Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
IN JAP AN AND CHIN A
Free Speech Denied to Those Who Oriti-
else Count Ito
Cruisers Hasten to Protect MissiOnar.
les I'm China and the vfceroy
Fears Trouble.

VICTORIA, B. c., July 20.-Advices from
Toxic. July 2, by the steamship Eskadale,
are as follows:
"a large mass meeting convened in
Toxic June 80, at which more than twenty
prominent leaders Of parties opposed to
Count Ito's ministry were expected to
make speeches. From the beginning, how
ever, 1t Us evident that no expression of
opinion adverse to the government would
be tolerated. No speaker was allowed to
touch upon the subject Of the recent ne
gotiations with Russia, Germany and
France. Thirteen orators in succession
were silenced by the police before they had
occupied the platform for five minutes.
Some Of them endeavored to accomplish
the desired effect by giving extracts from
works on International law, the application
of which was obvious, but this device was
summarily checked as soon as detected.
The audience became impatient at this ex-
treme measure of repression, and presently
broke into denunciauons of police tyranny.
The danger had been foreseen, and, at the
most critical moment, a large body of
gendarmes entered and subdued the agfta-
ton. 1t was then decided to dissolve the
meeting, as nothing could be gained by
further persistence.
THE determination of the authorities to
prevent public criticism of every descnp-
ticn Is causing deep anxiety among law
abiding classes of the community. Since
the addition of the constitutional form of
government no administration has ever be-
fore gone to such extremes in preventing
speeches. Count Matusgata has withdrawn
his resignation as Japanese minister OF
nnance, and will continue to cooperate
with the present cabinet
Representatives of France, America and
england at Pekin are demanding repara-
tlon Tor lll-treatment of missionaries and
the destruction of foreign property in the
province Of SEE Chuan with a vfgor which
startles the Chinese government. Liberal
oners Of pecuniary compensation are ten
dered. but these will not be considered un-
til after the instigators of the outrages have
been duly punished.
THE lesson taught by Japan is bearing
fruit and Chinese rulers will find hereaf-
ter that the delays and evasioEs of past
years must be discarded. Ships-of-war of
the three nations cor cernei are hurrying to
the districts where their protection is
needed. and squadron OF French vessels
Is charged with the duty of exacting atone
ment by the severest methods in case the
demands of the ENJOYS are rot Immediately
complied with. The central government is
bewildered and frightened. but Shows that
1t recognizes the emergency by dispatchng
new viceroy in haste to take the place of
the official who provoked the riot.
No direct intelligence from members of
the missions at Cheng Tu have been re-
ceived. The Americans, however, are be-
ieved to be safe, and there is no evidence
that any lives have been lost.
The usual monthly change of administra-
ton in Corea took place June q. The
prime minister, with several colleagues,
having quarreled with the king on some
petty matter, resigned.