The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-08-13
War ON MISSIONARIES
To End at Last by an Impe.
rial Decree.
Capital Punishment to be Visited Upon
the Rioters.

WASHINGTON, Aug 12.-The Depart
ment of State has received q copy of
the following Imperial decree of China
issued June 10;
"The Tsungli Yamen Council of
Ministers) has memorialized us in re-
gard to the missionary cases that have
occurred in the various provinces, ask
ing that we issue stringent instrnc-
tions to the Governors General and
Governors to lose no time in devising
means for a settlement thereof
at is represented by the Yamen
that in the month of May the Catholic
missionary premises at Wuhu, in the
Province of Arhei, were fired and de-
stroyed by a mob of outlaws. AT
Tan Yang Huen, in the Province Of
Hupek, similar outrages have been
committed on missionary establish
ments, and it is now necessary that
the miscreants should be arrested and
unrelenting measures taken in good
time to provide against further out.
RACES of this kind.
"The propagation of Christianity by
foreigners is provided by treaty, and
Imperial DEGREES have been is.
sued to the provincial authori-
ties to protect the missiona
ries from time to time. For years
peace and quiet have prevailed be-
tween Chinese and foreigners, How
is it that recently there have beer
several missionary establishments
burned out and destroyed, and al
happening about the same time? Thi,
is decidedly strange and incredible.
at is evident that among the rioters
there are some powerful outlaws, whose
object is to secretly contrive and plar
to fan discomfort among the people by
circulating false rumors and causing
them to become agitated and excited
and then to avail themselves of tn,
opportunity to rob and plunder, ant
peaceable and law-abiding persons ar
enticed and led to join them, resultin,
in tremendous uprising.
IF strenuous action be not taken t,
punish the miscreants how can thu
majesty and dignity of the law b
maintained and peace and quiet pre-
vail?
"Let the Governor-General and Gov
ernors o! the Liank Kiang, Hu Kwang
Kiang Su, Auhui and Hupek issue
without delay, orders to the civil an,
military officers under their respectiv
Jurisdictions to cause the arrest of th
leaders Of the riots, try them and ii
flict capital punishment upon them q
warning and example to others i
the future.
"The doctrine OF Christianity has fc
its purpose teaching of men to b
good, Chinese converts are subject
of China and are amenable TO the loca
authorities. Peace and quiet shoul
reign among the Chinese and mi
sionaries. But there are reckless fe
lows who fabricate stories that hay
no foundation in fact, for the purpos
Of creating trouble. Villains of tn
class are not few in number and are
be found everywhere.
= "Let the Tartar Generals, Governo
. General and Governors issue procl
nations warning the people not to Ii
| ten to idle rumors or false report
, which so often lead to trouble. Shou1
. any person secretly post placards col
tanning false rumors, with view to b
! guile the minds Of the people, strenuol
4 efforts must be made to cause his a
i rest and vigorous punishment
meted out to him. The local author
ties must protect the lives and pro
erty of foreign merchants and m
; sionaries and prevent bad characte
y from doing them injury.
" "Should it transpire that the mes
ures taken to protect them have n
= been adequate, and trouble in cons
. quence ensues, the names Of the
" officers that have been truly neglige
= are to be reported to us for degrat
ton.
n I'm the matter Of all missiona
Sc cases still pending, let the Tartar &c
~ erals, Governors General and Cove,
ors cause u speedy settlement of the