15th Feb.
Aut foreigners are grateful for the Imperial Edict of 13th June, 1891, and for the energetic measures taken by the Viceroys of Nanking and Wuchang for the suppression of the riots within} their jurisdiction. But notwithstanding the Imperial Edict and the prompt settlement of local riots along the Yangtze, it appears that the chief cause of the general disposition to riots throughout the Empire is still left untouched, and that explains to us how we are now, nine months after the publication of the Edict, still informed almost every week of threats of further riots in some part or other of China. Yhis general cause not lying in the province of any one particular Viceroy or Governor, they naturally leave it to the central government or others to manage.
The immediate cause of the riots was local placards, which in their turn were caused by the wide and systematic distribution during the last few years of some of the vilest anti-Christian and anti-foreign literature which history knows of, accusing all Christians, Chinese and foreign, of most horrible crimes rendering them utterly unfit to live under the same sky as Chinamen; they therefore call upon their countrymen to rise up everywhere, drive foreigners out of the country or exterminate them.
The serious thing about this antiforeign literature is, that it is prepared and circulated by many of the leading mandarins of China. They seem to have forgotten that this is in defiance of all law, national and international, foreign and Chinese, Ihe Chinese punishment for this kind of work, as eclated by the Shanghai Taotai in his Proclamation of May, 1891, is death.
he cause again of this extraordinarily daring act, of deliberately preparing and circulating libellous, slanderous, and iuflammatory literature risking their own lives and the existence of their country, is given in their own books, such as the Chinese Blue Books, Indulgent Treatment of Foreigners, the Hunan Publications, etc., etc.
It is the growing knowledge the Chinese have of the effect of international trade. They learn that foreign nations have greatly profited by the treaties while China in comparison gains but little and suffers much; that of late she suffers more and more each year. Therefore seeing their wealth going abroad for opium and mauufactured goods, China's primitive industry—such as spinning and weaving—failing, steamers throwing junks and government grain-carriers out of employment, her teeming millions straggling for bare necessaries of life and tuillions of them in vain, her people hopelessly steeped deeper and deep, in the opium vice by the cultivation of operate to bring in speedily a new native as well as the importation of era of goodwill, confidence and blessing, foreign opium, many leading mandarins a—The Chinese government might are roused with indignation and despe~ as other nations have done in the past, ration; on the one hand they urge the send higher missions of inquiry abroad, government to sell offices in order to for instance, some of the Imperial raise all the money they can to equip princes, from time to time, and then it their army and navy to fight the foreigners; on the other hand they do all they can to rouse what they consider the righteous indignation of the people against foreigners of all classes as the cause of their rain, and against mis-j sionaries particularly as they are regarded as the forerunners of the conquest and ruin of their country by foreigners.
It is only very few of the mandarins who begin to realise that with her enormous resources, if developed by better methods, C! trade could in a few years be doubled and trebled, and instead of suffering injury, China may be made to reap immense benefits by international intercourse.
The publications above referred to abundantly show that the causes of the riots are twofold—lawlessuess and imperfect knowledge. 'I'he remedy too seems perfectly clear and is twofold.
1.—the libellous literature should be immediately stopped, and the leading authors, publishers and disseminators punished according to law unless they have done their work in ignorance and are sincerely sorry and are ready to do all in their power to undo the wrong they have done. This the foreign powers will no doubt attend to, otherwise it is ditticult to see how the safety of their subjects in China can be assured. If need be the foreign communities might strengthen the hands of the foreign authorit ina by petitioning home governments; for the weakest power demands security to its subjects.
2.—'he Chinese must be enlightened. Inasmuch as the grave disease which throws China into these periodic con-pulsive riots which are almost fatal to her, is the great dread of the evils of Christianity and of Christian (de. Western) civilisation, and almost complete ignorance of how she can obtain the benefits of these, the specific cure for this, as proved in the history of almost every other nation on earth, is enlighternment on the immense value of true Christianity and tree Christian principles in all departments of life and among all nations; and this proved, not by general statements but statistics and indisputable facts of history, proving also that what injures one nation injures all, and that what benefits one benefits all.
When China fally and clearly understands the immense advantages to be gained by free international intercourse, then all opposition will cease and foreigners will find welcome everywhere. But unless some systematic effort is made to enlighten China it is hardly reasonable to expect opposition to cease. AAs three parties are interested in these matters all three should do their share in this enlightenment and loyally coshould pay more attention to the advice i of these high commissioners who have been abroad and to others who best understand both Chivese and foreign affairs. Among those who do not go abroad the enlightened mandoring and gentry could render incalculable services by their influence and money in discovering and circulating literature on the true cause of the power and prosperity of western nations.
b.—he missionaries wight combine to write books and pamphlets on all these subjects of great international interest at the earliest possible date, At the present moment the Society for the Diffusion of Christian and General Knowledge among the Chinese is ergal ing executive Committees in the various provinces for this eud, and has drawn up a list of over 60 different subjects for standard pamphlets, covering political, commercial, industrial, educational as well as religious topics, and mission aries in several provinces have already promised to give all the help in their power.
Besides the missionaries, the foreign official and commercial classes are equally interested in the matter of enlightenment, for no nation can be expected to progress wutil it first knows what benefits are to be gained. hose possessing the knowledge of Chinese might write pamphlets on some of these subjects. Some might perhaps give some of their technical knowledge as a contribution in. this direction, and all might contribute liberal funds towards the production, publication and circulation of these works, and also towards prizes or scho-warships for the encouragement of those who study them, If need be, foreigners might also support the Chinese government to obtain better protection for its subjects abroad, for justice will put peace on a permanent basis.
1f then there were "long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together, these riots would be things of the past and all would rejoice together in the prospect of splendid days to come.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.