Legation of
the United States,
Peking, April 15, 1892.
(Received May 27.)
No. 1516.][Inclosure in No.
1516.—Translation.]
Kung, taotai of
Hankow, to Mr. Andrews.
Upon the February 21, 1892, the taotai received a communication from his
excellency Chang, governor-general, stating that he had received a joint
note from the consuls, acting consuls, vice-consuls, and acting
vice-consuls, representing the various foreign powers at Hankow, wherein
they referred to the fact that the Chinese authorities of Hukuang had
not exerted themselves to respect and carry into effect the stringent
prohibitory injunctions set forth in the imperial decree of the 13th
June, 1891, against the posting of anonymous placards, which the
consular body regarded with great dissatisfaction. They had heard that
in spite of the imperial edict, and in spite of the orders given by the
yamên, a dissemination not only in secret but entirely openly is being
made by evil-doers to excite Chinese to exterminate Christians and to
ruin the Christian religion. It is known, moreover, that placards have
been posted on the walls of various cities, especially in Hunan.
Further, that several thousand copies of a pamphlet called “Kwei-chiao
Kai sze” (Death to the Devil’s Religion) have been printed in the
capital of Hunan. The consul’s protest against the weakness of the
provincial authorities in making the edict of His Imperial Majesty
respected, and request the viceroy to take in future such measures as
they may deem expedient to put a stop to these hostile disseminations.
They also believe that these pamphlets and placards are not the work of
simple men, but of educated persons holding official positions, and that
it is absolutely necessary that the guilty parties of all ranks should
be punished in an exemplary manner. They further inform the viceroy that
they deem it their duty to bring the above protest to the notice of the
different representatives of the foreign powers at the court of
Peking.
[Page 106]
The viceroy observes that the laws of China prohibit most strenuously the
posting of anonymous placards. He has at various times issued
proclamations against the practice, and has embodied in them the
imperial decree of June 13, 1891, and issued instructions that it be
duly respected and vigorous prohibitory measures be taken in the
premises, all of which is a matter of record. Excepting the recent case
of the pawn shop in the district of Huang Pi, province of Kupeh, where
the parties were arrested and punished, the viceroy has not heard of any
cases of the posting of placards. According to a communication from Mr.
Consul Gardner 800,000 copies of the pamphlet “Death to the Devil’s
Religion” have been printed in Hunan. The viceroy at once communicated
with the governor of Hunan to instruct the officials to take stringent
measures to prohibit their circulation and punish the guilty parties. It
is evidently clear that those guilty will necessarily be punished. The
foreign merchants and missionaries have only to continue as heretofore
to carry on their business and peacefully propagate their religion. The
missionaries, however, should respect the viceroy’s proclamation, and
for the present not receive foundlings in their asylums, and thus
further trouble will naturally be avoided and the advantage of due
protection called for by treaty be accomplished. As to how vigorous
prohibitory measures should be taken and punishment inflicted, these are
matters with which, the Chinese local officials themselves have
authority to deal. The viceroy instructs the customs taotai to
communicate the above to the foreign consuls.
