New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
A CHINESE POINT OF VIEW.
THE CoNsUL-GENERAL HAS NO OFFICIAL
KNowLEDGE OF THE MASSACRE.
HE SAYS 1T is HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY TIE
ATTACKS WERE MADE. AND REMINDS
AMERICANS THAT THEY ARE NOT
WHOLLY BLAMELEss IN THE
MATTER OF NUMBERING
FOREIGNERS.

FOREIGNERS
With the nurpose Of endeavorng 10 obtain the
views NJ the representatives Of the Chinese Gov
ornment in this city Lpor the slaughter OF mis-
s,onaries In China and the repoTts OF further out
breaks against Christians In that country.
Tribune reporter called at the Chinese Consulate
at No 26 West Ninth-st the other afternoon.
The house at this address IL used both as an
official and private residence A ring AT 'he
bell was answered by an old colored woman.
who invited the reporter to walk into the parlor'
with the inform alton that he would nnd the
Consul in there" The reporter found the Con-
sul-Genera reclining In luxurious comfort III
the depths OF a capacious chair. smoking long
stick Of opium through an intricate metal pipe
the fumes from which impregnated the whoie
room. and seemingly contented with his sur
roundings and in blissfu ignorance of the trouble
and cares Of the world. Without the least dis
respect to him it may be said that in appearance
he might have stepped direct from the pages OF
an Oriental fashion book. Dressed in exquisite
blue silk trousers. spotess white silk stockings
and white flowing silken upper garments. he pre-
sented as he reclined half oblivious in the chair.
a spectacle of idea. cooress and peace The
reporter was lazily motioned to chair. but re-
peated endeavors on his part to elicit reply from
by gesture from the latter. it dawned upon the
newspaper man that the Consul-General spoke no
English. and the reporter spoke no Chinese
and had neglected to bring along vocabulary of
that language, progress was at deadlock. which
the Consul-General made no attempt 20 break
Ten minutes passed away and no prospect Of
relief from an embarrassing position was in sight.
AS the reporter was rapidly approaching A con-
diton Of hysteria he rang the servants bell. To
have first asked permission would have been
useless. 1t was answered by the old
woman as before, and not until then DID she
consider 1t necessary to volunteer the nforma-
ton that the Consul-Ge did not speak Eng
lish, but she said she would try to find the in
terpreter. After another long delay that useful
parsonage arrived and the interview proceeded.
Through his interpreter Consul General Hsu Mai
Kwang said to the first inquiries: II have no
knowledge Of the attacks on missionaries beyond
what learn from the newspapers. I have re-
ceved official intelligence Of the matter up TO
the present.
Foreigners are generally well treated in China.
and at this distance from the spot ii is imposs-
bic with any certainty to understand the reasons
for the outbreak ! do not think the people i'm
plicated in the affair strict Buddhists. They
are of the Mahometan religion"
Reports speak of them a class Of people
known Vegetariars. Can you speak Of their
characteristics" asked the reporter.
THE term vegetarian is kind Of conventional
description. They really fasting people.
They have periods Of long fasting. and at those
times they full of religious excitement. 1t
was undoubtedly one Of these fasts, added TO the
disturbed state Of the country through the war
with Japan. that was responsible for the out
break. The district In which the occurrences
took place is comparatively new settlement
and not numerously Inhabited that the au
thorities will not be ablc to check the disorder.
II suggested to the Consul-General b. the
reporter that the dispatches hardly agreed with
his views. and that as the authorities were out
numbered by the Vegeta~ans. Christians in
many parts of the country were likely tc be sub
jected to further fanatcal outrage.
The suggestion of fanaticsm reused some feel
ing Of indignation In the Consul. though he
swercd calmly enough: The authorities will do
the best they Every country is subject to
these outbreaks. and w are not more fanatical
than Americans. You have been making a great
cutlery against Chira in your papers about these
murders. but you seem to forget the attack in
1856 upon the Chinese at Rock Springs, when my
countrymen were cut and shot down like dogs
America is not wholly blameless in the matter
Of attacking and numbering foreigners"