The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-19
POPULAR FEELING In CHINA.
How the People Of the Celestial Empire
Take the Pacific SlOpe>NeWs.
Foreigners Resident in the Country Living in
Constant Fear Of Riots-Critical State Of
Affairs Which May End In Bloodshed.

49,
being almost daily received from San Francisco
concerning the Chinese troubles on the Pacific
slope. Our little community has lived. as it
WERE over live volcano that might at any mo-
ment break forth, carrying everything before It,
The vast majority of the Chinese living in the
United States come from this province Of Kuan
Tung and are closely allied with 1t in various
business ways. Letters have been received by
each mail by their numerous friends here, and
during the past two weeks numerous kilograms
have been received by the different guilds from
their business correspondents in San Fran
cisco, and they are without doubt the best in
formed persons here to-day about what is taking
place on the Pacific slope. Their kilograms
state that the merchants are losing heart
and that business is almost at stand
still, that they are being maltreated and
boycottsd, and that large numbers OF workmen
are out Of employment and in very destitute
condition. They say nothing about the massa-
ores and other like murders, although there is no
doubt that they are informed as to the very
latest Each new telegram increases the excite
inent and, worst of all. the Hong-Kong papers
copy extensively from our home papers. and at
times makes editorial comments thereon which
are reprinted by the native press. A telegram
dated London, March T. was received here on the
9th, and stated that lin consequence OF the or
ganized agitation against the Chinese in tbs
United States, the Chinese government has de-
manded an indemnity for the outrages COM
united upon its subjects in that country. Presi-
dent Cleveland has refused to entertain the de-
J mand, and the Viceroy of the Two-Kuang has
Eelegraphed to the Chinese minister at Washing
con. pointing out that he entertains grave fears
that il the demand is not complied with the
Chinese will threaten reprisals."
Naturally this telegram created great excite
ment The consuls Immediately wrote dis
patches to the viceroy, calling his attention to
1t, and asking him to take more active measures
TO prevent an uprising. Fortunately, at this
time the United States steamer Marion, arrived
OF Wampoa, the nearest point on the river she
eould come to on account of her size Up to this
time the only means Of defense was the English
gun-bo Nudge. In case of necessity, the Ma
ZION could very easily send up her Calling gun
and howitzers with enough sailors to hold any
out with only one Calling gum Even the little
British boat Nudge is better off in that respect
And the principal use a man-ofwar is liable
to be put to out here is in protecting foreign
era from mobs and riots. Other nations recog-
nize this, and their ships are all supplied with
q number Of Gatlings or other rapidly fir
ing guns. The present Viceroy is well known
for his aversion to foreigners, and the fact Of his
sending telegram direct to the Chinese min
lister at Washington instead of the Pekin govern
IDENTITIES claimed by the American and other
governments for the riots of 1883 and 1884 have
still to he settled, although repeated requests
have been made through the proper official chan
nels 1t would be singular piece of presump-
tion on the part of provincial Viceroy to at
tempt to dictate to foreign power what it must
do and TO covertly threaten 1t with reprisals un-
less the demands of his government are satisfied.
TO the thinking people here who have read Pres
ident Cleveland's message bearing on the Chinese
question and his later utterances, his refusal to
entertain the demands Of the Chinese govern
ment is looked upon as false story.
It is we'll for America that this trouble is only
of local nature, and that the officials are seem
ingly doing all in their power to check it. If it
were of a graver character, requiring the use of
force by our government in order to maintain Its
dignity and prestige in the East. it would be
sorry day for us. We should be compelled to
admit that we have no navy capable Of coping
with either the Chinese navy or the Chinese coast
defenses Take this port for an example. Some
thirty miles below the city, at point where the
river is only half a mile wide, q number Of water
batteries and forts have been erected. mounting
in all over Atty heavy modern rifed guns the
most Of which are armor piercing 1t was at
this point that the Chinese had during the late
French troubles there lines of submarine torpe-
does. The forts command every part of the
river for distance Of three miles, and have
grave doubts If our combined navy could either
reduce or pass them Granted that they could
pass them, but little would be gained as another
twelve miles from Canton, and also a stone bar
rier IN the river. The main channel at this
point closed during the French troubles,
30 that even If the barriers were passed,
none but the smaller ships could get up TO the
rity. Should occasion ever arise it would be
much better for our government not to think of
nsing force, however grave the condition of af-
fairs might become, aS it would only be counting
humiliation. It is sad for an American to be
obliged to state all this but until our country
wakes up and realizes that we have no navy.
that we are, as q matter of fact at the mercy of
barbarous powers in the East who could insult
as with impunity, 1t would be well for US ap-
parently to be very circumspect in our foreign
relations. Just SO long as the Chinese are not
protected In their rights as strangers or aliens,
Just go long will Americans and American inter
osts in the East be in danger. There still re-
mains strong faction bitterly opposed to all for
signers, and if the members Of it had their way
they would drive every one OF Us out of China
Among them are as fine orators a. those belong
ing TO the San Francisco sand lots. They are
taking every advantage Of the troubles on the
Pacific slope to work up the rabble. Next Sat
nrday the San Francisco steamer is due at Hong
Kong, when 1t is to be hoped that the newspa-
pers will not be quite so full of new troubles and
eeditious articles against the Chinese. for they
wide. The condition Of affairs is so critical that
the slightest thing might be used as cause to
bring the rabble down on us.
1t is all very well to say that the Chinese must
80, anu 10 use as an argument that they never
become citizens, and that they only come to the
United States to mako enough money to 90 back
20 China to live upon. But in this they are only
doing what ourselves doing here For
eigners ars here only to make money and as
soon as they have made enough return to their
native countries to live the rest of their days in
comfort They are granted the same treaty
rights that we grant to the Chinese, still the
Chinese government has treated us much better
than We have treated the Chinese. There have
a n
China, but the government has been always able
TO subdue them inside of three months. An
other point that the Chinese cannot understand.
es 1t is contrary to their way of doing things, is
that so far they have not heard of the punish
ment of q single murderer very queer mis-
take was made by the Viceroy when the troubles
began. He took it for granted that the
irish were subjects Of Great Britain and
frol h.