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China mail
18/10/00
MANIFESTO OF THE WAL CHAU REBELS.
A Patriotic Document. The translation of the manifesto of the Wai-Chau rebels, as given below, will enable
the reader to form a conception of the causes that have been at work to bring
(REG: ON MUUabout the present disturbances and also the
ideas and hopes of these men in raising the standard of rebellion. There are several points in this document which are well worth noting. It will be observed that there is no attempt to disguise Tie Tact that China has been beaten and that she is now practically at the mercy of her foes. Considering that it was not originally in- tended for barbarian' eyes it cannot be said that the references to foreigners are at all strong or even objectionable from the Chinese point of view. It is the mandar- inate rather than foreigners as a whole who are the object of their hatred. Millions of Chinese share with them in this feeling. If it were possible to take a plebiscite in China as to who are really to blame for her decay and distress there can be but little doubt that an overwhelming majority would charge the rulers with the entire respon- sibility. There is a deep and wide-spread feeling among the people that they have been betrayed. On the whole the manifesto is patriotic and remarkably free from that bitterness of sentiment to other countries, which is the ordinary way, a Chinaman takes to shew his love for his own. It is written in good style, which proves that there are scholars in connection with this
movement.
THE MANIFESTO,
Heroes now are coming forth,
And everywhere works of righteousness i
doing
In accordance with instructions this pro-
clamation is issued
To give peace to your villages.
Do not forget that the Middle Kingdom In former times was a mighty country. Browd was the territory and abundant was
its store;
The people swarmed and great was her
power.
How can we endure so great disgrace And falsely bear a glorious name? The great has become small and the small
great,
And foreign powers our lands divide. Avaricious magistrates and corrupt officials, With hearts like unto tigers and wolves, Regard the people as fish and flesh And by oppressive laws entangle men. There are the two classes of mandarins,
military and civil.
One fears death and the other desires bribes. They divide up the country and pay indem.
nities.
Year after year it is the same.
China having united herself with discord is
involved with every country
And soldiers are sent to repress (the law.
lossness).
Tientsin and Taku are already gone and
Peking too is lost.
Heaven has called her (China's) soul away And miseries and calunities are increased. Kwang 5 having no power to protect
(China)
Has fled to a distant place.
Who can endure distress so great. ? Covetous mandarins do not repent, And wickedness becomes more apparent. For every business (mandarine) money is
demanded.
Like madmen they devour the people. Casea of oppression are neglected and the
country is destroyed,
The people endure hardship and tyranow And when will peace return?
The country by barbarians is out up. The misery is long past enduranco. It is that the land way gain the light That heroes everywhere now rise, And all mot send forth the soldiers of
righteousness,
Who with undaunted valour fight. 345
Moreover my people
It is necessary that you do not fear.
A great army will enter your borders Removing all oppression and giving peace to
all good men.
Those who disobey must die. Repentance then will come too late. (The power to) rebuke lies with the olders Those who abey will be blessed. Of the people the literati are the guides- Farmers, workmen, merchants, tradesmen Do your duty as before.
Women and teachers (converts) uced not
fear
Protection and peace your portion will be.. Let this proclamation everywhore he made'
known And men from the four quarters rise All duly armed with rifles and swords, Whenever the soldiers pass,
Let provisions be brought forth for them. Do not be deceived by men,
And cause me to stain my blade in vain. This (document) is to remove the dangers-
of the people
And not to plunder them.
If my soldiers obey not the lar You are at liberty to artest and bring them!
to me.
No matter who they are,
According to their guilt they will he dealt
with.
Mongols and Manchus must be destroyed Those coretons and corrupt officialy Will be sliced into a thousand pieces, It is right that this paper you should see y Do not forget but obey most reverently.
Origin of Manifesto and Raising
Flag of Rebellion.
The manifesto professes to come from the neighbourhood of the Kowloon Hinterland, where the rebels raised their standard on the 12th day of the 8th moon (October 5th); near a place, called K'ai Ch'ong (M)- Before raising the flag certain ceremonies were performed, which consisted in offering roasted pigs as a sacrifice to the spirits of the flags. This done the banners were unfurled to the breeze about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 12th day. The mani- feste or proclamation was then distributed in all the villages and towns lying wear. On the 13th the rebels moved to Sham
Ts'ün (D) and two days later Sha Wán (b). There they met a body of the regular soldiers whom they easily over- caune, capturing several of their officers. The news of this victory was carried to Sam Chau Tin HH) and several other villeges with the result that all the poqda' were won over to the cause of the rebels, Subsequent events have already been chronis cled. Evidently the struggle is not over yet, for there is a demand for more troops i for Wai Chau and the East River, where
there is already a very strong force.
Shek Lung.
PAYMENT OF INDEMNITIES.
It is said that the presence of the French gunboats at Shek Lung is proving a good tonic to the magistrates. They are already beginning to pay up the losses of the Ro- man Catholic cunverts. The arrangement is to divide the payments over a period of time. Sums sufficient for the rebuilding of the houses will be paid first and afterwards indemnities for the personal losses.