The assurances of the Viceroys and Governors of the Southern
Provinces--A memorial--Denouncing the Boxers--In the interest of
the Empire--Stringent measures needed--On the verge of a great
calamity--Worried and alarmed.
More reassuring to the Consuls and the foreign community than the
message of the Admirals must have been the assurances given by the
Viceroys and Governors of the southern provinces, as well as the
Imperial High Commissioner of the Yangtze valley, in the following
memorial wired by them to the Throne[8] on June 22. It is significant
that Li-hung-chang’s name does not appear among the memorialists.
[8] Specially translated for the _Shanghai Mercury_.
The memorialists are Li Pingheng, High Commissioner of the Yangtze;
Liu Kunyi, Viceroy of the Liang Kiang; Chang Chih-tung, Viceroy of the
Liang Hu; Lu Chuanlin, Governor of Kiangsu; Wang Chihchun, Governor of
Anhui; Sung Shou, Governor of Kiangsi; Yu Yin-liu, Governor of Hupeh;
and Yu Liensan, Governor of Hunan.
[Sidenote: FORBIDDEN PRACTICES]
“Telegrams from various countries show that the cruel massacres
committed by the Boxers will surely call down vengeance upon China.
If they are not quickly put down the Powers will certainly be angry.
Advices from Japan show that if this is done quickly there is still
time. We are deeply grieved at the reports that the capital is in
danger. The Boxers, under the pretence of exercising magic, are
inciting the people to join them in rebelling against the Government.
In reality their claims are nonsense, as it is impossible to resist
firearms. Practices of this sort were forbidden in the thirteenth year
of the reign of the Emperor Kia-Ching [1796-1809]. Then, if these men
were really patriotic people of Chihli, how is it that their leader,
Li Laichung, is a native of Shensi? This proves that they are but
seditious people, and that they ought to be suppressed. They have
disobeyed the Imperial orders to disperse, and have instead murdered
Chinese and foreigners outside of Pekin, and forced the Imperial High
Commissioner to kill the magistrates of Lai-sui and Hsin-ching. As
they pay no attention to the laws, they are rebels, and therefore
should be suppressed. The characters which they place on their flags,
saying ‘Assist China to exterminate foreigners,’ are but pretences,
such as have been used by the secret societies in different provinces
in times past. If they really claim to assist the Government, how is
it that they disobey the Imperial orders? Now, to the north, east,
south, and west of Pekin, for nearly a thousand _li_ [330 miles],
there are thousands of these people, who are forcing the inhabitants
to supply them with food. The people in these districts are not all
Christians, yet hundreds of them have had their homes burnt, and have
themselves been maltreated or killed. There is famine and drought in
the districts about Pekin this year, and yet the people are forced to
keep these hordes. Therefore they ought to be suppressed. They have
damaged and destroyed the Government telegraphs and railways to the
value of several million taels. They have obstructed the transmission
of Imperial decrees and memorials. They have delayed the movements of
the Imperial troops, they have destroyed countless native and foreign
houses outside Pekin, and in many other ways they have shown that they
are but robbers, and should be suppressed. They are not content with
having forced the country into war with the foreign Powers, but they
must damage foreign property, and even kill the Chancellor of the
Japanese Legation. In every respect they deserve suppression.
“Now, in consequence of all this, Taku has been taken by the foreign
Powers, thousands of foreign troops have been landed at Tientsin, on
the road to the capital, and more are pouring in daily. This shows that
the danger is very pressing, so much so that the time for words is but
short. It must be borne in mind that no country which is in the hands
of rebels has been able to stand as a country, nor does history give us
an example of a country which has been able to preserve its status when
it has gone to war with several nations at the same time without just
cause. The Boxers are unarmed and undisciplined, and have repeatedly
been defeated by the Imperial troops, both in Shantung and Chihli.
Recently they have been defeated by the foreign soldiers in Lofa and in
Tientsin Settlement, and many of them killed. It will be seen that they
can never stand against firearms and shells. It is impossible for such
undrilled, unarmed, and unled mobs to face foreign troops for a moment.
“Therefore we humbly pray your Majesties, the Empress-Dowager and the
Emperor, to bear in mind the interests of the Empire and vigorously
to decide to do what is right, regardless of the unmeaning words
which may be spoken by designing persons, and immediately to issue
edicts ordering the severe punishment and extinction of the Boxers,
to prevent the Imperial troops from making further trouble, and to
relieve the anxiety of those residing in the Legations by informing
them that there is no intention of going on with these troubles.
Inform them that Li-hung-chang has been ordered up to settle matters
with their respective Governments, and request them to order that
hostilities cease; then it will be possible to turn to the Boxers
and put them down. We also pray that Imperial edicts be sent by wire
to the Ministers of China in various countries, apologising for the
past troubles; and let it be known that a large gratuity will be
bestowed for the murder of the Japanese official. Then issue edicts
informing the people that the Government takes all responsibility for
the protection of foreign lives and property, and order the officials
throughout the Empire to take stringent measures for the protection
of foreign merchants and missionaries. This will appease the anger of
the foreign countries. We shall then be able to put affairs in the
Empire upon a good footing. At present the country is on the verge of a
great calamity, and a few days’ delay may mean the breaking up of the
country, and then it will be too late. On account of this we are all
much worried and alarmed.
[Sidenote: ON THE VERGE OF CALAMITY]
“Presented by the joint memorialists, who are all of the same mind,
with the utmost respect and submission, praying that it may receive
your august sanction without delay.”
(This was sent by the memorialists to General Jung Lu, with the request
that he would deliver it, and transmit the answer to the signatories.)