Mr. Denby to Mr. Olney.
Peking, August 29, 1895. (Received Oct. 8.)
Sir: I have the honor to append on the overleaf a copy of my telegram of yesterday,* relating to the refusal of the Chinese Government to degrade and punish the ex-viceroy of Szechuan.
Before the Szechuan riots took place this official was ordered to be superseded, but was not technically degraded and there was no prohibition against his applying for another official place. This deprivation of office had no relation to his conduct toward foreigners.
It is the universal opinion among foreigners in China that an example must be made of some high officials; that they must be punished for their negligence or culpability, and that public notice must be given that they are punished because thereof. The mere payment of damages, the execution of even a few helpless vagabonds, have no deterrent effect on the masses of the people. They pay no part of the damages and they have no regard for human life.
From the beginning of the discussion of the Szechuan riots, I have, uniformly and many times, demanded that an imperial decree be issued punishing the ex-Viceroy Liu, whose culpable negligence and responsibility for the riots are not denied by the Tsung-li Yamên.
I have again addressed the Yamên on the subject and will transmit the correspondence.
I have, etc.,
- See Supra.↩