The year has been for the farmers one of exceptional prosperity. This, added to the prevailing quiotness, makes a state of affairs in happy contrast to that in the North. All lines of business seem to be looking up after the recent depression. The price of rice, however, is low, being cheaper by one-third than in Shanghai, Governor Liu passed through here recently with great eclat. Ho is said not to have had the appearance at all of an official who had been relieved of office on account, of misdemeanour, but to have left as one going to a higher post. Just before retiring he issued a proclamation dealing with the situation. It is dated the 9th day of the 10th moon, 80th November. It makes rather interesting reading, and I venture to subjoin you " translation. It is edifying to learn that all the troubles are due to quarrels between the people and the church members. No doubt this is a very convenient doctrine for the ex-Governor and some of his subordinates.
The proclamation reads as follows "Ju reverent obedience to Imperial rescripts for the protection of churches and enjoining the strict prohibition of quarrels between the people and the church members.
"On the 26th year of Kuang Hsit'on the 2st of the 6th moon (17th July), we received the following Imperial order At this time trouble has arisen between China and foreign countries originating in disturbances between the people and the church members and to such an extent as to bring about hostilities, and even now fighting has not yet ceased. The merchants of the various countries in China are not a few and they are all likewise entitled to protection. It is commanded that the Tartar-Generals and Governors make enquiries as to foreign merchants and missionaries who are residing in the various ports and prefectures and districts, and, according to treaty assiduously afford protection to all. There must be no remissness. This is the command of the Throne.
"Already these instructions have been reveroutly received, and there has been general compliance therewith in the lower courts. We have made enquiries throughout Chekiang province where ports hare been opened for a long time and where churches have been numerously established. Foreign merchants in the open ports are engaged in trade, and the people, becoming accustomed to this state of affairs, have accepted it without further trouble. But everywhere where there are churches the people and the church member, are always at variance. As to the missionaries, they have come from far away over the seas, ten thousands of miles, to proclaim their religion. Their aim is to ex-hart people to be good, and they have no ulterior motives.
"There is no law to forbid any of those among you to believe and enter the eburebes. Those who are not inclined to believe are free to act as they please. Why then these mutual wranglings and animosities? Those who enter the churches are still my people and why then is there a distinction made, Those who are of the same class go to killing each other. It should be known that the church members and the people are all on an equal footing. Where there is mutual quarrelling and fighting the churches and missionaries being drawn in, the church people, on the one hand, ate involved in unspeakable Gistress; on the other hand, the ordinary people become implicated so that their rulers, and even the Emperor himself, barely escape the anxiety of sleepies:
lits and incessant worry.
The royal command has been again and again reiterated with persistent assiduity, calling upon officials and people to diligently obey. Now we say to you people that you should all respect the rights of protection. Those people who belong to the churches ought to ce-operate with the missionaries and observe the customs of the churches and thus get to yourselves a good name and not provoke the missionaries to anger. Thus you may cultivate peace. Those who do not belong to the churches should sympathise with the missionaries as with good men who exhort the people to do better. You should regard them as friends and neighbours and be cordial toward the church members as being your fellow-countrymen, and yourselves afford plete protection. Tha civil and military Officials everywhere have been strictly charged by Imperial orders to grant protection. How much more the people. If there are had characters who make tronble for the missionaries and trample on their rights, they will undoubtedly be punished. All civil and military officials in our jurisdiction must observe our com mends even as we have observed the commands of the Throne. If you the people dare to be at enmity with the churches, you not only oppose your rulers but the very Emperor himself. How great the sin! Not a few but many times have we warned you lest the stupid people be misled by the bad, and thus by one fatal mistake be taken in the meshes of the law, where they will incur a terrible punishment, and do you not know that we ourselves are to be pitiless in such a case?
"Take the recent events in the North an example, The confusion of the year in Peking began simply in quarrels between the people and the church members and brought sudden waste and destruction to happy and prosperous section. And on inquiry into the affairs of Chihli we find that of people and soldiers there have died during the disturbances about one million, The rich and prosperous are starving to death. The aged and weak and women and children -have fallen upon the spears of the enemy. Nine out of every ten houses are deserted. Piles of corpses fill the streets and stop the alleys. The eye cannot bear to see nor the ear to hear it all. And the beginning of all this calamity had its undoubted cause in the quarrels between the people and the church members!
"We are grieved to the heart at these things. And therefore we give our commands to the soldiers and to the people. You must know that the protection of the churches is all by Imperial rescript issued for this very purpose. If there are any who despise these commands they are disturbers of the peace and rebels against the Government. As to such the law ix not Tenient. They are to be killed at sight and their homes made a waste—indeed a heavy penalty. Fathers must warn their sons and elder their younger brothers. All must scrupulously obey our instruc tions. Thus the people and church mem ders will be at peace and happy in their mutual accord while the insubordinate will be punished. The failure of people and church merabers to live in peace will be regardd a criminal. Let the affairs the North be a solemn warning. We issue strict orders for the arrest of rumowrmongers and peace-disturbers, thus nipping the trouble in the bud, and there will be no quarter. You must attend each to his own business and keep in mind the penal-of disobedience, and thus not make in vain our anxiety in warning you again. Ay some of the people cannot read the Wenli, let the scholars read and explain to them that thay may understand. This is my earnest wish."
December.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.