The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-17
EXCITEMENT in CHINA.
Strnnge Delusion-FOi eigners Charged with
Circulatinx "a DiabOIical Medicine.
from the New iork Evening Post.
Hone KONG, September |, 1871.

the "Genii Powder" excitement. Pla.
cards have suddenly appeared in the
most important localities in Canton pro
vince, charging foreigners with having
concocted a diabolical medicine, which
causes the bowels and feet of the victim
to swell up within some twenty-five days
after it is taken, unless the patient will
consent to enter the Roman Catholic
Church
The medicine is said to be circulated
in all quarters at foreign expense,
through the agency of Buddhist nuns,
old women and various sorts OF hawkers
and peddlers. Persons are induced to
partake by the representation that a
pestilence is impending from which
immunity can be secured only by dose
OF the powder If, when a swelling be-
gins, they refuse to become Catholic
they die, and report has it that some
twenty thousand persons have already
persisted.
OF course, the excitement caused
among an ignorant and superstitious
people by such story is by no means
tritling. AS a consequence, trouble and
bloodshed have followed. A poor China
man was killed in the streets of Canton
by an excited mob on suspicion of deal
ing in this powder. A woman was killed
| in the Yamun, and man was executed
by the Viceroy on the same ground.
| Sharp dispatches by the Consuls have
been followed by proclamations by the
| VIceroy and Provincial Judge. The
latter orders the people to maintain
order, under the severest penalties, but
| 4 h.. ha
rectness of the report that such a pow
der is in circulation. AS a reward is
offered for any one found engaged in its
distribution, and as the official retros-
poets of the matter do not affirm the
talsity Of the charges regarding foreign
ers, the impression remains on the
minds of the people that they are ac-
tually guilty. 1t is, therefore, clearly a
matter of question whether the harm
does not surpass the good.
The origin and design of these pla-
cards demand the gravest inquiry. To
pass them over as mere ebullitions of
ignorance, which cease to do evil after
a lull intervenes, is to practice political
quackery, of which we may some day
be the victims. First of ALL be it OBJ
served, these placards are common
agency OF stirring up a popular commo-
ton, and placards against foreigners
have been known ever since the old
Hong days of Canton. What distin-
cuisines the present movement is the
extent of territory over which it pre-
walls, and the homogenity of plan
indicates extraordinary facilities for
attaining a common understanding and
concert of action.
Two theories are advanced to explain
the movement. BY some it is regarded
as a part of plan to overthrow the
Tartar dynasty, by embroiling them
with foreigners. And it is by no means
an ill-chosen agency for that purpose,
as | shall point out hereafter. By
others it is looked upon as most in
genious device of the mandarins to
implant deeper dislike of the foreigner
in the minds of the common people,
and there is an abundance of testimony
in favor of this opinion. The manipu-
! lations of Chinese state craft have
special end to accomplish at the present
time The treaties are to be revised
end the inland residence question is to
! be discussed. The Chinese are bent on
refusing that demand The Earl Of
Clarendon. moved by the representa-
tons of Mr.. Burlingame, gave various
classes Of foreigners rebuke for not
paying more Difference to the wishes
and prejudices of the people The
and took the hint, and the mandarins
are now manufacturing public opinion
bitterly hostile to the residence Of
foreigners inland.
No less than four German missionar
les living in inland towns have been
driven back to Canton or Hong Kong,
while their houses have been looted
and destroyed. Since the British Cabi-
net has ordered that the prejudices of
the Chinese should be respected land
which is all right enough in itself, the
Chinese have resolved that there shall
be an increased multitude of prejudices
to be respected. You will hear of
course, that the ostentatious vermillion-
tipped proclamations are posted up
after the placards, and the placards will
be pulled down, and you will be told
to infer that all is moving on as before.
The inference will by no means be ust.
The mischief intended will be fully
accomplished. A condition of public
sentiment will be superinduced which
may lie passive and dormant enough
when not needed, but which can be
utilized hereafter if deemed desirable
by the crafty mandarins. Let not the
public be deceived by any syren song or
mandarin desire for closer relations
with the West. We are drifting in the
direction Of war rather than of peace.
Latest from the Hartford Fire Insur.
ance Companies.
Extract from private letter dated October o. from
citizen of Hartford, Conn.,
The terrible fires of course absorb at
tention, and little else is talked OF
thought of. Hartford will bear her share
of the burden, both in the way of con.
tributions and insurance, and will,
think, do it manfully. The smoke has
not cleared away sufficiently yet for our
insurance companies to make reliable
estimate of losses, but so much is known
: as will probably extinguish all but three
the Etna, Hartford, and Phoenix. The
+ Etna's loss is variously estimated at
, from two to five millions, and she is