here readily, as he has always done to other meetings wherever sympathy or benevolence is required. I thank him not only on account of his nigh position, but far more for the kind and sympathetic way in which he has spoken of this outrage-this series of untrages. Personally, I have strong feelings in the matter, as one of the ladies who was murdered is the friend of one of my old friends in Dablla-a doctor there. I ask you to give a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman. (loud applause).
Mr. Woolley (seated in the Stalls)-May I ask bow or by whom these resolutions are to be forwarded?
The Chairman-I will explain that shortly, Let me first assure you that I thank you very sincerely for your kind reception of me as Chair- man, and that, if I can use the word pleasure upon an occasion of this sort, it has certainly been a pleasure to me to act in the humble way I have done at this meeting. My duties in connection with it have been more or less of a formal nature and even with regard to the form of the resolution I regret to say that I perhaps did not inform myself as fully as I should have done, I am quite sure you will understand it was not from the slightest feeling of discourtesy to Mr. Francis, and must be attributed to care. lessness of my own. 1 thought the resolution was very short in its form, and when I heard a looger resolution than the one I saw on the paper 1 naturally interposed to see what it was. I think you will see I was only acting * was right and proper in my position as Chairman of this meeting. Let us express our satisfaction that this meeting can be fairly described as thoroughly representative. It is the largest meeting which in my experience has been held in Hongkong, and as it was necessary that it had to be held in business hours it is exceed- ingly satisfactory it has attained its present dimensions. Well now, just one word more as to the question asked by a gentlemen a moment ago. I am quite in the hands of the meeting as to what should be done, but I think the best way and the simplest way, it seems to me, would be for me to convey the sympathy for the sufferers in a formal way, as I have done already informally, to his lordship the Bishop. The second resolu- don should be formally drawn sp, and I should be happy to undertake it myself, and to forward It to the Governor for transmission to the Secretary of State. (applause),
Several Voices→By telegram.
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Mr. Woolley-Why not telegraph direct to Lord Salisbury Hear, hear," and loud applause).
The Chairman-That being the sense of the meeting I shall be most happy to convey the wish thus expressed.
A gentleman in the Pit shouted-" To the 'Times'" (a voice, "shut up.")
The Chairman-You will all understand ladler and gentlemen, that it would have, as far as I am concerned, to be transmitted to his Excellency the Governor for transmission to the Secretary of State, and I amume that is what you would wish. It will be intimated to his Excellency that the meeting expresses a strong feeling that the resolution should be transmitted by wire. With these few remarks I have to declare the meeting at an end.
COMMENTS.
Leading article published in the Hongkong Telegraph on the 9th August, 1895:-
THE PUBLIC MEETING. The public are deeply indebted to the Chief Justice, Sir Fielding Clarke, for presiding at the meeting held yesterday, and for his happy management of the business. He seemed to divine at once the wishes of the meeting and to sympathise with them, and it was a happy inspiration that led him to declare the resolutions carried by acclamation instead of putting them to the vote. His express assent to the substance of the second resolution, although he would probably prefer to have modified the language of it, gave the greatest satisfaction and was lot strongest proof of the strength of the feeling that animated and governed the community. There are, we belleve, dissentients in the community who think that a vote of censure of the conduct of the Government should not have been introduced or passed. If it is so, it is to be regretted that they had not the courage of their convicilons and did not speak or even call for a show of bands at the meeting yesterday but allowed the vote of censure to pass by acclamation. It is useless for men to attend public meetings, to take part in the proceedings, to applaud the speakers, to share in the enthusiasm, and when they get outside the doors express their dissent from what has been said and done, and theix disapproval of the whole affair. They should either have stayed away, or behaved like men mud given expression at the messing, and in the the ince of the world, to their real views and opinions. They would certainly have been listened to with every attention, and might,