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his conduct, and three English misionaries went to see him about 11 o'clock, but they could not move him. About five o'clock a letter came from the Marsbal at the American Consulate saying that a rescuing party was being organised, and asking for volunteers from Kuliang. Several volunteered, and two English missionaries went to see the British Consul again, told him of the intended expedition, and gave him to understand that it would look strange it it went off with him away from his Consulate. He thought so too, and decided to come down. The only object of the expedition was to find the wounded and care for them. He was opposed to the plan, and said he would come down to oppose it, Thus it took two delegations to bring him back to his post, and all the while five English girls were lying dead at Hwa Sang. It was well for him that he came, for when the survivors reached Foochow we learned that ten were murdered and not five.
Contrast with this the coudnet of the United States Consul, Col. Hixson. Archdeacon Wolfe and the Rev. Mr. Banister, two English mis. sionaries, finding that their own Consul would do nothing for them, were compelled to go to the American Consul. As soon as he heard the terrible news he went to see the Viceroy, who, after some pressure, put a Government launch at the disposal of Colonel Hixson to take. a party up the river to Cui Kao, whence they could go inland to look for the wounded. With in an hour and twenty minutes after hearing the news he was in the Viceroy's Yamen, four miles from the Consulate. Late in the after noon the lauuch went up, taking Archdeacon Wolfe. Mr. Banister, and Marshall Hixson. SHANGHAI AND THE ANTI-FOREIGN
OUTBREAKS. ·
In reply to their telegram to Sir Nicholas O'Conor the Shanghai branch of the China Association received on the 6th inst. from Mr. George Jamieson, British Acting Consul General, the following despatch :—
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
after it had been submitted to, and approved by all the American citizens who could be collected together after yesterday's missionary meeting:- Public meeting Shanghai yesterday expressed horror indignation Kucheng massacre resolved appeal direct respective governments for protec- tion from Chinese outrages and protested against inadequate manner persous guilty former out rages have been and are being dealt with also strongly protested against constitution Chêngtu Commission British cabled London."
| August 15, 1895.
noting under his orders; and the utmost that can be expected is a declaration that certain of the common people are guilty and will be punished; while the infamoas instigators will be acquitted in order that they may devise and carry out still more atrocious deeds of violence upon British subjects residing in this country by virtue of rights under existing treaties be tween Great Britain and China. The Chengtu Commission, as it is DOW cons'itnted, is treated with contemptuous derision by Chi- nese; and every Englishman of experience feels and knows the Chinese view to be justified. The honour and dignity of Her President Cleveland, Washington.
Majesty are deeply concerned in this matter; Americans Shanghai unanimously protest and I venture to declare to your Lordship that against action. Minister Donby consenting unless prompt and adequate measures are taken British Consul represent Americans Szechuen to vindicate the power of Great Britain to pro- enquiry. Recommend reconstruction Commis-tect its people and to render absolutely certain sion with American official adequate rank, exclud. the punishment of those, whatever their rank ing implicated Chinese officials; also recommend may be, guilty of rapine and murder, the lives marine escort accompany Commission.
of hglish people in China will be more and more endangered.
-
The following telegram has also been sent by American citizens in Shanghai to the President of the United States:-
*
HY&HS, SEAMAN,
Committee."
The following is a copy of a letter which has been despatched to the Marquis of Salisbury, from Mr. R. M. Campbell, the Chairman of the meeting of Shanghai residents: -
My Lord Marquis,
Shanghai, 9th August, 1895.
A largely attended public meeting of the community of Shaughai held on the 5th instant for the purpose of consillering what steps should be taken in the circumstances of the recent lamentable outrage at Kittien, having done me the honour to elect me Chairman, it devolves upon me to convey to your Lordship the resolution of that meeting.
As full particulars of the massacre of one man, eight women, and one child. all English, at Katien, near Foochow, will be in your possession now it is unnecessary for me to recite them, or to do more than enclose for reference a complete printed report of the proceedings of the meet. "I have received a telegram from Her Ma-ing; and to state that in pu suance of the reso- jesty's Minister in Peking requesting me to lution I forwarded to your Lordship on the 6th convey through the China Association his pro- instant the telegram, of which a copy is hereto found sympathy with the relatives and friends
appended. of the British subjects foully murdered at Kutien.
"I am also directed to inform the Association that Her Majesty's Consul at Foochow has been instructed to proceed at once under military es cort to the scene of outrage to hold an enquiry with a view to the prompt punishment of the culprits concerned, high or low, and such satis- faction as is now posssible, and that an Imperial proclamation decreeing capital punishment on all the guilty will be issued forthwith.
"I am to add that the Chêngiu Commission inquiry will be held as soon as possible. The general scope of this inquiry will be gathered from the following extract from the instructions addressed by H.M.'s Minister to Acting Consul Tratman, who will represent British and Ameri- oan interests at the inquiry.
་
"After directing Mr. Tratmau to proceed to Chôngtn as soon as circumstances will permit, H.M.'s Minister continues, your duty there will be in conjunction with the Chinese officials mou- tioned and the Missionaries who will probably also be placed on the Commission to inquire in the first place into the origin of the riots and the adequacy or otherwise of the measures taken to prevent or suppress them by the officials con- cerned.
The findings of the Commis sion will not have a final character, its object be. ing mainly to throw light on the causes of the outbreak and supply material for cousideration *hers.""
In accordance with the resolution passed at the public meeting the China Association des patched on the 6th inst. direct to Lord Salis bury the following telegram :-
"Public meeting Shanghai yesterday ex- pressed horror indignation massacre by Chinose of English men women children Kutien Resolved appeal direct respective governments for pro- tection from Chinese outrages aud pilotested against inadequate manner persons guilty former outrages have been and are being dealt with also strongly against constitution Chengtu Commis- siou Americans telegraph Washington.-Camp. bell, Chairman."
The Rev. J. R. Hykes, the Committee ap- pointed at the meeting for American citizens at Shanghai, also sent the following telegram to - Mr. Olney, United States Secretary of State,
|
[Telegram already published.]
The resolve of British subjects in Shanghai to address Her Majesty's Government direct arose from the fact that outrages, of varying intensity. have been repeated at intervals for twenty-five years past; ho belief, founded upon evidence, that these outrages have been sti- mulated by persons of the official class who, so far from being punished for these high crimes, have been rewarded and honoured; the know- ledge, springing out of long experience, that the measures beretofore adopted by Her Majesty's representatives in China have been wholly in. adequate for their intended purpose in conse quence apparently, of the Ministers fearing to take the responsibility of action; and, in almost every case, the measures adopted have resulted in lowering the prestigo of Great Britain in China; and the conviction that unless some method of forcing the Chinese Government to do justice be adopted, the time is not far distant when other; and perhaps more foul and abominable, mur ders will be perpetrated upon defenceless and nuprotected British subjects. Most carefully desirous to refrain from exaggeration or colour ing, I will now merely refer your Lordship to the list of outrages committed since 1870, detailed in the speech of the Rev. Timothy Richard, an English clergyman who has spent the last thirty years in work for the promotion of knowledge among the Chinese people.
|
I have abstained from dwelling upon the especially atrocious features of the latest scrime at Kution; but I should fail in my duty did I not acquaint your Lordship with the depth of feeling evinced by men of all nationalities at the foul murder of English women; a feeling aggravated almost beyond endurance by the im pression that this monstrous crime, like so many others, will go uopunished.
The American community, acting in concert with the British community, telegraphed to Washington; and a copy of their despatch is also appended.
Telegram already published.] I have the honour to be, your Lordship's most obedient servant,
R. M. CAMPBELL, Chairman of the meeting of residents
held 5th August, 1895.
The Most Honourable the Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The following telegram was also despatched to The Times newspaper :-
**
'Strongly urge British people and Commons Salisbury's demands utterly inadequate. Chinese always promised protect Missions punish guilty never perform. Believe outrages generally in- spired officials. Imperative Foochow Consul have British escort. Chêngth Commission must be reformed. Both cases require more than one English official adequate rank. Delay dangerous outports Mission stations.
CHAIRMAN, Public Meeting."
INDIGNATION MEETING AT
HONGKONG.
Hongkong has fittingly paid her tribute to the memory of the massacred missionaries, and has confirmed in numistakeable terms the sentiments which have been so strongly expressed in the colony. The meeting held yesterday in the Theatre Royal was the largest that has ever been seen in the colony. Apart from the feeling of intense sympathy for the murdered missionaries, their relatives, and the survivors, there was but one chord struck in the various eloquent addresses which were made, and that was a just and stern demand should be made by the English Government for speedy and decisive retribution—not blood for blood, perhaps, but a retribution which shall for ever strike terror into the hearts of the guilty Chinese officials. There was no mistaking the fouling of horror of those present, and it is to be sincerely hoped that the home Government will listen to the earnest appeals for justice which have been so strongly With reference to the Chengtu Commission, made by the residents of Hongkong. Sir against the constitution of which the meeting Filding Clarke, the Chief Justice, made his first protested in the most emphatic manner, I crave public appearance since his return from leave, permission to remind your Lordship that the a presided over the gathering. He was sup. person believed to chiefly implicated is the ex- ported on the platform by the Hon. C. P. Viceroy of Szechueu, Liu Ping-chang, an official Chater, Hon. E. R. Belilios, Hon. A. McCộn- of the highest rank in the empire. When your achie, Hon. J. J. Bell Irving, the Right Rev. Lordship considers that men of this rank Bishop Burdon, Rev. R. F. Cobbold, Messrs. T. are not amenable to any court of law, ad Jackson, G. W. F. Playfair, J. J. Francis, can only be punished by Imperial power, QC, G. Sharp., H. N. Mody, G. B. Dodwell, you will perceive that Commission of M. D. Ezekiel, H. M. Melita, D. Hartigan, inquiry composed of Chinese officials of mean Dr. Cantlie, Dr. Stedman, and Dr. J. C. and insignificant rauk, with a junior officer of the Thomson. In the circle were many ladies. was ад excellent British Consular service and an American mis- The Chairman's speech sionary as assessors or joint commissioners is oue, full of well chosen sentences, and he foredoomed to failure because, however strongly was frequently interrupted by the applauso showed that the audience recipro- the English and American members may dissent, which the Chinese members of the Commission dare ntcated his sentiments. Mr. Jackson spoke in inculpate the ex-Viceroy and the myrmidons much too low a tone and most of his utterances
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