Connecticut western news., 1871-11-03
A Strange DeluSiOn.

Placards have suddenly appeared, in the most important localities inf Canton province of China, charging foreigners with having concocted dlabolical medi- 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. s..,sa- ,.vr
 The medicine is said to be circulated in all quarters at foreign expense, through the agency of Buddhist nuns, old women and var1ous sorts of hawkers and peddiers1 Persons are induced to partake by the representation that a pestilenee. 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
 Of course the excitement caused among an ignorant and superstitious people by such story is by no means trifing. As 8 conseqhences trouble and bloodshot have followed. in A poor Chinaman was killed in the streets of Canton. by an excited mob on suspicion of dealing in this powder. A woman was killed in the Yamun, and man wns executed by the Viceroy' on the same ground. Sharp despatches, by the consuls have been followed by proclamations by the, Vicerpy 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 a reward is offered for any one en- gagged in it's, distribution, and as. 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 It is, therefore, clearly,s a matter of question whether, the harm does, not surpass the good,
 The e-oriein and design of these pla- cardssdemand the gravestg inqfigy. To pass thema over as mere -ebulitionS -ot ignorance which cease to do evil aftei a Hull superNenes, is to practise political quackery, of which we nay some day be the victims. First of all. beit. observed these placards are a common agency oi stirring up a'popufara commotion, and placards against, foreigners have been known ever since the old Hong days :oi Canton, What distinguishes the present movement is the extent of territory over which 1t prevails, and the homogeneity of pain indicates extraordinary facilities for attaining a. common understanding and concert of action. aE #'E
 Two theories are advanced to explain the movement. By some 1t is regarded as part of plan to overthrow the Tartar dynasty, by embroiling them with for eigners. And 1t IS. iby no means an i'll chosen agency for that purpose, as ] shall point out hereafter. By others i IS looked upon as most ingenious de vice of the mandarins to impkaat, adeep CT dislike of the foreigner in the amind, of the common people, and there is al abundance of testimony in favor of thi opinion, The manipulahons, of Chimes state-craft have aspecidi end to accom- plish at the present time. The treaties are to be, revised, and the inland resi- dence question is to'be discussed Tn, Chinese are bent on refusing that de mand. The Earl of Clarendon, moved by the representations of MT. Burlin game, gave various classes of foreigners rebuke fol. notspaying more deference t. the wishes and preiudiees- of the people The Chinese had these papers translates and took the hint and the mandarins ar now manufacturing public opiniel bitterly hostile to the residence of fo1 e1gners- inland.
 No less than foar. German missionarie lying in ninland towns have been drive, back to Canton or. Hong Kong, whil their houses. have been footed and de stroyed. Since. the British. Cabinet Ina ordered that the pfejHdices of the Chi nese should be respected (and which i all right enough in itself, the Chimes have resolved that there shall be an i1 creased multitude of prejudices to be re spected. You will hear, of course, tha the ostentatious vermi1iion tipped procla nations are posted after the placards and the placards will be pulled down and you will be told to infer that ali moving on as before. The inference wi by no means bejust. The mischief in tended will be fully accomplished, ! condition of public sentiment will b superinduced which may lie passive an dormant enough when not needed, bu which can be utilized hereafter if deem ed, desirable by the crafty mandarins Let not the public be deceived by an syren-song of mandarin desire for close relations with the West. We are drif ing in the direction of war rather tha of peace Chinese co1respoedent.
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 Mr. Parsons, in his lecture on Pari tells about ag young daughter of s-th