To the Editor of the "Norrm-Carsa Dat News."
Sim,—Enelosed is a translation of an article published recently in one of the leading Shanghai Chinese newspapers. It will be soon that it purports to be the copy of a memorial sent in by a Prefect's Per deputy to his superiors praying to be released from office owing to inability to control the Roman Catholic adherents in his district or to influence their priests. The matter is grave enough in itself to warrant attention. Coupled with charges of a similar nature which have been made elsewhere it demands it. When official reports are made by the Chinese, as in this case, has not the time come for the Diplomatic Body oven to make enquiries? The good fame of every foreigner in China is bound up in such charges as are here made, to say nothing of the credit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Observe where the sting of the whole memorial lies. Extortion," robbery, and murder are officially charged upon definite men ina certain place and in conclusion referred to as "these foreign matters."
standpoint of the Chinese newspapers, of course any stick is good enough to thrash the foreign dog with, and as for discriminating between Christians and Christians, Roman Catholic or Protestant—why should they-when the bad acts of one may be used to stamp rogue upon the forehead of every native Christian in the Empire?
Tam, ete., To the Editor of the 8th December.
Nonra-Cmxa Dairy News."
Translation.
Sim,—While fully concurring in the In the province of Shansi, in the dis-dicta of "Terpsichore No. 2" in the lettrict of Tohkoht'oh, the Prefect's Deputy ter of Tuesday last,'as to the necessity of named Ling prays' to be released from impressing upon the' young people of this office owing to the oppressive acts of the city to have always in their minds the Christians there. fact that in a ballroom there should'
Ling, the temporary official of Tohkohtwo "big big D's"—the one being of toh reports that in his district-the son course Dancing, and the other (and by far the more important of the two) Deport-companied by armed men for the purpose of one Zeune, a—rect out ment, without which the former goes for nothing, I would yet put ina word on the of extortion, Failing to succeed they wounded a man named Lien and he died subject of Walking, for it is a melancholy of his wounds. This matter has been preconclusion arrived at after a residence of viously reported.' Lingsays: "It was in fourteen years in the'East, that not one the 26th year of Kuang Hsii that the young man or girl in a hundred can walk.
Boxers made trouble here. In that year, They roll, they slouch, they wobble, they in the fourth month, at a place called drag, they shuffle, in short they do ever Saz'oh, where there is a chapel and some thing but walk. Lest I be thought hyper-200 church members, Christians went out critical,' I will quote from a letter rearmed to Mohdi'an to the house of one ceived during my absence from Shanghai Kao. They burned his house, pillaged his when the procession of Kings and Queens goods, killed his household of nine persons (save the" mark!) was given at the and flung the corpses into the river; Lyceum Theatre in honour of the Corona-thereupon these cruel ones returned with tion festivities. "Oh if you could only the spoil to their chapel. The officials have seen the marching of the Kings and sent to take thea, but the chapel authori-Queens, especially the' Queens! How ties refused to hand them over. At this they wobbled and' rolled! How their time the Governor was Yii Hsien. Then heads dangled from side to side like a hat spun on a hat-pin! How they flopped in the eter 6th months into their seats Even the papers have ports of Boxer uprisi: in Chibli anc Shantung. "Before the there had been no rumours here of anti-Christian outbreaks. But when the news of the murder of Kao's household got' bros of} numerous Boxers assembled in T'chkohtoh and with them many seditious ters. 'Then the surviving relatives ited the Boxers to join them, in e. Many men were slain and the great trouble began, continuing until the signing' of the Treaties.
Now, however, the Christians are oppressively cruel as before. I have asked them why is this? and they reply such is the instruction of the priests. Thereupon I enquired of the priest, who said it owing to the famine that the Christians go about robbing, and he told me he was unable to control them. So, accusing the other, robbery and murder continue. Stolen are taken to the chapel and I am unable to recover them. The country people exclaim that through such oppression it is difficult to live, and if the officials cannot control the Christians then in self-defence they must take the law into their own hands. I also hear—reports the official—that in their these church people still worship and they take part in temple seri These Christians say that two years ago when trouble came the teachers went away and left them defenceless, returning only when peace was restored. The food and money sent as a gift from the Emperor, and not acquired by the Kept in the chapel for themselves. Then wer of thopriests, they nevertheless
we (the Christians) went and prayed for this, but just a little was given as if we were ordinary beggars. The priests told the Christians then to search out the wealthy households and cee them by extorting money, and if they were unwilling, then to rob them.
ese robberies were reported to me and I then went to apprehend the robbers. 'The stolen property was not in their houses, it had all been taken to the chapel. There the man in charge, having obtained the goods, sold them but did not fairly divide the' proceeds, telling the robbers in times past you have obtained from the church rice and money; this you will now pay back," so the Christians obtained nothing for their pains but the reputation of robbers, and now in all the district there is not one who does not hate the Christians. These now say that if the troubles of the 26th year come again their lives are worthless. Thus the priests have the spoils and the Christians the hatred, and they no longer desire the church.
These priests, foreign and native, hearing of the dissatisfaction, said to the ristians, "go on with your plundering, and we will protect you." This they did to hearten the Christians and prevent their leaving the church. But if these continue boldly to rob and even Kali, while we officials cannot arrest and punish them, then we are shamed before the people. Should we take them for punishment then the church protects them and we have no plan. Before the time of the Boxer outbreak there was only the murder of Kao's household to bring about trouble, now every household suffers loss through the Christians. In this way hatred increases more and more.
Although I have diligently exhorted the people and striven to prevent the Christians (from robbery), using force to Keep the peace, still if the church people do not alter their method all the. population will rise. That I should lose office and be counted criminal is a small matter, but what of the lifo of the people? What of the country? For these things and because of my inability to influence the priests or control their people I ought to resign my office and thus suffer for my shortcoming. Then (you can) send an
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.