St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-10
Fore5Gners Tn China,

a correspondent of the London Ddilg Times
at Canton writes. The prospect of establish
ing amicable relations between the natives
of this city and its foreign residents seems
at present more remote than ever. Active
hostilities on the part of the Chinese mob
have been several times removed within the
last few weeks, and, but for the presence OF
foreign gunboats, the consequences would
probably have been most serious. In these
cases the occasion has been furnished by the
Chinese themselves; there has been, SO far at
least as foreigners here are concerned, abso-
lutely no proyocation; and these outrages
can only be regarded as the spontaneous ex-
preston of that bitter hatred entertained by
ALMOST all the Cantonese against every man
who'd not dress in petticoats, nor twist his
hair int queue.
A few weeks ago, Plang, an imperial com
missioner, arrived in Canton from the north.
His appointed duties probably were to port
to headquarters on the condition of the de-
Tense of Canton, and to collect benevolences
from wealthy citizens to replenish the ex-
hausted imperial eXchequer. Piang, howev-
er, brought with him a squadron OF three
thousand troops, and it was generally ru-
mored among the Canton populacc that his
sole commission was to eXpel for.
eign devils'' from the city
The Chinese officials must have known how
widespread this rumor was, but they did not
think it would serve their interests to arrest
it, and so they they let it alone. When the
commissioner at length landed his troops
upon Shamin, an excited crowd at once as
sembled eager to see their long cherished
hopes realized in the expulsion of the hated
foreigner. In this of course they were dis
appointed, but an official proclamation was
forthwith issued in the name of Plang, de-
nouncing the conduct Of the French in
forming the people that Anam had been
tributary state of China for myriads OF years
intimating to the foreign residents that as
the Chinese people could not be expected to
discriminate between various nationalities,
they had better all clear out at once with
their goods and chattles from the city, and
telling them that if they failed to do SO the
people of Canton might attack their persons
or property with impunity, the French alone
being responsible for any loss or injury
which might thus be sustained. Copies OF
this proclamation were widely circulated in
Canton and the surrounding villages. The
people took the welcome hint. Fearing to
venture on Shamin, defended as it was by
three formidable gunboats, they set them
they might find inside the city The foreign
consuls at once made joint representation
to the viceroy, protesting against the procla-
nation he had allowed to be issued, and de-
handing that foreigners and their property
be efficiently protected. The Chinese officials
were now afraid. Soldiers were sent to quell
the mob; the proclamation was declared to be
a forgery; several newsvendors were arrested
and imprisoned for selling copies of it; and
the viceroy solemnly declared that if the
author of it could be found he should be in
family beheaded.
Notwithstanding this emphatic official
disavowel of the proclamation, there is suf-
fcient evidence to justify the general belief
of both Chinese and foreigners that it must
have been issued with the approval of the
viceroy, if not by his express command.
This disturbance, which for two days filled
the foreign community at Canton with most
serious apprehension, has been arrested, but
a considerable amount of mission property
in and around Canton is lying in ruins. Two
American missionaries whose chapel has
been destroyed had themselves q narrow es-
cape, and one of them is still suffering from
the INJURIES he received. The animosity Of
the people also against the foreigner seems,
if possible, bitterer than ever. Several at
tempts have been made to get the steamer
wharf rebuilt, which the mob destroyed in
September last; but, eager as the Canton
tradesmen are for money, they positively re-
fuse to contract for this work. Warlike pre-
parations are still being made on a some
what extensive scale. Every few days troops
are arriving in Canton from the north. The
walls of the city are entirely occupied by the
military. A large body of militia has also
been formed, every house in Canton and the
surrounding towns being required to provide
either soldier or soldiers pay. 'Let us
make great show of our military resources"
says Commissioner Plang, in,his memorial to
the throne, "and, like the Russians a few
years ago, the French will be so frightened
we shall have no need to fight" Reluctant,
however, as the Chinese officials are to do
more than to make a martial show, the Can
tonese are, almost to Il man, eager for war;
so eager, indeed, that but for their craven
spirit, they would, in spite Of their rulers,
bring China into conflict not with France
only, but with every foreign nation represen-
ted here.