The Anti-foreign Riots in China in 1891: With an Appendix.

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Contents

Intnxluciion

VAC.E

I

Introduction

THE RIOTS: THEIR CAUSES AND REMEDIES.

INGE the foreign war of i860, with the exception of the anti-foreign wave of 1870 which culminated in the Tientsin massacre, nothing so serious has happened to foreigners in China as the organized Riots of 1891, beginning in the Yangtze-valley and stretching from Shanghai to Ichang and from Canton to the Amoor. This antagonistic movement |)ersistcd for t en mog xhs to threaten the security of foreigners, if indeed we may dare feel safely out of it yet. True, only two foreigners' lives were lost, but the lives of hundreds and even thousands of foreigners widely scattered over the Empire were threatened for months by violentpU^ds attributing all sorts of barbarous and horrible crimestcTtHc foreigners, esp>ecially to missionaries, and calling upon all loyal, honest, and good men to rise up, buTn their houses and kill them clean out of the land; while hundreds of native Christians were massacred, thousands more were threatened with all sorts of hom'ble deaths. The Hunanites threatened to butcher Christians, foreign and native, like so many animals, slice them up into pieces weighing one catty each and divide them to be feasted on ! Dates were fixed on once and again and yet again for the general rising and massacre, making the long tension too much for some to bear. Many inland missionaries moved to the Ports till the worst should be passed.

THE ANTI-FOREIGN RIOTS.

Regarding this incessant, bitter and diabolic opposition the question has been asked again and again what is the cause of it ?

So far as published the causes of the riots may be conveniently classed under five heads, viz. :

I. — Government incapacity. There are problems continually cropping up to be solved by the Government, but it does nothing satisfactory to solve them. This is the opinion held by "Spes," who was one of the first to write on the subject in June last.

2. — Another cause was the intended rebellion of Jhe,jE2:/<»<? Hut after involving the Chinese Government in foreign war, as put forth by Mr. Drummond.

3. — The chief cause according to another party is the destructive and wicked teachings and practices of the missionaries, Catholic and Reformed. This is the view put forth in a remarkable letter by "A Chinese," the author of the Defensio^ by the authors of the Chinese anti-Christian publications, and, to some extent, by "Candid Friend" in a pamphlet issued last autumn in China and in England.

4. — Another view of the cause of the riots is that they are brought about by a systematic publication and widespread circulation of most scandalous and libellous literature by Chinese mandarins and gentry in order to inflame public opinion against Christians and foreigners generally. This was mentioned at the Missionary Conference, in 1890, and trouble was then predicted unless something should be done to prevent it. Of late, in the same line. Dr. John has disclosed to us the diabolical nature of later efforts of the Literati in the shape of the Hunan publications.

5. — Another view, published in Chinese books by authors who are high mandarins, is that international intercourse is a source of incalculable loss to China. The sale of foreign opium drains China of its silver; the import of manufactured goods destroys native industries throughout the land; the introduction of steamers has thrown immense numbers of Government grain-carriers out of employment ; the increasing failure of the tea and silk trade also drives the people generally to despair ; the loss of Annam and Burmah and other territories to France, England, Russia and Japan, makes the Chinese ofiScials and people fear that they will lose their country altogether. All these things combined make the Chinese determine to oppose foreigners at any cost. This is the explanation given by Chinese Blue

INTRODUCTION.

Books and Indulgent Treatment of Foreigners. This view explains failure to open up Chungking, and probably also Ichang riots and the attitude there till now.

No one who has carefully studied this question, I think, will doubt that there is some truth in each of these views, nor will he doubt that some of them have been monstrously exaggerated, especially that put forth by so many mandarins and by the Hunan publications so as to rouse up the people into a frenzy of not merely anti-Christian but anti-foreign crusade.

If one word is wanted which more than another would express the reason why the Chinese set themselves up to oppose the irresistible march of universal progress, it would be the word Ignoiapce; and this ignorance which was excusable thirty years ago is now fast becoming culpable.

If China knew more, the Government would not be so helpless as "Spes" describes it. If China knew more, the Government would meet the Ko-lao Hui with a Reform that would satisfy all reasonable Ko-lao Hui men. If China knew more, the Government would give some welcome to the representatives of those who have been in the van of progress in all lands. If China knew more, the Government would not stain its own civilization by publishing such libels as would be a shame* even to uncivilized savages to invent. If China knew more, the Government, instead of grieving over international intercourse as a loss and attempting the impossible task of stopping all intercourse, would, like other nations, turn it to her own profit.

If these be the causes — and no others have been suggested — the remedy is not far to seek.

To remove the incompetency of China a fair knowledge of the chief ways of all nations is absolutely necessary. This was the first step in the improvement of Japan. It decided to get all the knowledge of the West, the result being that one of the weakest of Asiatic nations has risen, within thirty years, to be the first independent Asiatic power to-day.

To quiet the Ko-lao Hui nothing short of Reform on the lines of complaint can be considered of permanent value. To put to death leaders who have just grievances is only to feed the fire of discord and insurrection. Similar grievances have been satisfactorily settled in the West. The knowledge of such methods used in the West is better than an army of soldiers.

To remove missionary troubles there must be a better way than indiscriminate abuse of all Christians, for this insults the Rulers of Christendom, high and low, as they too are Christians, as well as missionaries. Surely the Chinese know that there are good people to be found outside China. The Chinese must also know that there are many intelligent men among the missionaries devoting all their lives to education, medicine, philanthropic and literary work and to everything that can benefit China. If, instead of persistently maligning these, as having some treasonable motives at heart they welcomed them for what they truly are — their best friends — most of the missionary troubles would vanish. Should there be a few foolish among missionaries, as there are in every class of men, who rudely trust their own conscience against a Chinaman's, and seek out only the weak points of Chinese religions and hold them up to ridicule, — a thing both unchristian and intolerable — let them be dealt with according to the "Order in Council."

To remove the attacks of the Chinese Government through its public documents and the wide dissemination of anti-Christian and anti-foreign books which endanger the peace of the Empire, nothing is easier if the Chinese follow their own laws, not to speak of international law, for, according to these, slanders must be suppressed and the authors and publishers of them punished before peace can be dreamt of.

To remove all apprehension of danger from international intercourse the Chinese should study the benefits which have accrued to other nations from international intercourse and how they secured them. Following a similar course China may also reap similar benefits.

Speedy measures must be taken to remove the dense ignorance in regard to all foreign affairs. Schools where — in addition to Chinese education — foreign education is given must be established in every province. The experience of European nations and of Japan, at China's very door, show that for want of Western knowledge each province of China loses annually, even at a tenth of GifTen's calculation of progress in England, no less than forty million taels ! Would any but the most foolish despise a knowledge that would bring such immense blessings to the poor of the land? And would any intelligent men ever hope to get out of these troubles without more knowledge ?

INTROD UCTION.

But when we lum from what appears to be the proper settlement of the Riots what do we find has actually been done by way of settlement ?

There is the Tmperial Rdirt ^p \ ^ith much diSJCljUy There is the punislimeht ' oflT few murderers at Wusueh. There is indemnity given for property destroyed. There were proclamations put forth by the provincial authorities when the riots thrtatment to develope into anarchy and rebellion. But it should be bom in mind that the Sacred Edict of Kang Hi which denounces Christianity is, notwithstanding Treaties and last summer's Edict, still ordered to be read and explained in every county to the people twice every month ; that nothing is done to shew proper disapproval of the authors or publishers of the scandalous libels of th»-6hine9e-lLBlu&_gooks"; that though the members of the Ko-lao Hui who meditated rebellion against the Manchus are ferreted out for torture, execution and slicing from every province far and near, and the rebellion in the North was put down by the destruction of 15,000 lives and the degradation for life of some of the leading mandarins, yet those who took a leading part in publishing and circulating every\^'here libellous literature to incite people to violence against Foreigners — z. crime which, according to the proclamation of the Shanghai Taotai, is punishable with death — are still unpunished and even unarrested ! When su^h flagrant violators of all peac e as the authors of the Hunan puKllcaiiohS^e^itftefTen months, unarrested, what claim has China to any of the privTIegcs~.of ihiernational law?

Of late the Chinese are agitating for further punishment of Mason, a foreigner who has already been sentenced to nine months imprisonment. But what of the hundreds of Chinese officials and gentry who have been egging on their countrymen to murder foreigners ? None of these have even been seriously tried or punished, and, what is more, their iniquitous publications such as the "Blue Books," Sacred Edict, etc., are still circulated unchecked ! May it not be that foreign Governments after failing to get even a semblance of justice will put this down for a future day of reckoning when opportunity presents itself?

As to measures taken for circulating truth instead of falsehood and for establishing schools in all the provinces for the enlightenment of China in regard to all important world-wide matters, we knoNv of nothing having been done as yet— except talk,

THE ANTI-FOREIGN RIOTS.

while the millions of its pupils throughout the empire are still kept in absolute darkness about the geography of the world or the history of any nations outside Asia !

So long as the main causes of the Riots are still left untouched and the Government seems to have little objection to persistent and widespread attacks on foreigners by the foulest libels provided it does not come to open rupture, is there any hope of permanent peace? As both Chinese law and international law are persistently ignored by the Chinese, it is certain that Foreign Powers will suddenly, and when least expected perhaps, say — as Lord Salisbury hinted last summer — as you Chinese cannot or will not keep the peace henceforth we will do it for you 1

If I were the most patriotic of Chinamen, instead of encouraging discord as so many leading Chinamen do now, I would rouse Heaven and Earth to get China cease from this attitude of constantly and deliberately irritating Foreign Powers by the false assumption running through all their spontaneous publications that all Christians are bad ; for should it suit Western Powers — ^as it may some day — to unite against China, she would be remorselessly crushed under the European heel as though she were a stinging intolerable viper. But if China were freely to admit that there are good people in all countries and were to learn the arts of the West in addition to those of her own country, then in thirty years China would not only be the leading independent power in Asia but would be a Power that even united Europe would hesitate to attack. Those who best know and observe the laws of God in nature, in men and in nations prosper best, those who know them least prosper least. Without knowledge there is constant weakness and peril, with knowledge and virtuous use of it is strength and safety.

The ignorant think that Christian civilization and Chinese civilization are antagonistic, like two implacable enemies who must fight a duel in which one must be killed. Those who well know both, know that the best in China and in the West are in perfect harmony. Let the best of the two civilizations unite and nothing but good will follow. Should China still oppose the best and despise knowledge, then neither the Powers in Heaven or on earth will let it prosper long. It is for China to choose whether to

prosper or perish ! ^ ^

ou u • A 1 Q Friend of China.

Shanghai, April 1892.

THE RIOTS.

THE RIOTS.

RIOTS IN SZECHUAN, 1886- 1890.

(Abridged from the condensed translation of the compte vendu sent by the Lazarist Fathers in Szechuan to the French Government, which appeared in North-China Herald for May 29th and June 5th, 1891.)

In July 1886 the Mission houses at Chungking [Roman Catholic, Methodist Episcopal and China Inland Mission] were pillaged and burned. Lo, a catholic, was attacked by rioters when his house was full of friends and relatives assembled for a funeral. He used the right acknowledged by all nations of repelling violence by violence, — that is, when it is a case of breaking into a house and threatening the lives of many, — but he was on that account put to death without trial.

At Lungchui near Tawan where there were 600 Christians, rumours of attack to be made at the Festival of Linkwan were circulated. The mandarin put a proclamation to warn the people that if they created a disturbance they would be punished, but the mob disregarded that and pillaged and burnt the church and two schools ; seventy families fled to the mountains to save their lives while their houses were burnt and pillaged by the savage mob. Similar violence was perpetrated at Mapao notwithstanding the proclamation of the mandarin. This was on the 21st July.

The next day in other places — Keongao, Minkiang, Wanku, Chewan, Ongkimiao— were likewise attacked. The rioters had raised all the country side and proclaimed that they had orders from the Emperor and mandarins to destroy Christianity. Monseigneur Coupat took refuge in the Taotai's yam^n while many Christians fled for their lives. One of the rioters who had wounded one of the militia was shot. This put an end to the persecution of 1886.

A Weiyuen [Commissioner] was sent down from Chingtu, the provincial capital, to examine into the whole question, but, instead of examining into the merits of the case, he rated the people for becoming Christians, adding that if they had remained Confusianists they would not have had trouble.

In November of the same year (1886) an official document was received stating that Tls. 15,000 should be paid as an indemnity for property destroyed, but none of the persecutors were punished. Thus was the persecution of that year settled.

In March 1888, the Catholics began to rebuild the church destroyed at Lungchui, but in July at the feast of Linkwan the church was again burnt and a raid was made on the Christians in the surrounding country similar to that of 1886. Twice were leaders of riots arrested and twice were they rescued by the rioters on their way to Chungking, and the Hsien magistrate was greatly insulted while interfering in the matter.

Another Commissioner was sent down to settle the matter. It was agreed that the church should be permitted to be rebuilt on condition that none of the former rioters be punished !

In 1890 when the church was being built again there was another attack on it on 4th August by about 30,000 people. Happily they were checked then by the military authorities ; but a week later (the nth) another attack was made, and all the farms and shops of the Christians were burnt or destroyed for the third time in four years, and several Christians were killed in a most brutal manner.

On the 14th August, Mapao was similarly attacked with more murders and burning of churches and Christians' houses and a reign of terror was continued for months by this leader of the rioters. A Commissioner was sent to inquire into the affair. He made up his mind from the beginning that there must have

THE RIOTS.

been faults on both sides — listened however only to the reports of the non-Christians who declared that the Christians had killed ten persons.

September 23rd and 24th. — The rioters now numbered about 10,000 and were a terror all round ; the Christians had to flee for their lives. When they presented themselves at Chungking before the mandarin for protection, instead of protecting them, he exhorted them in full tribunal to apostatise then they should have protection ! After this, reminding them of what had been done to Lo at Chungking, the sub-Prefect charged the Christians with assembling 100 fighting men in the oratory.

October 23rd to November loth. — At this date the rioters finding themselves supported by the mandarins came again about 2,000 strong. On their flags they had " By order of the Emperor, destruction of religious rebellion : General Tsiang Chow, in command." All the Christians were attacked again, and all the buildings sacked, burnt and destroyed. It was then that the local mandarin committed his most odious injustice. When he heard that about 100 of these Christian women were fleeing to the city for refuge from the rioters, he ordered the city gates to be closed against them and the poor women had to go on to Chungking, four days journey further off, before they could get refuge from the insults of the populace. One young woman was stripped of her clothes and dragged into a temple where the brigands were, while an old man of seventy was murdered.

At this stage the indignation of the people was roused against the rioters and in favour of the Christians.

To sum up — there were about 2,000 Christians taking refuge in Chungking not daring to return to their houses because of the burning, spoiling, outrages and murders committed on them incessantly. Over sixty had died of exposure and hardship. An official report was drawn up accusing the Missionary of having killed eighteen people in his oratory, but when the Missionary asked to be heard in defence they refused him a hearing. Such is Chinese justice!

To settle the matter the Taotai sent three delegates and proposed : —

" I. That there should be no indemnity, seeing that the Christians had brought their misfortunes upon themselves.

" 2. That Father Pons should be recalled, as unsuited for this part of the country, having been three times driven out.

" 3. The Christians who are Chinese to be judged by their own authorities ; therefore those who have wounded the people (true or false this must be acknowledged), shall be punished according to the laws.

''4. The two oratories of Lungchiu and Mapao shall be placed elsewhere.

" 5. The rebels, of whom a list had been sent in, having troubled the country, shall be taken and judged one after the other."

All this was simple mockery until peace was established. This is how the Chinese authorities observe the Treaties in regard to the Christian religion !

YANGCHOW RIOT.

That a serious outrage was contemplated at Yangchow some ten days ago on the Jesuit Mission there appears to be no doubt, but the would-be rioters were promptly "sat upon" by the Chinese authorities with the help of a large contingent of soldiers. The cause, as usual, is the dissemination of reports of the alleged ill-treatment of children at the orphanage, and it was even reported that one of them had been boiled in a bath ! What an interesting people these Chinese are !

Chinkiang, loth May.

WUHU RIOT.

I

Sir, — News will doubtless have reached you of the disturbance we have had here for the last few days.

It appears that two Chinese Sisters connected with the Jesuit Mission here were out on Sunday afternoon last, and as they proceeded along the street were greeted with the usual cry of the beggars and children. They are said to have spoken kindly to two of the children and patted them on the head, at which the people set upon them saying they were using medicine to stupify

THE RIOTS, II and take away the speech and hearing of the children that they might steal them and send them to Shanghai. A great crowd gathered and took both the women and children to the local official who, becoming frightened, sent them to the Hsien,

The crowd continued to increase and become more noisy, and call for the destruction of the Jesuit Mission property.

The Hsitn^ however, managed to quiet them down though they did not disperse.

On Tuesday they got more vociferous and in the afternoon went in a body to the Jesuit Mission premises, but the priests had already fled, so that after but slight resistance on the part of the Chinese attendants, the gates were smashed in and the walls pulled down, the crowd rushing in hooting and yelling.

Spades were called for and some of the graves of those buried in the compound were opened and the contents held up as proof positive of foul play. The bodies were too much decomposed to be recognised, yet they were declared to be the remains of Chinamen cut up by the foreigners. At the sight of these the crowd broke into cries to destroy the premises, so oil was brought and thrown over everything and lighted ; the whole place soon became enveloped in flame and all that now remains of the fine buildings are bare and blackened walls and broken bricks.

About dusk the crowd broke into the English Consulate causing the Consul and his wife to beat a hasty retreat in disguise.

About this time the Taotai arrived with soldiers and surrounded the Consulate, thus preventing its destruction, though a great deal of damage was done to the walls and grounds.

The attention of the mob was now turned to several large blocks of buildings belonging to the Jesuits, including the Customs' premises and the residences of nearly the whole of the staff; much of which was new property and had only been occupied a few days. Here, however, they met with resistance.

Our gallant Commissioner and his brave staff were determined to defend their premises to the last. Each was armed with a musket and bayonet, the streets were barricaded and patrols set.

Such was the determination of the mob to destroy the Customs, that the defenders had to rally time after time and, led by the Commissioner, charge the mob, many of whom can now tell to a trifle the weight of a musket.

Wednesday morning all the foreign residents were called to the Tchhsing by the Consul, who had detained the steamer.

On Wednesday evening three Chinese men-of-war which were passing up river (one of which had the Futai of Anhui on board) came to anchor in front of the Concession and fired a broadside or two ; this with the aid of a good shower of rain quickly scattered the people.

We cannot speak too highly of the bravery of the Commissioner and all the members of both the indoor and outdoor staff, as well as of some of the other foreign residents who kept constant guard for nearly forty-eight hours.

It is without doubt entirely owing to this prompt and vigorous action that the rest of the foreign residences were not destroyed and probably some lives lost. The generous kindness of Mr. T. Weatherstone, agent of Butterfield and Swire, and Captain Cain and officers of the 8.s. Tehhsing demand thethanks of the whole community, most of whom are in some way indebted to them for services rendered

Captain Cain and his officers did all they could to make the ladies and children comfortable by giving up their rooms and supplying all their needs.

I have just come away from the scene of the riot and can only say that the destruction is complete; what the fire left the people systematically tore down and carried away, several of them losing their lives by falling walls in their eagerness to get all they could.

The port is much quieter now and we are expecting the English and French gunboats up any time.

John Wallev.

Methodist Episcopal Mission, Wuhu, 14th May.

II

Sir, — Since I last wrote we have been somewhat quieter. The Futai and the attendant men-of-war left on Thursday morning, and we have looked in vain for any further protection until Friday evening, when the Inconstant arrived, and a small Chinese gunboat on Saturday.

But the poor Britishers are still looking for the promised Blue Jackets. When will they appear ?

The vigorous action of the foreign residents seems to have been a good lesson and would no doubt have efTectually quelled the disturbance if it had been followed up by as vigorous a show of authority, and we should have been entirely free from further difficulty. But there is still a very decided anti-foreign feeling.

The proclamation issued by the Taotai instead of soothing the angry feelings of the people '\% calculated rather to irritate and is, in fact, causing an uneasy movement among the people, lliough the proclamation commands the people to return quietly to their homes under pain of immediate death if caught in any disturbance, yet he tacitly acknowledges that there may have been cause for the up-rising by saying: "If you find that these institutions kidnap or steal children, don't create any disturbance but bring the matter before the proper authorities to be dealt with."

It is probably the result of this that there appears this morning a placard, supposed to be issued by the Ko-lao Hui, abusing in very liberal terms the foreigner "iiTgenerar and the Catholic Mission in particular, and then proceeding to say that : '* Protestants and Catholics are about the same, you have already destroyed the Catholic properly, let 10,000 come together as one man on the 20th of tliis month and completely destroy all the property belonging \o botli missions on Vihchishan All Chinese living or having goods on these premises uke care to move at once."

This is how we stand at present ; what the end will be we cannot say. True, we have plenty of soldiers sent from different parts to protect us, but this is not re-assuring when we know that part of the prisoners taken with booty in their hands dunng the riot, were these same protectors with their uniform turned inside out. So I am sure you will not blame us for not placing much trust in such protection.

The grave that was opened was that of one of the priests who died here some months ago. The coffin was opened and the body searched for treasure supposed to be buried there. Had not the Hsien arrived at this juncture, it is probable that other graves would have been ser\xd in a similar way.

An astonishing part of these proceedings is the cool manner in which ever)nhing was torn down and carried away. A large iron chest supposed to be a safe, requiring ten or twelve men to carry, was quietly carried off in broad daylight. Heavy beams and planks requiring several men to carry them were carried in op>en daylight past the foreign residences.

Even large bronze figures nearly life size, supposed to be intended for the Cathedral in course oi erection, were carried past the line of soldiers on guard without any question being asked, and now stand in an op>en p^ce not far away from the scene of the riot.

It is said that some at least of the thieves and rioters have met with severe punishment, for several have met with their death by the falling walls, while others staying too long in the burning building fell from the upper story into the burning mass below and were burnt to death.

Some twenty or thirty of those taken in the act are in the hands of the officials and are said to be awaiting the executioner's knife.

The desecration of the graves has caused much excitement among the men on board the French gun-vessel.

John VVallev.

Methodist Episcopal Mission, Wuhu, 1 6th May.

III

For some time past rumours had been afloat here that the mob intended burning down the Jesuit cathedral, buildings, etc. At first no great credence was placed in these rumours, but on the 1 2th inst. immense crowds began to assemble in the vicinity of the Jesuit compound. The Consul, acting on information received, had repeatedly warned the Taotai that he feared a riot was imminent and asked him to concert measures to prevent destruction to property and probable loss of life. However, with typical Chinese apathy, no measures were apparently taken to disperse the rioters who had now assembled outside the Jesuit compound to the number of about 5,000. Meanwhile numbers of old women were howling round the walls and endeavouring to incite the mob to attack the Fathers, by saying that their children had been killed by the Fathers and their eyes used as medicine. The raison (THre of this attack on the Jesuits is not very evident.