Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-11-09
A Strange DeIuSlOn.

Placards have suddenly appeared i'll
The most important localities in Canton
province of China, charging foreigners
with having concocted Il dIabolical medl-
cine, which causes the bowels and the
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 pedders. 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 the swelling
begins, 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 trifing. As
consequence trouble and bloodshot
have followed. A poor Chinaman was
killed in the streets of Canton, by an
excited mob on suspicion of dealing in
this powder. \ woman was killed in
the Yamun, and man was executed by
the Viccroy on the same ground. Sharp
dispatches by the consuls have been
followed by proclamations by the Niceroy
and Provincial Judge. The latter order
the people to maintain order, under the
severest penalties, but at the same time
they assume the correctness of the report
that such a powder is in circulation.
As reward is offered for any one en-
saged in its distribution, and as the
official retrospccts 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 surpNss the good.
The origin and design Of these pla-
cards demand the gIayest inquiry. To
pass them over as mere ebullitions OF
Ignorance which cease to do evil after
lull supervcnes, is to practise political
suackery, of which We may some day be
the victims. First of all, be it observed,
these placards are a common agency OF
stirring up popular commotion, and
placards against foreigners have been
known ever since the old Hong days OF
Canton. What distinguishes the present
movement is the extent of territory oVel
which it prevails, and the homogeneity
of pain 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 part of plan to overthrow the Tartar
dynasty, by embroiling them with for
eigners. And it is by no means an i'll
chosen agency for that purpose, as
shall point ont hereafter. By others /
is looked upon as most ingenious de
vice Of the mandarins to implant adeep
err dislike of the foreigner i'll the mlnd
of the common people, and there is al
abundance of testimony in favor of thi
opinion. The manipulations of Chimes
state-craft have a special end to accom-
plsh at the present time. The treatie
are to be revised, and the inland resi-
dence question is to be discussed. Til
Chinese are bent on refusing that dc
mand. The Earl of Clarendon, move
by the representations of Mr.. Burlir
game, gave various classes of foreigners
rebuke for not paying more Difference
the wishes and preiudices of the people
The Chinese had these papers translate
and took the hint, and the mandarins Al
now manufacturing public opinlo
bitterly hostile to the residence of TO
eigners inland.
No less than four German missionaric
living in inland towns have been drive
back to Canton or Hong Kong, viii
their houses have been looted and d
stroyed. Since the British Cabinet h;
ordered that the preiudices of the Oh
nese should be respected land which
all right enough in itself, the Chime
have resolved that there shall be an i
creased multitude of prejudices to be I
spected. You will hear, of course, tht
the ostentatious vermilion-tipped procl
nations are posted after the placard
and the placards will be pulled dow
and you will be told to infer that all
moving on as before. The inference W
by no means be just. The mischief i
tended will be fully accomplished.
condition Of public sentiment will
superinduced which may lie passive al
dormant enough when not needed, b
which can be utilized hereafter il deer
desirable by the crafty mandarin
not the public be deceived by Al
syren-song of mandarin desire for clos
relations with the West. We are dii
ing in the direction of war rather TIL
e..oo.o Tb;Doco cn,.,.ecnonHelt