Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-09-27
LETTER FROM CHINA.
snANoHA1, CHINA, Aug. u, 1870.

SHANGHAI, CHINA, aug II, lofU.
ITO Me Editors of the Spirit of Jefferson.
4 DEAR My letter to you of July!
contained PARTIAL account of the recent ter
rible massacre of Europeans at Teintsin, by
Abe natives. Since then the principal facts
relating to- the massacre have been brought
! fu'ly before the public, ami thinking BRIEF.
summary may not be amiss, from one who has.
read with great interest the sequence of events,
/ append the following facts. The Chinese
officials have declared, and are trying 10 sub
stantiate the fact, that the murder of the Euro
peans was done by "mob of the people, Z
and think the officials knew nothing of the
affair until it was too late to be prevented );
! and Furthermore, the rage of the people was,
EdiYected against Catholics alone, and caused
by certain rumors which had been circulated
8 through the city, viz -
] LIST. Thatthe Sisters of Charity had persons
employed in the kidnapping of children.
q I'd. That the bodies, after death, had their
seyes and hearts taken ont, by order Of the
Priest
i Now, of rumor first can account for quite
! readily 1t is true that the Sisters did give
3 petty aims to the poor parants who placed
their children under their care, and as kid
Enapping is an old crime in China, it is possible
! that they may have been imposed upon, and
the aims thus given may be considered a
S"price paid" by the evil disposed.
& The second rumor may have originated from
( the fact that certain portions Of the human
!: body are spoken of in the Chinese Pharma-
corea useful in compromising medicines
Z These, in addition to the increased amount of
! sickness, and consequently more deaths, in
the charity hospital, as we'll as in other parts
ofthe city, are sufficient to create such rumors
: among the evil minded, and to make the ig-
Z norant and supcrstitious believe them.
q But there is abundant evidence to prove
: that the rage of the people Headed by Manda
Z rims and other officials, was not against Cath !
: olics alone, nor yet against French alone, bat
{ that all foreigners were dOoAed to general
Z destruction.
a 1st The conduct of the fire BTigades, each
:sseizinS his arms instead Of his bucket at the
{ fire alarm, and all going direct TO the French
/ Consulate at once, which was the first place
!! attacked, indicate that the signal and conduct
i, was prearrangcd, and that the attack was not
= against Romanists aUne, as such.
y End. The destruction OF all Protestant
I: Chapels and Schools, the burning Of native
Z christian residences, and numbering the in
mates.
q 3rd The approach of the mob within three.
8 fourths Of a mile OF Tez-chu-in, (the foreign
3 settlement,) camoring for the lives of all
: foreigners the murder Of three Russians /;
+ answering with the sTy death to all foreign.
) ers" their pleas eve are not French" indi-
Gates their intention to visit upon all foreign
I ers a common doom.
4 18th. The undoubted completely of leading
: MandariDs is fully established. the foreign.
! drilled troops being among the most active
{ in the work of death and destruction, having
/: for their leaders we'll known military Man
!: darins.
4 Now, what are the results of this horrible
I: outrage? The lives of innocent people taken,
tho destruction Of millions of property, closing
4 of all schools, cessation of business, the en-
s tire country thrown into disnrganized state
) and furthermore, if this sad affair is not
I speedily and thoroughly investigated an ez-
: ample made of the guilty. and tho Chinese
! Government taught that it must not perHt't,
+ to say nothing of CnrOHrnyiHg snch deeds
: through its officials, forei On lie aad property
J remain no longer safe in China! France, I'm.
!. fortunately, is now at war with PRUSSIA, and
! cannot take any active steps. But | speak,
5 | think, the opinion of the majority Of for
! cigners here, when assert that il is mot fair.
! nor our policy, to treat his Unparalleled ont
s rage as national affair." for VIC cannot scpa-
( Tate our interests II we WhuIu. DCcauSc We arc
{ not separated in the minds Of the Chinese
! They have an idea that the power of France
!, is waning, and that they can cope with her
single handed hence the more determined
/ attack upon her. Should she be vnnquished,
{ the question will be, "Who next 2" That is
5 certainly Chinese policy.
8 Thus the end of my letter leaves the Chs
! nese affairs in very unsettled condition.
{ May my next contain the happy news of the
!: punishment of the guilty, the restoration of
: peace, and all increased happiness of our
Eastern Empire, are the sincere wishes of
: an OLD EIRGINIAN.