Yu-lu’s doings--A Proclamation--Banishment and blows--Fencing
and boxing--Children of the Government--Pardon for past
faults--Christians and Missionaries--Emperor’s sarcasm--A message to
Queen Victoria--England and China.
Whether acting on his own initiative or under secret instructions from
the Throne--it matters little to the reader which--the fact is proved
that Yu-lu, the Viceroy of Chili, was providing arms, ammunition, and
food to the Boxers, while issuing edicts and proclamations, such as the
one here appended, which were calculated to put foreigners off their
guard.
To do him no injustice, I reproduce one of his last proclamations in
full. It may be noticed that the punishment of one hundred blows,
usually inflicted for petty theft, was hardly adequate for what was
then regarded as the crime of rebellion; nor, probably, would any one
else in Tientsin, except the British Consul, have found the behaviour
of the Viceroy “quite correct” in offering to pardon men guilty of
wholesale murder and theft for past faults.
The Viceroy’s proclamation, after setting forth an Imperial edict
issued early in the year, went on to say:
[Illustration: ROAD LEADING TO THE WEST ARSENAL]
“It appears by the law that all idle persons who, instead of
attending to their duties, devote themselves to teaching people
fencing and boxing, and all who go to them for such instruction,
or those who give public exhibitions of fencing to make money and
thereby excite the imagination of the people, are acting contrary to
the law and render themselves liable to it. Such teachers are liable
to arrest and banishment to 1000 li (333 miles), after receiving one
hundred blows; while those who go to them for instruction are liable
to one hundred blows and three years’ banishment, and at the end of
that time to be escorted by a guard to their native place and kept
under observation. If shops, or inns, or monasteries shelter such
persons without reporting the same, or if the ti paos fail to arrest
them, the law commands that they shall receive eighty blows. Thus, to
teach fencing and boxing is punishable by law, and much more so is
the ignorant misconduct of the people who become excited by ruffians
from other provinces. Their teaching consists of making charms and
reciting spells _by which the people become possessed of power to
resist firearms_. They believe this, and organise the Ih-hwo Ch’uan,
and practise boxing and fencing, thereby extending their influence
in all directions. They are known to oppose religions, make trouble
and disturb the peace, and when the Government troops go to disperse
them they dare to resist them. They have been warned by both civil
and military authorities. Some appear to comply in the face of the
officials, but continue their evil practices behind their backs. We
regard all people, whether Christians or not, as children of the
Government, and all disputes among them should be laid before the
officials and left to their judgment. But the people do just the
contrary. They collect mobs and burn down property, exact ransom, and
injure others, while resisting the Imperial troops. Their actions are
those of robbers and bandits. You all have lives and property; what
profit is it to you to be excited to this foolishness and wilfully
to violate the law? Strict orders are now given to local authorities
to arrest such foolish fellows, and I hereby notify the gentry and
every class in every district that all who gather people together
and organise secret societies are breaking the law, and those who
disturb the peace and rob violently cannot be excused by the law.
All who erect sheds for boxing instruction or act in such a way as
to cause a rising, are to be arrested by authority and severely
punished. All ignorant persons who have been tempted to join the
society and practise boxing should repent at once, and discontinue
their evil habits and become loyal subjects. If they repent _they
will be pardoned_ for past fault, and if they do not, and still
continue their evil practices, the local authorities will punish
them severely without leniency. The common people and Christians are
all subjects, and are to be treated with fatherly sympathy without
distinction, but when disputes arise among them they ought to be
submitted to the authorities. They should not presumptuously act
on the dictates of angry feeling and give cause for offence. The
Christians also should not make trouble nor oppress the people, nor
persuade the missionaries to give them protection in order to get the
best of a suit. The local authorities should judge the cases without
distinction and according to law. Both our people and Christians
should occupy themselves with their own duties and avoid jealousy and
suspicions, and give due weight to public harmony and peace. All of
you respect this; tremble and obey.”
[Sidenote: EVIL PRACTICES]
A quaint document was the telegram sent by the Emperor of China to Her
Majesty Queen Victoria.
A subtle tone of sarcasm runs through it from beginning to end, but
especially in regard to the aims of foreign nations who “might be
tempted to exploit or _despoil_” his Empire.
(_Telegraphic._)
“+Pekin+, _July 3, 1900_.
“The Emperor of China to Her Majesty the Queen of England, Empress of
India, sendeth greetings:
“Since the opening of commercial intercourse between foreign nations
and China, the aspirations of Great Britain have always been after
commercial extension, and not territorial aggrandisement.
“Recently, dissensions having arisen between the Christians and the
people of Chili and Shantung, certain evilly-disposed persons availed
themselves of the occasion to make disturbances, and these having
extended so rapidly, the treaty Powers, suspecting that the rioters
might have been encouraged by the Imperial Government, attacked and
captured the Taku forts. The sufferings arising from this act of
hostility have been great, and the situation has been much involved.
[Sidenote: A FRANK EXPOSURE]
“In consideration of the facts that of the foreign commerce of China
more than 70 per cent. belongs to England, that the Chinese tariff
is lower than that of any other country, and that the restrictions
on it are fewer, British merchants have during the last few decades
maintained relations with Chinese merchants at the ports as
harmonious as if they had both been members of the same family. But
now complications have arisen, mutual mistrust has been engendered,
and the situation having thus changed for the worse, it is felt that,
if China cannot be supported in maintaining her position, foreign
nations, looking on so large and populous a country, so rich in
natural resources, might be tempted to exploit or despoil it, and
perhaps differ among themselves with respect to their conflicting
interests.
“It is evident that this would create a state of matters which would
not be advantageous to Great Britain, a country which views commerce
as her greatest interest.
“China is now engaged in raising men and means to cope with these
eventualities, but she feels that if left to herself she might be
unequal to the occasion should it ever arrive, and therefore turns to
England in the hope of procuring her good offices in bringing about
a settlement of the difficulties which have arisen with the other
treaty Powers.
“The Emperor makes this frank exposure of what is nearest to his
heart, and hopes that this appeal to Her Majesty the Queen-Empress
may be graciously taken into Her consideration, and an answer
vouchsafed to it at the earliest possible moment.”