6 the Editor of the "Normu-Carxa Dany News."
Si,—The announcement recently received from which we learn with much re-geet that two very prominent officials of the Tsungli Yamen have lost their lives because of their devotion to the foreigners cause, is a matter that demands our attention.
Hsu Ching-cheng and Yuan Chang were men of no mean ability; the former was at one time Minister to Germany while the Jatter has served as Taotai of Wuhu. In holding out for the rights of our people they hare fought against the strongest prejudices of the Manchus and yielded their lives to the cause. Such service to Western humanity must not be permitted pass without some record of appreciation. How easy it would have been for them to have remained in popularity and power! But they did not so chocre. Their deeds were those of heroes and over their graves should be erected a monument in tribute to the noble action with which their life-work culminated.
These two martyrs were not all who identified themselves with the movement in our interests, and now we learn that Li Ping-hong, to whose influence responsibility attaches for their death, has also denounced the four principal officials who were first identified with the movement whereby the disorder was confined to the North, I refer to the Viceroys Lin Kunyh Chang Chi-tung, and Li Hung-chang, and Sheng Taotai.
Whether in connection with some of them there may have been actions worthy of criticism need not concern us now. It} is sufficient to know that to them we owe the state of comparative quiet that oband that had they sided with Peking the conditions here could be better imagined than described. If, then, it is true as reported, that these officials or any of them are about to be proscribed, will it not be eminently proper for us to put ourselves on record as being fully apprecintive of what they have done by way of confining hostilities to the north? We should go further and assure them that so long peace is maintained in these provinces no harm shall come to them from Peking. There are no doubt scores of others throughout China who in a minor way are labouring for the restoration of trauquillity, all of whom should be made sensible of our gratitude.
Tam, ete., 4th August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.