Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, January 16,
1902.
No. 885.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
translations of several edicts which have appeared within the past week,
and which seem to show an earnest desire on the part of the Chinese
court to placate the foreign powers by the punishment of several
officials implicated in the “Boxer” outrages, by strict orders for the
protection of the missionaries, and by educational reforms which may
secure more intelligent officials for the management of international
affairs than have been available in the past.
The usual depreciation of western learning appears, however, in the
expectation that within a few months enough may be learned to render men
efficient in the discussion of the problems which need an acquaintance
with modern science for their solution.
This cheap estimate of any knowledge which the West can give them has
vitiated all the educational reforms that have been projected by the
Chinese in the past.
The decision to reopen the Imperial University at Peking is an important
one, but the trusting of its entire management to Mr. Chang Po-hsi does
not augur well for its success, although he is a progressive man and was
one of the supporters of K’ang Yu-wei. He is a man of thorough Chinese
education, but he has no such intimate acquaintance with western
sciences or educational methods, as to fit him for such an important
post as that of preparing the courses of study and regulations of the
university.
It is true, of course, that there is a faculty composed of European and
American scholars, of which our countryman, Dr, W. A. P. Martin, is the
president, and he will naturally consult with them, but it is understood
that these are all to be discharged and others engaged in their places;
and so long as the Chinese show an entire unwillingness to trust the
entire management of their schools for a time to capable foreign
educators they will fail, as they have in the past, to make these
schools anything more than a sham. The “T’ung-wen Kuan” mentioned in one
of the edicts as having placed under the same management as the
university is the old school of languages established many years [Page 182] ago in Peking, of which Dr.
Martin was president before assuming the more responsible post of
president of the university.
The edict depriving certain officials of their rank and prohibiting their
reemployment in any official capacity because of their connection with
the “Boxer” movement, as well as that charging the various provincial
and local authorities with the more careful protection of missions and
the suppression of evil societies, are both commendable, but their value
will depend entirely upon the care which the Government may take in
promulgating and enforcing them. * * *
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Translation from the Peking Gazette of January
10, 1901.
On the 1st of the twelfth moon the following Imperial edict was
received:
“The Hanlin Academy is an institution intended for the culture of
talent. As its members ordinarily have no public duties to discharge
and enjoy quiet leisure, they ought to thoroughly acquaint
themselves with political economy, that they may develop useful
talents and fit themselves for the service of the state. Let the
chancellor of the academy direct the members of the institution to
exert themselves in the study of ancient and modern methods of
government and in Chinese and western branches of learning, that,
whether holding office or otherwise, they may alike keep themselves
posted as to current affairs and not fall into ruts. After the
expiration of five months let them be classified according to their
talents. Let the said chancellor examine them and separate the
proficient from the worthless, and prepare and present a memorial
reporting on the subject.
“Let there be no deception.”
Respect this.
[Inclosure 2.]
Translation from the Peking Gazette of January
10, 1902.
The following edict was issued on January 10:
“The establishment of schools for the cultivation of talent is a most
important thing at the present time. The capital is the chief place
in the Empire, and there should extra care be taken, therefore, to
adopt there such methods as may serve for an example to be followed
elsewhere.
“The Imperial University, which was established here some time ago,
ought at once to be set going in thorough earnest, and we appoint
Chang Po-hsi to be chancellor of said university, and, in all
matters pertaining to it, charge him with the responsibility of
management. We must search for the best methods to produce that
general intelligence and understanding of principles and practice
which will give us efficient men. We further direct him to carefully
consider and decide upon the regulations which ought to be adopted
and report to us as occasion may require.”
Respect this.
[Inclosure 3.]
Translation, from the Peking Gazette of January
11, 1902.
The following edict was received on the 2d of the twelfth moon
(January 11):
“Yesterday we issued an edict concerning the administration of the
Imperial University of Peking, and appointed Chang Po-hsi to be
chancellor thereof. As to the T’ung Wen Kuan, established a long
time ago, let it no longer be controlled by the foreign office, but
let its management be included in the duties of Chang Po-hsi, and
let him at once earnestly employ himself in a conscientious effort
to put things in order and to enforce discipline, that he may
fulfill the obligations of his office.”
Respect this.
[Page 183]
[Inclosure 4.]
Translation from the Peking Gazette of January
13, 1902.
The Peking Gazette of January 13 contained the following edict issued
the same day:
“Last year the ‘Boxers’ stirred up confusion in the country which
gradually grew into a great calamity. It was all due to the lack of
wisdom on the part of princes and ministers who connived at the
corrupt practice of magic, and by the intimidation of the court
accomplished their cruel purposes. Their guilt, therefore, can not
be overlooked. At that time their stupid followers, anticipating
their designs, fawned upon them, and what the one called for the
other accomplished. Their clamorous talking and planning grew to
such proportions as to confuse the senses and really threatened
destruction to the state. Although the doings of some were less
guilty than those of others it is difficult for them to escape the
Imperial notice. They ought all to be punished in order to awaken a
proper respect for official regulations.
“We command that Ho Nai-ying, the senior vice-president of the
censorate, who has already been removed from his post, the expositor
of the Hanlin Academy, P’eng Ch’ing-li; the Hanlin compiler, Wang
Lung-wen; the prefect of Han-chou Fu in Kiangsi, Lien Wen-chung, and
the expectant-prefect of Shensi, Tseng Shih-wei, be all deprived of
their ranks and forbidden forever to hold office.”
Respect this.
[Inclosure 5.]
Translation from the Peking Gazette of January
13, 1902.
We have received the commands of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress
Dowager, Tzu-hsi, etc., as follows:
“The Government has entered into treaty relations with the foreign
powers and reestablished good feeling, which is all very just. For
over a year we have exhorted all the officials who have been
summoned to audience, whether high or low, to acquaint themselves
with current affairs, and to strengthen our relations with foreign
powers. We have constantly urged upon the various department and
district magistrates that they should regard the court as looking
with the same kindly feeling upon missions and missionaries as upon
others, and that they must use extra care to give them protection,
as well as exhort the people and set the example in the matter of
promoting good feeling between the people and the church, and that
they must thoroughly remove all suspicions that are likely to breed
trouble. This sort of exhortation we have given not thrice nor five
times, so that there are plenty of these officials who understand
the good intentions of the court. But those who have not sincerely
observed these injunctions are also not few. Henceforth they must
put away their prejudices, manifest sincerity, and show justice,
choose the good and follow it. Mutual politeness will naturally
enable China and the foreign powers to maintain friendliness, and
together attain a lasting peace. Will this not be a fortunate
circumstance, relieving those in authority and perfecting the
conditions of those under their control? The character of the people
in the different provinces is not uniform; and, even though the good
and gentle may be in the majority, it has often happened that the
evil and treacherous have, by their suggestions, stirred up
suspicion, manufactured rumors, and produced trouble that has
gradually grown into a missionary case, and the masses have become
entangled in it and found no way of escape, when they have
afterwards repented. The remedy lies in having the local officials
keep in friendly relations with their people and in their leading
them as occasion may require.
“If the people and the church get into a quarrel they should hear and
decide the case with justice, without any prejudice, and without
stirring up feeling. As to those who turn to the practices of evil
societies, like the ‘White Lily’ or the ‘Eight Tri-grams’ societies,
and others of that sort, and employ those to sow suspicions among
the people, they are such as the laws can not tolerate. Such
societies have been long ago forbidden, and the officials must at
once publish this for the information of all, and issue strict
orders and make investigation. Should there be lawbreakers, they
must punish them in order to correct the hearts of the people and
secure respect for the law. Let the various Tartar generals,
viceroys, and governors all proceed as directed and publish this
edict for general information.”
Respect this.
