St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-09
FOREIGNERS IN CHINA.
Intense Hostility Manifested by the Natives
TOaCdrd Ill Aliens

FOREIGNERS IN CHINA.
Intense Hostility Manifested by the Natives
TOaUdrd HI Aliens
The Canton government is so feeble that
in case Of a popular outbreak there can be no
regulation of the conduct of the rabble, says
Canton letter to the Denver Tribune.
Moreover, do not think there is any dispo-
sition to organize an efficient government.
lime and again have ther lights of foreigners
here been transgressed, and when expalana-
ton was demanded what was the answer?
Only yerbiage-interminabl Chinese VERDI
a,cc, Latterly the foreign powers represented
lave been too Tenant and endured too
much. AS a result the natives have forgot
tn their previous humiliations, and are as
usolent and arrogant as ever. There is
many thorn in the flesh between France
and England, or think England would long
since have eXacted redress for insults which
she has received from China.
1t is not that there is any special feeling
against any foreign power except France,
but that the mass of the people find it impOs-
sible to distinguish between more than two
c!asses-natives and foreigners. The latter
are all 'Fankwei,'' or foreign devils-an ep-
ethet which even the street gamin hurls at
me as l walk quietly along, attending to my
own business.
OF course efforts have been made by China,
| know not with how much sincerity, to Sc
cure the protection of all foreigners except
the French, but none Of these measures have
any influence with the lower classes. 1t thus
happens that, whatever difference of opinion
there may be among foreigners as to the
rights of France in China, it is almost uni
versally admitted that ony serious defeat in
flicted upon the French by the Chinese troops
would prove unfortunate for foreign interests
generally, and consequently averse to the
progress of the world. Few Of the Chinese
mandarins make any distinction between
westerns, and a slight success might initiate
their conceit to the cracking point.
From my window / look upon the huge,
stately forms of the French cathedral, which
towers high above the squalid native huts.
This cathedral, which is q constant bone of
contention in Franco-Chinese relations, is a
magnificent gothic structure, built entirely of
dressed granite. Work was commenced on
it fourteen years ago, and it is not finished
yet.
The truth is that, though little remains to
be done, and this might have been performed
oL1S
priests who have the work in charge have not
dared to proceed, in view Of the eXcitable
condition of the Chinese and the uncertainty
of French authority, pending the
settlement by force of arms of the
Franco Chinese difficulties. The masonry is
complete, but the great stained windows,
which would be so easily destructable, have
not been put in place. The original plans
contemp plated two very tall shapely spires in
front, but the Chinese were so obstinately OPP
posed to this that the spires were abbreviated
somewhat.
This cathedral is an object Of violent dis
like on the part Of the natives, and only fear
that its demolition by some speedy process
would entail great loss of life and property
upon the natives that live near to it has kept
it intact thus long.
On Tuesday last plot for blowing it to
pieces with gunpowder was discovered by the
natives who reside in the immediate vicini-
ty, and they at once proceeded to organize
public meetings deprecating such a catas-
trophe from selfish motives of course), and
partly by force, partly by appeal, managed
to break up the scheme. It seems that the
plot was concocted by a guild of furniture
workers, in connection with another of
ivory-makers. When the intention was dis
covered, forty cans of blasting gunpowder,
each weighing sixty catties, had been col
lected, and the time was almost ripe
for the explosion. The indignation
meetings of the numerous shop owners who
would have lost their all, if not their lives, by
the deed, were held in temple dedicated to
Wah Kwong, an idol with three eyes, whose
favor is propitiated for the especial purpose of
warding off fires.
All manner of rumors are circulated here
bythose who are the rankest in their hatred
of foreigners, undoubtedly with a view to
squirting on the populace. Many of these
rumors are patent fabrications or even i'm
possibilities, but the ignorant Chinese never
think of weighing the truth of statement in
their own minds.
One of these rumors has to do with the
cathedral, and illustrates the absurdity of the
things which the people will daily swallow. 1t
got about that vast company of foreign
devils were secretly at work in the cathedral
diggings, subterranean passage, by means
OF which, and gunpower, it was intended to
blow up the whole city of Canton. Now,
every Chnaman knows that it is impossible
to dig deeper than five feet in Canton with
out striking water, and yet this silly rumor
gained ground and was firmly believed. No
one stopped to ask, where is all the dirt being
put and how are the workmen furnished
with supplies, and how did they ever get into
the cathedral in the face of the constant
native watchfulness? It is common Chi
nese trick to stir up some such rumor in order
that it may stimulate the impetuous ones on
to deeds of violence.