No. 98.
Mr. Holcombe to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking
,
October 28, 1878.
(Received December 19.)
No. 61.]
Sir: I have the honor to hand to you herewith,
copies of four dispatches which I have received from our consul at Foochow,
narrating the destruction by a Chinese mob, of certain premises owned and
occupied by the English Church Missionary Society at his port, and
subsequent events in connection with the riot.
The property in question was located upon a hill within the walls of the city
of Foochow, and has been in the quiet possession of the missionaries of the
society named, for more than twenty years. Quite near to it are buildings
and grounds held by the British Government for consular purposes, but which
have not been occupied for some considerable time, as the consul of Her
Majesty prefers to reside in the foreign settlement which lies across the
river. And in the immediate vicinity of the scene of the riot is an
establishment of the missionaries of the “American Board.”
So far as 1 can learn no question as to the residence of the foreigners, upon
the premises which have been destroyed, had ever been raised until about
eighteen months ago, when the populace began to make complaints that foreign
buildings, placed upon this elevation and overlooking the native residences,
interfered with the “feng shui,” and brought ill fortune upon the lives and
the business of the Chinese.
These complaints increased until in the summer of 1877, when the local
authorities, through the British consul, proposed to the missionaries to
remove from the premises in question, offering to give them in [Page 184] exchange a more valuable property
situated in the foreign settlement across the river, and owned by the
Chinese Government. Mr. Wolfe, the head of the mission, did not look with
favor upon the proposition, objecting that it would remove him to a distance
of nearly six miles from the scene of his daily labor, and interfere
seriously with the success of his efforts among the Chinese.
Upon being urged he consented, however, to refer the question to his
superiors in London.
It was at about this juncture that my visit to Foochow, which you will
doubtless remember, took place. During my interviews with the viceroy and
governor, they on several occasions adverted to the effort being made to
secure the removal of the English, missionaries from the city, and said
frankly that they feared disturbances among the people if the point were not
granted.
From these remarks I gathered that the object ultimately in view was the
removal of not only the English, but of all missionaries from the city to
the foreign settlement, and that they “moved upon the position” of the
English first, simply because their location offered readier excuses for the
effort. It should be remarked that there are no foreigners excepting those
of this class, resident within the city of Foochow.
The reply received from London was unfavorable to the views of the Chinese.
Thereupon statements began to be made that the title of the foreigners to a
part, at least, of the premises in question was invalid. These assertions
gained currency to such an extent that they were brought officially to the
notice of the British consul by the local authorities, and at length a day
was fixed when the officers of the two governments, accompanied by Mr.
Wolfe, should visit the property and there examine into their truth. And it
was upon this day, August 30, and in the very presence of the officials
named that a mob gathered and the destruction of the buildings was
accomplished.
This conjunction of events was, to say the least, peculiar, and it is
somewhat remarkable that no effort seems to have been made by the Chinese
authorities to restrain their people.
Mr. De Lano lost no time in informing me of the occurrences, and as I
considered the interests of our people to be threatened to some extent, I at
once addressed Rear-Admiral Patterson, requesting him to dispatch a vessel
of war to Foochow. I inclose copies of my letters to him and to Mr. De
Lano.
I also inclose a copy of the admiral’s answer from which you will see that
prior to the receipt of my request he had ordered the United States steamer
Alert to proceed to the scene of the disturbance.
I have not time at the moment to comment further upon this affair, but shall
have occasion to revert to it at an early day.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 61.]
Mr. DeLano to Mr.
Holcombe
.
Foochow
,
August 31,
1878.
No. 109.]
Sir: On yesterday afternoon an immense mob of
Chinese, led by the literati, assembled upon the premises of the English
Church mission at Wu Shih Shan, within the vcity walls of Foochow, to
give expression to their indignation on account of the erecition by the
mission of a fine school building, then in course of construction and
nearly completed.
At present I am, only so far advised about the matter as to be able to
say that, for a [Page 185] long time past
the literati and gentry have sought to effect the ejection of the
mission from the city, and have stubbornly resisted the erection of this
school building from the first, and the officials have so far yielded to
their demands as to have, some time since, entered upon negotiations
with the mission’s agent, the Rev. Mr. Wolfe, looking toward an exchange
of their property for other property outside the city. Mr. Wolfe, under
instructions from the society, declined to make the exchange, and
persisted in going on with the construction of the building (which was
being erected within the compound where other mission buildings have
been standing for some years).
A meeting of the Chinese officials, Her Majesty’s consul, and Mr. Wolfe,
upon the premises was arranged for yesterday, upon which occasion a mob
of some thousands of people assembled, and by them the objectionable
building was fired and destroyed; the officials, I hear, making but a
very feeble attempt to prevent it.
It is currently rumored that the consul, Mr. Wolfe, and other members of
the mission, were assaulted, but I cannot undertake to state this as a
fact.
“The American Board of Missions” owns property only a short distance from
“Wu Shih Shan,” and it is likely that if the Chinese succeed in ejecting
the English church mission they will not be content till they have also
ejected the Americans. I shall keep you advised of any further
developments in the case.
I have, &c.,
M. M. De LANO,
United States Consul.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 61.]
Mr. De Lano to Mr.
Holcombe.
Foochow
,
September 5,
1878.
No. 110.]
Sir: Recurring to my dispatch No. 109, on the
subject of the riot in the city on the 30th ultimo, I have to report
that much excitement prevails still, and there is reason to fear that,
on account of the complete immunity of the rioters from punishment, more
serious trouble may yet follow. The ringleaders have been pointed out to
the high officials, and, as I understand, their arrest and punishment
has been urged, but to no purpose. The rioters were allowed to assemble
on the premises of the mission on Saturday and Sunday after the burning
of the school building, and no effort was made by the officials to
disperse them. On Sunday they commenced to tear down the walls of the
building which were left standing, when Her Britannic Majesty’s consul,
accompanied by the commander of an English man-of-war, appeared on the
scene, and they were checked in a marked degree by the unsupported
efforts of the commander.
This I mention as proof of the ease with which the outrage might have
been prevented had the Chinese officials made an effort in that
direction. In point of fact, it is positively asserted that the new
Futai, Wu, has sanctioned and encouraged this demonstration, which has
been openly planned by the literati and gentry, and executed by the
rabble, egged on by many of the first named, who were on the scene with
the officials when the building was destroyed.
On Sunday the commander (Napier) accompanied Mr. Sinclair to the
government general and asked to have an armed guard of native soldiers
sent to the scene to protect the property from further destruction, and
the missionaries from further insult and assault, but his excellency
first protested against it, saying that if armed men were sent there it
would encourage the populace and more serious complications would arise.
The request was then repeated in the form of a demand, and after a good
deal of parleying his excellency promised to send the guard. They
informed his excellency that they would return to the scene and await
the guards’ arrival, which they did, and after a good deal of delay the
men appeared, but without arms. They were sent back for arms and again
came with arms, but without ammunition.
They at last returned with arms and ammunition, and were disposed upon
the premises by order of Captain Napier, since when the rioters have
been restrained from further acts of violence; but they openly declare
that the balance of the property shall be destroyed, and avow their
purpose to drive all missionaries from the city. Anonymous placards have
also been posted about the city, calling upon the people to rise and
complete the destruction of the Wu Shih Shan property.
A good deal of uneasiness prevails among the foreign residents, and it is
not easy to predict how the matter may end. If there should not be some
positive and decisive action on the part of the British Government,
there is sure to be, to say the least, a protracted controversy over the
subject of the restoration of the school building, and it is doubtful if
the Chinese allow it to be rebuilt, though it stood upon ground which
was acquired twenty or more years ago.
I have, &c.,
M. M. DE LANO,
United States
Consul.
[Page 186]
[Inclosure 3 in No. 61.]
Mr. De Lano to Mr.
Holcombe.
Foochow
,
September 15,
1878.
No. 111.]
Sir: Since my last to you on the subject of the
Wu Shih Shan riot there has been no further hostile demonstrations
beyond the posting of threatening and incendiary placards.
A second English gunboat arrived here last week, a day or two before the
threatened attack on the 14th of the moon, and came up to the
settlement. This, coupled with the rumor that others were coming, it is
believed, restrained the gentry and allayed the excitement of the
populace, as well as to lead the officials to take some decisive steps
to prevent further outrages.
I inclose herewith a copy of the memorial which is to be sent to the
foreign office, and a copy (printed) of two of the inflammatory placards
alluded to.
I have, &c.,
M. M. DE LANO,
United States
Consul.
To the Right Honorable and Most Noble the Marquis of Salisbury, K. G., &c.,
Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs.
The humble memorial of the undersigned British subjects residing at the
port of Foochow, in the Empire of China, showeth:
- 1.
- That your memorialists view, not only with indignation, but
with much apprehension, the incidents of an outrage by a Chinese
mob on the evening of the 30th ultimo, when property belonging
to the Church Missionary Society at Wu Shih Shan, within the
walls of the city of Foochow, was wantonly and premeditatedly
destroyed.
- 2.
- That being interested in the rights of property, provided by
Article XI and XII of the Tientsin treaty, your memorialsts
naturally feel concerned in drawing your lordship’s attention to
this riot, more especially as the circumstances under which it
originated and was accomplished, seem calculated to weaken the
position of foreign residents, both present and future.
- 3.
- That while aware that the facts of this case have been already
communicated to your lordship by Her Majesty’s consul at this
port, your memorialists, without being in any way desirous of
interfering with the functions or authority of Her Majesty’s
consul, wish to add their independent testimony to the gravity
of the event.
- 4.
- That your memorialists have no doubt as to the validity of the
deeds under which the Church Missionary Society held the
property in question.
- 5.
- That facts, which have since come to the knowledge of your
memorialists, tend to prove that the outrage was an organized
affair, connived at by the Chinese authorities.
- 6.
- That your memorialists are in possession of positive
information, charging a certain man, known by the name of Sin
Ying Lin, with having taken a principal part in organizing this
attack on the mission premises.
- 7.
- That the said Sin Ying Lin is a member of the native gentry
class, and a person enjoying considerable local influence, which
he unlawfully used to excite the ordinarily peaceful inhabitants
against the missionaries; and that he is charged with having
hired a mob by whom the outrage under notice was
perpetrated.
- 8.
- That the Chinese officials whose obvious duty it was, under
Article XVIII of the Tientsin treaty, to have exerted themselves
in preventing this riot by adopting rigorous precautionary
measures, abstained from interfering with Sin Ying Lin and his
associates; and that the latter were permitted to openly
threaten the missionaries with expulsion, and finally to carry
out their settled purpose of destroying the building in
question.
- 9.
- That while the riot was in progress the Chinese officials who
were on the spot absolutely declined to interfere with the
lawless proceedings, and this, notwithstanding the proximity of
a military force which was, there is good reason to believe,
quite competent to deal with the rioters.
- 10.
- That your memorialists can bear personal testimony to the
uniform good conduct and friendly disposition of the lower
orders of the native population towards the foreign residents of
the port; but as regards the local gentry and literati
generally, it is only right to state that many members of this
class make no concealment of their objection to the presence of
foreigners.
- 11.
- That under these circumstances there can be no reasonable
justification of the action, or rather inaction, of the Chinese
authorities; nor, in the opinion of your memorialists, can it be
fairly urged that the native officials were not in a position to
have prevented the late outrage had they desired to do
so.
- 12.
- Finally, your memorialists would respectfully urge the
necessity of taking such [Page 187] prompt measures as may seem to your lordship adequate to the
case, and they trust that, in obtaining ample redress for the
injury inflicted on, and losses sustained by, the Church
Missionary Society, your lordship will see fit to convince the
Chinese authorities of this port that the treaty rights of Her
Majesty’s subjects cannot be violated with impunity.
the wu shih shan riot.
Native placards.
The following are translated copies of placards which have been
extensively posted in the city and suburbs during the past week:
1. “The heroic and good men of the empire (Teen heir) are to assemble at
the grand meeting to be held at Wu Shih Shan on the evening of the 14th
of the 8th moon, for the purpose of exterminating all the foreign
thieves residing in the province (Fohkien). They cannot be permitted to
live (among our people) and (we must) recover our Feng Shui land, which
they have encroached upon.
“If the mandarins interfere, they will be murdered—the official dogs! On
recovering our Feng Shui land, then the state will be prosperous, the
people peaceable, the winds moderate, and the rains favorable. Let all
the people exert themselves.”
“You official dogs! you official dogs!! Remember that the Viceroy of the
two Kwang—Yang Wei Chen (? Yeh ming chen) fell into the clutches of the
foreign thieves. It was in this way: He was invited by the foreign
thieves to an entertainment (led to drink wine) on board of one of their
vessels, and as soon as he got on board, they sailed to the foreigners’
country, where they disemboweled him, and exhibited his entrails at the
seven gates of their city. They are not brave! They are not
brave!!—These barbarian thieves! These barbarian thieves!!
“Issued by the people of the two Kwang (i. e.,
Kuangtung and Kwanghsi).”
2. “The foreigners are decidedly wrong in encroaching by force upon our
Feng Shui land. They insult the ignorant people of our country, and
regard them with contempt and aversion. They look upon all our
officials, both civil and military, with scorn (for they see) that in
the discharge of their official duties there is no one to lead or direct
them. They make no distinction between the good and the bad; they wildly
brandish (their sticks) like an acrobat. This is very vulgar. They
deceive the people, and get them to embrace their religion and join
their churches. The vices prevailing among them are well known. Their
churches are a banditti hold; they are known to be guilty of uncleanly
acts; the more they increase in number the worse they act. They are
dangerous! If these terrible men are not exterminated, then we (the
people), are not equal to the birds of the air and the beasts of the
field. We must not try to imitate the officials—they are stupid. These
stupid officials are afraid to take action; not like the people, who
love to give vent to their feelings, and who fired the foreign house,
which the officials could not prevent, for, when they tried to do so the
other day, the youngsters exerted themselves with a will, and in a short
time the building was destroyed.
“We are still unsatisfied with the work accomplished, and what is the use
of deputing soldiers when the will of the people is to destroy (the
remaining buildings). Do not blame us! Do not say that we were wrong—for
the land is public property, and if there had been (a single person)
unwilling to assist in the destruction of the building he would have
offended the people. Not one of us could bear being charged with having
carried dissatisfaction among the people.
“We therefore explain to you in a straightforward manner (and request you
to) carefully view the condition of affairs (?) Bear in mind that ten of
the literati petitioned the officials about the land in question; and if
they are involved in trouble, we (the people) are to come forward in a
body and assist them, and see what action the officials will take. If
they are to be punished, then we are to exert ourselves to the utmost,
and see who will gain the day! This matter concerns the entire populace
of the city; every man has an interest at stake, and succeed (we must),
if we break out in open rebellion. Let there be no encroachment on our
Feng Shui land; if there is, we will then declare war (lit: invite you
to fight us).
“Issued by the people of the entire city (Foochow) for the information of
the foreigner Hu.”
[Inclosure 4 in No. 61.]
Mr. De Lano to Mr.
Holcombe.
Foochow
,
October 5,
1878.
No. 113.]
Sir: Recurring to the Wu Shih Shan riot, I have
to inform you that since the date of my last to you on the subject there
have been no further acts of violence committed by the Chinese, though
they have been prolific in threats against foreigners, and foreign [Page 188] property in the city. From the
30th of August to September 19, five men-of-war arrived here (four
English and one American) and this evidently had the effect to move the
authorities to the exercise of special energy and efforts to prevent
further outrage or destruction of property.
About the date of the arrival of the United States ship Alert in port, to
wit, the 18th September, placards were posted threatening the
destruction of the remainder of the English Church Mission property on
Wu Shih Shan, and the expulsion of all foreigners from the city. There
was every reason to believe that these incendiary placards emanated from
the literati, Hing, who led the incendiary mob on the 30th August and
who has been repeatedly pointed out to the authorities; and it has been
well known that this man has all along been with his ruffian followers
quartered in a temple adjoining the mission premises, yet no move has
been made toward his arrest.
Yesterday, the 4th, being the Chun Yang festival, was fixed upon for
another demonstration against foreigners. Many thousands of people
repaired to the hill to fly kites and to worship, and it was feared that
trouble would arise, but many officials were on the spot or stationed
near the mission premises with a large body of soldiers, and the day
passed without any hostile demonstration being made. I have every reason
to believe that the riotous propensities of Hing and his followers will
now be held in check until a settlement of the burning of the college
building has been effected.
The United States ship Alert will likely leave here in the course of a
week.
I have, &c.,
M. M. DE LANO,
United States
Consul.
[Inclosure 5 in No. 61.]
Mr. Holcombe to
Rear-Admiral Patterson.
Peking
,
September 10,
1878.
Sir: I am informed by M. M. De Lano, esq.,
United States consul at Foochow, that a somewhat serious disturbance has
occurred at his port, which has resulted in the destruction of a
considerable amount of property owned by English missionaries, and that
American-owned property lying in the same neighborhood is more or less
in jeopardy.
Under these circumstances, it appears to me that the presence of one of
our vessels of war at that port for a short period may be desirable.
While I am aware that ships cannot ascend the Min River to the city of
Foochow, and hence cannot command the threatened neighborhood, yet the
moral effect of the presence of a vessel may be of service in causing
Chinese officials to put forth the necessary effort to restrain their
people.
I have, therefore, the honor to request that, if it is consistent with
your views and arrangements, you will dispatch a vessel to that port at
your earliest convenience.
I shall send this dispatch under flying seal to our vice consul-general,
requesting him to communicate with the senior naval officer at Shanghai
or with you by telegram direct.
I have, &c.,
CHESTER HOLCOMBE,
Chargé
d’Affaires.
[Inclosure 6 in No. 61.]
Mr. Holcombe to Mr.
De Lano.
Peking
,
September 10,
1878.
No. 63.]
Sir: I have the honor to receive your dispatch
No. 109 of the 31st ultimo, reporting a disturbance at your port, and
thank you for the promptness with which you communicated the fact to
me.
I have furnished my colleague, Her Britannic Majesty’s chargé d’affaires,
with the substance of your dispatch, to whom it was the first intimation
that trouble had occurred.
In view of the present situation, I have requested Rear-Admiral Patterson
to send a vessel of war to your port for a short time.
I am, &c.,
[Page 189]
[Inclosure 7 in No. 61.]
Rear-Admiral Patterson to Mr. Holcombe.
United
States Flag-ship Monocacy (3d rate),
Yokohama, Japan
,
October 2, 1878.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of September 10, in relation to the recent
disturbance at Foochow. Previous to its reception I had ordered the
United States steamer Alert, Commander R. Boyd, U. S. N., commanding,
from Amoy to that place.
I shall be glad at all times to hear from you in relation to American
interests in China, and to co-operate with you in their promotion and
protection.
Very respectfully, &c.,
F. H. PATTERSON,
Rear-Admiral.
