To the Editor of the "Norra-Caixa Dairy News."
Sin,—"A Briton "—Is your correspon dent sure that he has not made a mistake in styling himself so? To my ear there is a want of the true ring about his weak lines, and I would fain believe that he has assumed the name of "A Briton" for the nonce.
If "A Briton" thinks it "criminal" for a correspondent in a newspaper to write about Partition, what does he think of the alleged action of the Consul a Tientsin in threatening to destroy the Ming Tombs, if our Ministers are not released? I should probably find a point of sympathy with him here; for in my opinion it would be a disgrace to Christianity and to Western civilisation to descend to such an act. We war not with the dead, but with the living.
Now is not the time to be mealymouthed and to talk soft words. The natives who are worth considering are as much aware of the actual state of fairs as we are, and although a letter i newspaper may not effect the action of high authorities, it is as well that the authorities may know through the only source available what may be the opinions of those who have resided in the country and who possess opinions.
Even if every Minister every resident in Peking were alive at this moment, which we frardly dare to believe, we are' in the presence of one of the most dastardly and inhuman outrages that has ever blackened the records of nation, Hell has been let loose in Poking and the North of China, not only with the connivance, but with the direct encouragement of those Rulers of China to whom our Ministers have been accredited, and in whom they have confidence The German Emperor's ery for "Ven-glance" finds an echo in every heart here. And after the " Vengeance" what should be done with the country? It could not be given back to Chinese to rule. In communications connected with the desire to preserve the integrity of China a great deal has been said of the homogeneousness of the Chinese. It is a fair inference that what is happening in Peking, Tientsin, etc., now, may be repeated some day in some other part of China in the same unexpected and atrocious Could any argument be stronger dividing up the country and putting each part under a rule where such émeutes swould be impossible?
Your correspondent "A Briton" is, I am afraid, not much in touch with the feelings of the natives themselves. As far as it is possible for a merchant to fathom the feelings of those with whom ho comes in daily contact, and from all other sources which are open to him of acquiring knowledge on the point, I have no hesitation in saying that the mercantile classes of Chinese, from Shanghai to Ichang and possibly beyond, would welcome a British rule. There' is that high standard about British institutions and British business methods which appeals to the mercantile mind. The agricultural classes would welcome any rule which freed them from oppression, and it only remains to deal with the ruling or mandarin classes, which, as I suggested before, would not be done away with entirely, but would receive fixed and sufficient salaries and would not be allowed to squeeze. What a grand country we could make of it in a few years!
Your correspondent would regulate the missionary enterprise. Perhaps there is a higher Power than he who is regulating this and the advice of Gamaliel is as good in the nineteenth century as it was in the first: "But be it of Ged, ye cannot overthrow it."
The hordes now assembled at Peking and Tientsin are like swarms of locusts, devastating wherever they go. Famine and pestilence will follow their track. They cannot remain Jong in one place as they exhaust the food supply. It is to be hoped that_ Foreign armies will arrive soon in sufficient force to destroy them before they can begin their march southward, and that the Viceroys will decide at once to prevent them from crossing the Yellow River. We shall see shortly if they are equal to the grave responsi bilities thrown on their shoulders. They have the opportunity now of rising to be heroes, and if they rise to the occasion posterity may sing their praises as the Saviours of their country," the proudest title a man can desire.
Tam, et A Briisner.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.