The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-08
THE MURDER OF MISSIONARIES.

| The recent massacre of missionaries IN
China is nothing new, but only the latest
OF a series of outrages which cry aloud
for decisive action. Unless this govern
ment is prepared to protect its citizens
who 90 as missionaries to China, it ought
to forbid tie noble sacrifice which carries
much of the flower of our youth to the
Celestial Empire.
Within the past twenty five years mis-
sionanes have been wantonly butchered,
and there has been no adequate redress.
Let US run over these outrages during
the last quarter of century:
1870 occurred the Tientsin massacre,
when the French Consul, the French in
terpreter and his bride and twenty nuns
were killed amid circumstances of revolt
ing barbarity. In 1871 there were out
RACES at Yang Chow; in 1872 at HankoW
and Shanghai; in 1874 there was a mas
sacre of the French at Shanghai; in 1875
occurred the Margary murder; and in
1876 the missionaries at Foo Chow were
raided and UNANIMOUSLY assaulted. The
year 1883 saw the British confession at
Canton burned and general uprising
against missionaries; there were similar
deeds in 1884 at Wen Chow and Teh An
Flu; and in 1885 numerous assaults and
robberies. In 1886 there was dreadful
massacre of foreigners at Chung King;
in 1888 riots and burnings at Chin Kiang
and Kin Kiang; in 1889 at Hankow, and
in 1890 at Teh-An-Fu again. A fright
full record was made in 1891, when there
were riots at Marking, Wuhu, Ichang,
and half dozen other places, houses
were burned and scores of missionaries
assaulted, manned and killed. A few
weeks ago there was similar outbreak
at Chengtu; and now comes this crown
ing horror at Ku Cherg,
Commenting on these repetitions of
murder, insult, outrage and butchery,
the New York Tribune says:
There is no use in mincing words
over the case. The Chinese government
is responsible for these things, and
should be held to the strictest accounta
bility for them; if need be, at the can
mons mouth It is stated that the Chi
nese officials at Kucheng connived at,
if they did not instigate, this latest mas
sacre. We have no doubt of it. 1t is
also said that the inquiry into the
recent riots at Chengtu was a
farce, and that the officials charged
with completely in them are being
rewarded with promotions. That,
too, is entirely credible. 1t was proven
beyond all doubt that very high Off
GERS were actual instigators of the
outrages at Wuhu, Ichang and elsewhere
in 1891; and they were allowed to go I'M
punished. at that time eminent Man
darins openly wrote and printed and cir
culated the most infamous pamphlets
and placards, reeking with unmention
able obscenities, denouncing all foreign
ers and all Christians as devils and |
calling upon the people to rise against |
them and exterminate them. These vile
publications directly led to the riots of |
1891, and to those of other years. They |
have recently been circulated afresh, and |
are doubtless the immediate provocation
of the massacre at Kucheng.
The authors of these publications are |
we'll known to the Chinese government. |
No serious attempt has ever been made |
to punish them, or even to check their |
deyilish work. They are permitted to
visit Marking and Peking, and distribute
their obscene libels among the thousands |
of candidates at the literary examina-
lions. When their evil seed bears fruit |
nothing is done, or nothing of serious ac-
count In Ichang, for example, the
chief Mandarins and local officials actu-
ally directed the riots; they refused pro /
lection to the foreigners; and they had !
the telegraph Office shut up and guarded,
to prevent any appeal for aid being sent
to the foreign officials at other ports, and
to prevent any news whatever getting |
out until the outrages were completed. |
The same tactics appear to have been
practiced at Kucheng. And what |
was done at Ichang? Three |
or four wretched coolies, who probably |
did not even participate in the riots, had
splinters driven under their fnger-nails
and their heads chopped off. The real
leaders and authors of the outbreak went
scotfree. That has been the usual course
of the Chinese Government in such cases. |
It will be its course in the present case,
unless the foreign Powers concerned act
with the sternest resolution. Until such |
action is taken, and until the Chinese
Government is taught a lesson in human !
ity it will not forget, the propriety of |
sending and keeping missionaries, and
especially women and children, among
such frightful perils is seriously to be
questioned. Missionary work and civil.
zation are needed in China; but just now
it looks as though they should be of the
kind that best gets forward upon pow
ffar-oart