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of the officers of the Grand Council says that important changes are impending, the situation is growing increasingly delicate, and the Ministers are full of anxiety."
The above extracts, I should add, are merely newspaper reports, but they are worthy of reproduction as a reflection of the popular unrest.
Hangchow.
Towards the end of July a state of considerable disquiet prevailed in this Consular district, especially at Kinhua, where, however, the local authorities appear to have acted with considerable promptitude, and to have prevented any serious outbreak by capturing and beheading a number of alleged ringleaders at an early stage. Troops were sent from Hangchow to Kinhua, bnt the Governor, finding that matters there were assuming a less serious aspect, diverted them, while en route, to Shaoshing, where their presence was required to repress any trouble that might arise from the arrest of the family of the assassin of the late Governor of Anhui, Officials at Hangchow assert that everything is quiet in the Kinhua district, and a lady missionary says that the prompt action taken by the officials has certainly had the desired effect of ontwardly suppressing the rebels. The ringleaders of the troubles appear to be educated people and to be connected with other Societies. A Magistrate states that one of the men captured was a member of the Triad Society, and had documents of an anti-dynastic nature on his person, and this is confirmed by the number of placards posted about saying that the Societies are going to put down the present dynasty.
Chekiang Provincial Railway.
The track of the first section of this line has been completed, and trains have been running daily since the 25th July. These at present only carry merchandize, which, so far, seems to have been practically confined to the Company's railway materials. Passengers are not yet carried owing to the non-arrival of the necessary cars, These are expected during September, when it is proposed to open the line to passenger traffic. An inauguration ceremony is then to be held.
Reporting early in August, His Majesty's Acting Consul states that, according to missionaries in touch with Kinhua district, matters there are settling down owing to the activity of the officials in pursuing the so-called rebels, of whom they seem to have beheaded a very large number,
The Governor is said to have resigned his post on account of the popular feeling against him over the Shaoshing affair. The Prefect of that place is still vigorously searching the schools there in order to find incriminating documents which will justify his summary execution of Madame Chiu Chin; the manner in which he is doing it is giving great offence. The suggestion against Madame Chiu Chin is that she was the ringleader in an anti-dynastie conspiracy; that she had partisans in the Tatong school; that she was in league with rioters at Kinhua and elsewhere, with whom she had arranged for a rising to take place in Shaoshing. The fact that the Tatung school was founded by Hsu Hsi-lin lent colour to the suspicion that Madame Chin was in league with the assassin.
Shanghae.
The assassination of the Governor of Anhui and the circumstances attending the subsequent execution of the assassin have aroused a great deal of comment in the Shanghae native papers, One of them in a leading article points out how sedition and particularly anti-Manchu sentiment might be disposed of; the means suggested being the introduction of a Constitution and the grant of equal opportunities of official advancement and influence for Chinese and Manchus alike.
The news of the execution of the woman teacher Chiu Chin in Chekiang provoked an outburst of protest in the native press against the officials and gentry of that province. One article, entitled " Barbarous Execution," enlarged upon the illegality of the proceedings, which, it said, were irregular, in that no proper charge was formulated. It remarked upon the entire ignorance which prevailed upon the nature of the case against her. The article concludes as follows: "I do not write this in support of secret societies, or specially to cry out against the injustice to Chiu Chin, but to point out
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that the implication of so many in the crime of Hsu Hsi-lin and the execution without proper conviction of a helpless woman will create a general feeling of insecurity, and drive people to desperate undertakings in increasing numbers, and to expression of their feelings in deeds of violence difficult to guard against, and this will be attributable to the severity of the Viceroy and Governor and the weakness of the gentry of Chekiang, who, by this death of Chiu Chin, have together with the officials become utterly discredited."
This is typical of the productions of a large section of the native press, a section which must have a considerable influence upon opinion among the news-reading classes. Political subjects of this kind are treated unreservedly, sometimes illustrated by caricatures in which obnoxious officials and other persons, and sometimes the Central Government, are held up to ridicule.
Pakhoi.
His Majesty's Acting Consul reported on the 19th July that, in spite of the unusual accumulation of Government troops in various centres, the state of the country cannot be described as satisfactory, and that there seems to exist everywhere in the district an electric feeling of dissatisfaction and expectation. Local robberies have been more prevalent than ever before. There is little doubt that exorbitant taxation and disregard of the feelings of the people were the immediate cause of the Sanna disturbances,
Nanking.
The news of the assassination of the Manchu Governor of Anhui produced a profound impression on the Viceroy Tuan Fang, who was afraid that the next attempt of this kind would be upon his own life. The Viceroy does not move about so freely as he used to, and is constantly accompanied by a special bodyguard, who are said to follow him closely, even within the precincts of his yamên. There is increased activity in the police force, a special force of detectives having been organized with orders to arrest suspicious characters found in tea-houses and such resorts. A similar force has also been organized from among the military gendarmerie to watch for and check any signs of disaffection among the troops. Extra police protection is given to the arsenal, powder factory, and powder magazines, in addition to that afforded by the usuaĺ military sentries. All these may be natural and proper precautions, but stories are current implying that the Viceroy is panic-stricken.
Character of Tuan.
There is a widespread belief that his Excellency has not the resolution and strength of character required for his high position. However, it is only fair to quote at the same time the opinion recently expressed by the Treasurer of the Shanghae Famine Relief Committee, namely, that the business of relief could not have been effected without the intelligent co-operation of the present Viceroy, and that if his predecessor Chou Fu had been in office the efforts of the Committee would probably have been frustrated.
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