Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, with the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1875, Volume I

No. 173.
Mr. Avery to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, July 19, 1875. (Received September 10.)

No. 81.]

Sir: During the last few weeks there have been several instances of assault upon foreigners in Peking and its vicinity, which I would not think it necessary to report to the Department, if accounts exaggerating their importance were not likely to reach the United States through the newspapers.

First, several of the Cossack guard of the Russian legation were assailed and pelted, while strolling in a portion of the capital where a large crowd of Chinese were met to witness some native races. Then Dr. Bushell and wife, of the British legation, were assailed in the same neighborhood, under similar circumstances, and narrowly escaped serious injury.

Subsequently, Mr. Molleudorf, an attaché of the German legation,, and several student interpreters of the British legation, who were together visiting temples at Pao Hua-Shan, a day or two’s, journey from the city, were fiercely attacked, and all more or less cut and braised by the bricks thrown at them, making a narrow escape with their lives. These cases were all laid before the Tsungli Yamen by the legations directly interested, and, I am told, every disposition is shown to do what is required to discover the guilty leaders of the assaults and to notify the people that foreigners must not be molested.

Another circumstance gave rather more significance to the foregoing assaults in the minds of some of the foreign community here than justly attaches to them. This was the discovery, on the southern wall of the city, of numerous copies of a placard animadverting upon and threatening foreigners. One of these was secured by the British legation and brought to the attention of the Tsungli Yamen by Mr. Fraser, the secretary in charge, who informs me that they have ordered an investigation of the matter. You will see from the translation sent herewith that the placard is a very wild, crazy production, evidently the product of a fanatical mind; but it recites some of the slanderous charges frequently made against foreigners, and could not prudently be overlooked.

These affairs at Peking, following the attacks on missionaries at Shui Chang, Kiu-kiang, and elsewhere, and the more recent assaults on the American and British consuls at Chin-kiang, have made some of the foreign community in China apprehensive that a general plot against them was on the eve of breaking out, and that the direct incitement to this in the native mind was the expectation of a war with England growing out of the Margary affair, to which 1 have before alluded.

I can see no ground for believing in the existence of an exceptionally bad feeling towards foreigners; on the contrary, so far as I can learn, the relations between them and the natives are, as a rule, more harmonious and friendly than formerly, and the outbreaks reported are quite sporadic, no more indicating a conspiracy against foreigners than the acts of ruffianism against Chinese which occur more frequently in the United States, and none of which have been made the subject of diplomatic remonstrance.

It is necessary, however, in order to prevent serious outbreaks in China, to treat each case as it arises with promptness and energy, and this is always aimed at by the diplomatic and consular agents of the United States, in most cases seconded by the native authorities with apparent willingness.

Mr. Consul Johnson, at Hankow, reported to me some weeks ago the existence of an exceptionally bad feeling towards foreigners at that port, Kiu-kiang, and vicinity, and urgently requested that a gunboat might be sent up there.

As there are strong objections to ordering vessels of war far up the Yangtze during the heated term, when our sailors are dangerously exposed to heat-apoplexy, and as, after careful inquiries made through Consul-General Seward at Shanghai, I could not ascertain that the situation at Han-kow and Kiu-kiang justified the alarm evidently felt by Mr. Johnson, I did not think it necessary to act further on his request.

Since that time occurred the attack on the American missionary premises at Kiu-kiang, reported in my No. 79; but that was accidental and unpremeditated, and was so promptly settled by the local officials, without reference to Peking, that I am confirmed iu my opinion that a show of force there is not specially required.

Speaking generally, however, I ought to say that, in my judgment, the number and distribution of war-vessels on the Chinese coast is inadequate to the service of observation and police to which they are assigned. In case of any serious disturbance, which is always a contingency within the range of probability, our citizens would have to rely for needed refuge and protection upon the vessels of other nationalities, so long as our own flag is as meagerly represented as at present.

I have, &c.,

BENJ. P. AVERT.

[Inclosure in No. 81.—Translation]

Incendiary placard against foreigners found posted on the walls of Peking.

Chan King—by the order of Heaven (called) the golden star, great ruler of the gods and demons of the great northern and southern continents, commander-in-chief of the fourth rank, of the constellation of the five planets, Venus, and _____,^* shining upon China from the north, herewith proclaims as follows: Since foreigners are proud and insolent, not obedient to the laws of Heaven nor in harmony with the feelings of men, facts deserving of punishment, I now proclaim for the information of them all that heaven and earth have appointed places for all creatures, and each should remain in his own place.^† Heaven has created all men, and all men ought to live in harmony with the divine ordinances.

Heaven has likened the male and female principles, and all men ought, in obedience thereto, to contract marriages.^‡

Now, you foreigners, I have examined you thoroughly for several years. You insult the Chinese among whom you dwell, as one crime; you destroy young children, and take out their eyes, as a second; and male and female cohabit indiscriminately, as a third.

Shangti^* has commanded me to descend to earth upon the year Chiao Wa, (1834?) upon the year Chiatz, (1864?) to assume power and authority in the latter part of the third month of the year Wu Chen, (1867?)^† Inasmuch as the laws of Jesus concerning marriage were impure and sinful, I stirred up one thousand and four hundred demons of the earth to seize and deliver him over to Shangti, who punished him, and ordered him to make remission for sin.

Now, you foreigners have these three sins, and I forbear with you for a limit of three reflections. If you do not repent, and escape my wrath, I will stir up the gods and demons and bring trouble upon your souls and spirits, punishing without mercy. Every one of you heed this, and disobey not.

poem.

I am from the west, a stranger; in the autumn I descended.

In obedience to Heaven, born upon earth to judge the disobedient;

To take the three soulst^‡ of the sinful—at first the leaders of them.

If the foreigners seek me, I am distant a few li by a straight path.

In the first of the heavenly circuits, Kwang Su, 5th month, 24th day, (June 27, 1875.)

1. Foreign name of this star unknown.
2. That is, foreigners should leave China.
3. That is, one man to one woman.
4. Shangti is the name of one of the gods of the Chinese, and by some is supposed to-mean the true God.
5. These years are given according to the Chinese cycle, and may be either the A. D. years given, or any multiple of sixty years before the dates given. The only point of interest about them is that in their relation to each other they agree with the birth, assumption of power, and crucifixion of our Lord.
6. Chinese believe that each person has three souls.
   C. H.