Legation of
the United States,
Peking, December 17, 1874.
(Received February 24, 1875.)
No. 13.]
[Inclosure in No. 13.]
Mr. Sheppard to Mr.
Avery.
United
States Consulate,
Tien-tsin, December 14,
1874.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copy
of a letter from the Rev. John Maclntyre, testifying to the good effects
produced upon the Chinese by reason of the official action which was
taken at Che-foo last summer, and resulted in the trial and punishment
of the ringleaders of the riotous attack upon an American missionary at
Chimi.
I should not feel warranted in troubling you with this letter, but for
the fact that it comes gratuitously from an intelligent, disinterested
witness, and represents fairly what I believe to be the result of the
joint trial of the Chimi rioters by the Taotai and myself at Che-foo,
and of the proclamation which was issued and made public respecting the
same.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. Benj. P. Avery,
United States Minister.
[Subinclosure in No. 13.]
Mr. MacIntyre to
Mr. Cornabé.
Che-foo, October 15,
1874.
W. A Cornabé, Esq.:
My Dear Sir: I shall take it kind if you will
express my thanks in the proper quarter, where it is due, for the
protection and immunity from insult, which, as a British subject, I have
this summer enjoyed, through the successful management of the Chimi
affair, One has to go but a short way into the interior to find even
district magistrates affecting ignorance of most important provisions of
the treaty; and under such circumstances it is but natural that the
common people should look upon the foreigner as an unauthorized
intruder, and refuse to exercise toward us that courtesy which so
eminently characterizes the Chinese nation. I have been long convinced
that only one step remained to be taken to put all classes upon their
good behavior, and that is, an official notification by every prefect
and district magistrate Such as that so happily issued at Che-foo last
July.
The Chinese are a people willing to be governed, and, with good
governors, few nations would even now surpass them in order and
behavior. Let the Chinese authorities, therefore, but declare the
provisions of the treaty, giving the people honestly to understand that
they themselves shall see the same enforced, and there will be an end to
this shuffling policy on the part of individual magistrates, and to the
uncertainty on the part of the people. As to the status of the
foreigner, it has hitherto been too often impossible for a district
magistrate to act fairly towards him, lest it should prejudice him with
his superiors, and present him in an unpatriotic aspect to the common
people. For the same reason influential civilians must either forego
intercourse with educated foreigners or enjoy it under circumstances
which counterbalance its advantages I have repeatedly heard such
sentiments from the Chinese themselves since the Taotai’s proclamation
was issued. The proclamation has been well received over the entire
district, and more than one influential person has declared that we
ought from the first to have been furnished with such a document, or
before ever we came into the inter or. I think it due to say that the
Chinese authorities have acted most honorably in the matter. Not only
has the proclamation received every publicity, but the people clearly
understand that it must be respected.
I n need not say how much this has contributed to my personal comfort,
sojourning, as I do, many days’ journey from the seaport. But I rejoice
now in the higher consideration that the Chinese authorities have taken
such a worthy step in the direction of good government.
I am yours, very sincerely,
JOHN MACINTYRE,
Mission of United
Presbyterian Church, Scotland.
