The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-10

Placaris have suddenly appeared in
the most important localities in Canton
province of China, charging foreigners
with having concocted a dlabolical medi-
cine. which causes the bowels aud the
feet of the victim to swell up within
some twenty-five days after it is taken,
unless the patient win consent 10 enter
the Roman Catholic church.
The medicine is said TO be- circulated
i'm 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. III, when the swelling
begins, they refuse to become Catholic
they die, and report has it that some
twenty thousand persons have already
perishea.
OF course the excitement caused among
an ignorant and superstitious people by
such story Is by no means trifling. As
n consequence trouble and hloodshot
have followed A poor Chinaman was
killed in the streets Of Canton, by an
excited mob on suspicion of dealing in
this powder. 4 woman was killed in
the Tamun, and a man was executed by
the Ficeroy on the same ground Sharp
dispatches by the eonsuls have been
followed by proclamations by the yiceroy
and Provincial Judge. The latter order
the people to maintain order, under the
severesf penalties, bnt at the same time
that such a powder is in circulation.
As reward is offered for any one en-
gagged in its distribution, and ms the
official retrospects of the matter do not
affirm the falsity OF the charges regard
ing foreigners, the impression remains
ON the minds of the people that they
are actually guilty. 1t is, therefore,
clearly 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
q Inn supervenes, is 10 practise political
quackery, Of which we may some day be
the victims First of all. be it observed,
these plRcards are a common agency Of
stirring mp q popular commotion, and
plaeards against foreigners have been
known ever since the old Hong days of
Canton. What distinguishes tho present
movement is the extent of territory oyer
which il prevails, and the homogeneity
of pain indicates extraordinary facilities
for attaining q common understanding
and concert of action.
4Inaws.r O~sa a.Ir.ax4ne.l -, a,-,,T.sv.
the movement. BY some it is regarded
as part of plan u overthrow the Tartar
dynasty, by embroling them with for
eigners. And it is by no means an i'll
chosen agency for that purpose, as /
shall point out hereafter. BY others il
il looked upon as q most ingenious de-
vice OF the mandArins to implant deep
er dislike of the foreigner in the minds
Of the common people, and there IL an
abundance of testimony in favor of this
opinion. The manipulations of Chinese
state-craft have special end to accom-
plish at the present time. The treaties
are TO be revised, and the inland resi-
dence question is to be discussed. The
Chinese are bent ON refusing that de-
mand. The Earl of Clarendon, moved
by the representations of Mr.. Burlin-
game, gave various classes OF foreigners a
rebuke for not paying more Difference 10
the wishes and preiudiees of the people.
The Chinese had these papers translated
and took the hint, and the mandarins are
now manufacturing a public opinion
bitterly hostile to the residence Of for
eigners inland.
No less than foar German missionaries
living in inland towns have been driven
back to Canton or Hong Kong, while
their houses have been looted and de-
stroyed. Since the British Cabinet has
ordered that the prejudices Of the Chi
nese should be respected land which is
all right enough in itself, the Chinese
have resolved that there shall be an In
creased multitude of preiudices 10 be re.
spected. You will hear, OF course, that
the ostentations vermilion-tipped procla-
nations are posted after the placards,
and the placards viii be pulled down,
and you will be told to infer that all il
moving on as before. The inference viii
by no means be just. The mischief in
tended viii be fully accomplished. A
condition of public sentiment win be
superinduced which may lie passive and
dormant enough when not needed, but
which can be utilized hereafter if deem.
ed, desirable by the crafty mandarins.
Let not the public be deceived by any
syren-song OF mandarin desire for closer
relations with the West. We are drift
ing in the direction of war rather than
OF peace Chisese correspondent.