The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-11
AN IMPERIAL DECREE
China Determined to Protect For
eign Missionaries.
IMPLICIT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

This is the Mandate of the Ruler
Whose Word Is Law-Onicial Neg
lect VIII he Punished The
Charleston and Marion Ordered to
Join the Asintic Squadron.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11.-on account
Of the perilous position of Americans in
China because Of the religious riots
there, orders have been issued at the
the navy department directing the
Charleston and Marion to join the Ash
attic station. The Charleston will sail
from San Francisco to Yokohama and
the Marion will go direct from Behring
ser to China. When the Marion was
ordered to Behrins sea she had instruc-
tions to join the Asiatic station as soon
az she could be spared. The orders of
che Alert were similar to those of the
1.aTion and she will also join the Ash
eticd station as soon as her duty in
Behring sea is completed.
The Imperial Decree.
The state department has received a
copy of the imperial decree issued by
the emperor of China concerning the
outrages on foreign missionaries in that
country, Miich have caused the navy
department to order two additional yes
sells to Chinese waters. The decree is as
follows:
"The tzung II yamen Tor council of
ministers) has Ipernorialized us in re-
gard to the missionary cases that have
occurred in the various provinces, ask
ing that we issue stringent instructions
to the governor general and governors
to lose no time in devising means for a
settlement thereof. 1t is represented by
the yamen that in the month of May the
Catholic missionary premises at Wuhu,
IN the province of Arhr, were fred and
destroyed by mob Of outlaws. At
Tan Yang Huen, in the province of
kiang Su, and at Wusuch, in the prov
tnce of Hupek, similar outrages have
been committed on missionary estab-
hshments there, and 1t is now necessary
that the miscreants should be arrested,
and unrelenting measures taken in GOOD
time TO provide against further outrages
OF this kind.
Missionaries Must BE Protected,
"Tho propagation of Christianity by
Foreigners is provided for by treaty, and
Imperial DEGREES have been issued to the
provincial authorizes to protect the mis-
Eionaries from time to time. For years
peace and quiet have prevailed between
Chinese and foreigners. How is it that
rccently there have been several mission
ary establishments burnt out and de-
stroyed, aRd all happening at about the
same time? Tins Is decidedly strange
and incredible. II is evident that among
Ehe rioters there are some powerful out
laws whose object is to secretly con-
e<1ye and plan to fan discomfort among
fhe people by circulating false rumors
and causing them to become aKitated
and excited, and then to avail them
selyes of the opportunity to rob and
piunder; and peaceable and law abiding
persons are enticed and lead to ioin
them, resulting in tremendous upris-
aDg III strenuous action is not taken to
punish the miscreants how can the
majesty aud dignity of the law be
cailp
Infiict Capital Punishment,
"Let the governors general and COVER
pors Of the Liang Kiang, Hu Kwang.
Kiang Su, Auhu Hi and Hupek issue
without delay orders to the civil and
military officers under their respective
jurisdictions to cause the arrest of the
aesders OF the riots, try them and iniiict
capital punishment upon them as a
warning and example to others in the
Future
Inc uoctrlne or Christianity has for
ITS purpose, the teaching of men to be
good. Chinese converts are subjects of
china and are alnenable to the local au-
thorities. Peace and quiet should reign
among the Chinese and missionaries.
But there are reckless fellows who fab
flcate stories that have no foundation in
Tact, fac the purpose of creating trou-
ble. Villains of this class are not few
In number and are to be found every
NheFe. Let the tartars general COVER
oor5 general and governors issue procla-
nations warning the people not to listen
70 idle ruinore or false reports which
dead 10 trouble. Should any person se-
cretly post placards containing false
rumors with view to beguile the
minds of the people, strenuous steps
must be taken to cause his arrest and
vigorous punishment be meted out to
hun.
Officials Held Responsible.
"The local authorities must protect the
Hives aud property of foreign merchants
and missionaries and prevent bad char
acters from doing them injury. Should
u transpire that the measures taken to
protect them have not been adequate,
and trouble in consequences ensues, the
names of those officers that have been
truly negligent are to be reported to us
Tor degradation. In the matter Of all
missionary cases that are still pending,
let the tartars general, governors gene.
ral and governors cause speedy settle
ment of them. They must not listen to
The representations of their subordinates
that the cases are difficult to settle and
khus cause delay, to the end that a set
Element ofRhem may be effected. Let
Ehis decreebe universally promulgated
Tor the information Of the people"
Tho Bride Is Reticenf.