(3) The third source of the anti-foreign disturbances, one which is deeply-rooted in Chinese people, especially the so-called "stupid people," isthe feeling of suspi This is the one strong under-current, which the educated or powerful Chinese know so well how to utilise, and along which they rush the mob to the destructive assault on the foreigner, be he missionary or merchant, Consul or 'Customs' man." The two previous elements of proud exclusiveness and jealous resentment are more the character-istles of the gentry and literati, but the element of suspicion belongs especially to the common people, and without its prece many attempted disturbances would die a speedy death, and if born at all, would be merely still-bom.
In the Circular of the Chinese Government in 1871, the word "'suspicion" is the one used so' frequently to indicate the source of trouble. So in the Memorial to the Throne of the Tsungli Yamen in July, 1891, occurs the following sensible diagnosis; Mischief-makers are continually fabricate ing baseless stories which they industriously propagate until the suspicions of the people are aroused, and then lawless villains seize the opportunity to create trouble with a view to obtaining plunder." The Rev. John Ross in the notable, and to us reasonable, article in the Recorder of August, 1892, on "The Riots and their Lessons" uses the following language, "One thing which weighs seriously with me is that the people believe all the wild stories current among them about foreigners. I do not say the stories are true, or even that there is adequate reason "given by foreigners to cause the Chinese to believe them true. But they do believe them; and believing them, their conduct is not difficult to understand." Ina similar tone Mr. Michie writes: "Let not the inherent absurdity' or incredible grossness of the Chinese charges against missionaries blind any one to the plain fact that the Chinese sincerely believe them all. Neither Imperial Edicts, Provincial proclamations, charges of dra: goons, nor the headsman's axe, are able to eradicate the conviction."
The massacre at Tientsin was due to fanning into a flame the revenge of the people by rumours of digging out the hearts and eyes of -the little children; and no wonder the violence done, if the' rumours were believed. Such suspicions were aroused by similar stories set afloat, and by others of kidnapping and bewitching, in the cities of Wuhu, Wusueh, Tanyang, 'Wusieh, and in fact all along' the Yangtze River, in 1891, and which resulted in such terrible violence and lamentable destruction. Hence the intelligent correspondent at_ Wuchang wrote to the North-China Daily News of the Wusueh riot as follows: "There is no doubt the crowd believe the story of children muths of the Chinese in these do to-day." So the Viceroy of Nanking, in a Memorial to the Throne in September 1891, says, The leading feature everywhere was the fabrication of baseless rumours by scoundrels lurking in concealment, who incited the. populace to riotous These facts and testimonies are enough to prove the count which we make against the Chinese people, thus acted upon by designing men, "The Chinese character contrary one, nay ad traits exist harmoniously in the one intellectual system. Sometimes the Chinese appear as awfully incredulous, and: at other times credulous, When the missionary comes among them to teach his doctrines, he detects a faculty to doubt and disbelieve, but when these baseless rumours are set going, there is a quick response and an ability'to believe. The only reason we can give for this is, that the false things which the people believe are reiterated to such an extent that belief seems natural and reasonable, while the true things are still un-emphasised, especially by the influential classes, whose word is law. If Christianity could have such a vast propaganda, and one so influential, as those who form the Hunan clique, perhaps a belief in its teaching,
is a feature of the whole human race that a rauld be erg prompt, Furthermore, it lie runs faster than truth, and soon secures a larger following, which' only needs to be tumed aside by a new lie, or possibly by the slower but surer force of truth. We have no doubt of the ultimate triumph of potsunsion will win for it'the day. truth, but only patience, persistency, and Whit the suspicions are we may notice more fully in subsequent sections, but the one ground of their prevalence and power is their vital character. They nearly all relate to life and death. Injury done to parts of the body, kidnapping of persons for purposes of mutilation, or bewitching, them for extermination, these are all. vital matters, if true, and to show their falsity prompt and oficial action is always needed, When a foreign physician visited the dying Governor of Shantung, the object was a nevolent one, but when the Governor died, at once the rumour was started that he had been poisoned by the foreign doctor. 'A riot against the foreign. missionaries, entirely unconcerned in the whole business, was threatened almost the first day, but the speedy and judicious action and' proclamations of the Acting Governor and other oftivials, prevented a disturbance. If officials acted as promptly with other rumours, and disbelieved them with as strong a conviction and courage, few riots would need to be recorded.
Thus it is that the official classes, the common people, and the foreign resident, are all concerned in the proper nteasures for preventing these anti-foreign disturbances, and to each there is a burden of serious responsibility. Let all lovers of truth, both Chinese and fereighor, mandarin
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.