The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-24
LIGHT FROM DARKEST CHINA.
DEVILIsH INGENUITY OF OFFICIALS
IN INCITING VIOLENCE.


gate the ARair-This May Lead to
Aggressive Action on the Part of
our own and other Governments.
Statement of Victims and Eyewit-
nesses of the Outrages.
washington, Aug. 2s-The news con-
tanned in the press dispatches from Shang-
hal that Liu Peng Chang. the degraded
viceroy of szu Chuan. had been appointed
imperial high commissioner to investigate
the outrages on the English missionaries
has not been confirmed officially through
any dispatch received at the state de-
partment, but when such confirmation
does come. the resentment of this gov
eminent is likely to be made known in
such a manner that China will realize
how much in earnest the United States are
in bringing the Kucheng massacre to a
conclusion satisfactory to this country.
Liu's record as contained in official COM
munications reeeived.at the state depart
ment this month is not calculated to i'm
press the United States with a belief in
any desire on his part to make an i'm
partial inquiry.
on Aug. a bulky packet came to the
department from Mr.. Jernigan. the United
States consul general at Shanghai 1t
contained copies of statements made to
Mr.. Jernlgan by American missionaries
in respect to the looting of their property
at Cheng Tu and other missions by Chi
nese fanatics, and several writer's made
grave charges against the viceroy. Spen-
Ger Leni, one of the Americans who wrote
Mr.. Jernigan, claimed in his letter that
the viceroy would give no protection to the
missionaries because 'as he had been de-
graded, and was soon to be recalled, he
was bent on giving a parting hit both at
the foreigners, whom he hated, and the
government"
Mr.. Leni also says that when the flames
burst out in the Roman Catholic bishops
residence at Cheng Tu, scarcely a stones
throw from the Viceroy's Yamen, the vice.
roy is said to have remarked that this was
matter for his successor to attend to.
According to Mr.. Leni it was only after
everything had been quite destroyed that
the viceroy made an effort to restore order,
in the meantime having sent out kilograms
that mutilated child had been found at
foreign place with the result that nearly
all the natives believed the story.
When the Cheng Tu riots took place, IT
was claimed that they were instigated by
the viceroy who was alleged to have
killing children. 1t is probable that Mr..
DENLY will be instructed to request the
Chinese government to revoke Liu's COM
mission on the ground of his actions at
Cheng Tu and his hostility to foreigners.
London, Aug. pa dispatch from
Shanghai to the Pail Mall Gazette says
the Chinese government has made a most
extraordinary appointment in connection
with the outrages upon English mission
aries. The formerly degraded Liu, who is
generally regarded as the actual originat-
or of the Cheng Tu riots, has been de-
1initely appointed imperial high commits
sioner to investigate the circumstances
which led to the outbreak and the facts
connected with the outrages themselves.
The appointment has caused the utmost
dissatisfaction and Indignation among the
foreign residents.
Washington, Aug. 23.-Not a line has
been received at the state department for
more than a week from Charles DENLY,
United States minister at Pekin and there
is good reason to believe that he has
procrastinated with regard to the instruc-
tions sent him concerning the investiga-
tion into the Kucheng massacre. That the
state department is dissatisfied with Den
by's dilatory course is mild way of put
ting the situation, and it is said the min
ister is in serious danger of being recalled
if he cannot furnish satisfactory expla-
nation of his failure to make arrangements
with the Tsung Ii Yamen, or board of for
eign affairs for the granting of full au-
thority to the American commissioners on
the Kucheng board of inquiry to freely in
vestigate all the circumstances relating to
the massacre.
In justice to Mr.. Denny it should be said
the state department does not blame him
Tor not having secured all that is desired,
because the matter of declination or COM
pliance with the departments wishes rests
with the Tsung Ii Yamen, but he has
been found wanting in not keeping the
washington government informed of the
progress of events, presumably neglectins
TO carry out his instructions to press mat
ters.
The belief at the department is that Dem
by has taken umbrage because the sugges-
tlons from this government as to the poll
cy to be pursued by him do not agree with
his own ideas, and for that reason is not
doing all that he has been directed to do
Mr.. Denbys attitude is likely to cause him
serious trouble and if he is not heard from
soon his official position will be placed in
jeopardy.
The alleged failure of the minister to
press the question of the Kucheng in
quiry with the Chinese government has
caused the situation to become compli-
Gated. As stated in these dispatches yes
terday the hasty and unexpected depart
ure of Consul Hixson and Ensign Evans
from Foo Chow to Kucheng before they
inquiry in behalf of the United States
mas resulted in bringing the investigation
TO a standstill. Capt. Newell of the
United States cruiser Detroit has started
Tor Kucheng to endeavor to straighten
out the tangle, but there is no information
at the state department from Minister
Denby that the captain has been invested
with any more authority to Investigate
than is possessed by Messrs. Hixson and
evans, although the presumption at the
department yesterday was that Mr.. DENLY
nad secured for him the satisfactory ere
uentials which he has been directed to
OBTAIN, but has failed to report how he
Jared IN making the request, II indeed, he
mas made IL at ALL
Prior to the recent instructions to Mr.
Denby, with reference to which he has
seemingly failed to comply, his course was
entirely satisfactory to the state depart
ment and there was every reason to be-
AeVe that his condemnation by meetings
OF Americans at Shanghai for alleged In
activity was exceedingly unjust In view
or his past record.
lt would be a serious matter for the gov
efnment 70 recall Mr.. DENLY during the