To the Editor of the **Nonta-Carxa Datty News."
—In ly letter of the 25th inst.
some account of the sriest of a num-her of Reformers at Hankuw. The Reformers being few in number, but anxious for a speedy triumph, conceived the idea i the Kol.oliui and the blacklegs a them in their crusade against the Guveromert. Among the biucklegs of Hankow there was a well-known character, amed Teng, whom the Reformers hoped to win over. No souner did he become " member of the Reform League than he began to insult and browbeat his neighbour-. These who offered the slightest resistance he would. threaten with speedy vengeance. The barber of the district was one of Teng's friends and attempt was made to get him to joun the failed, but the barber managed to wort out of Long a good many facts touching the principles and eans of the organisation, On the Ist of August Teng went to get his kead shaved. 'The barber did his work as usual, and expected w be paid in large aegording custom. 'Teng, however, was in one of his bullying woods, and' insisted on paying in small cash. A quarrel ensued, inthe midst of which Zeng told the barber that n day he would be killed and s carrivt off as plunder. The barber had no difficulty in divining the meaning of that oracular utterance, 5 he went elf post-haste to the nearest oficial and told him all he k ow about Teng's connection withthe Reformers. This was the first intimation the officials had of the existence of the League at this centre.
Teng was arrested and brought before the magistrate, who went about his work thoroughly' received the bully kindly and treated him with much respect." said he, you are a ood man, ject; but you have been misled by wi linon. This is your opportunity to benefit yourself and your fainnly. ell me the Whole truth, and 1 will fo not forgive you merely, for 1 will procure Phe bait proved too tempt Tong leaped at it. He then told the truth about the League at Hank the names of all the lodges Jeaders. The officials took tion, found things to be exactly had told the magistrate, and then cut his head as the host warning to all, The plot was to rise on the 24th, to kill all the officials, and to set the three on fire in order to strike terror into the hearts of the people. In order to accomplish this hellish piece of work. the Reformces had entered into collusion with all the vagabonds they could lay hold of in this But for Tong's treachery the plot might have succeeded, and the destruction of these three cities and the massacre of tons of thousands of innocent people would have followed.
The arrests are still going on, but there have not been many executions. It seems have been arrested. only fourteen have deen beheaded. Some have been released further trial, and a zood number have been finally dismissed. The main aim seems to be to zat hold of the leaders and example of them. All others are, as Tan learn, treated with leniency. rewards are being offered for every leader captured, or for information leading to such capture.
Tu your issue of the 2th, there is a rei of terror," you appears to have menced in "Wuch a telegram having been received from that city yesterday to the effect that Viceroy Chang has arrested some thirty members of the Reform Party there, to of whom, according to later advices; have already been summarily decapitated, This is greatly to be regretted, as such a sanguinary step will not tend to the further peace of the Yangtze."
You will have received further light before this letter reaches you, and your views will have undergone a change. Had the Reformers succeeded there would have boon a reign of terror such as has not been seen since the Taiping rebellion. We owe viceroy Chang that the terrible been averted.
Let us not be carried away by mere names. "The Reform Party," that sounds well. The name has a charm for us. But let us not misplace our sympathy. China has nothing to gain from the Reform Party as now constituted. Whatever may of their aims, their methods are ud all good people will do well shy of them.
Tam, ete..
Hankow, th August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.