The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-07-18

TEXT OF THE DOCUMENT.

Gil VI SIiIIEo
A dispatch from Washington says an
imperial decree dated third day of sixth
moon was received by telegraph We'd
nesday by Minister WI, from the Tao
tai Of Shanghai, transmitted on July
1st from the treasure Of the Chilli re-
public who received it by special courier
on June 80 from the board Of war, who
in turn received it from the pri7y couu-
ell in Pekin. This decree is as fol-
lows:
''The circumstances which led to the
commencement of fighting between
Chinese and foreigners were Of such a
complex, confusing end unfortunate
character as to be entirely unexpected.
Oar diplomatic representatives abroad,
owing to their absence from the scene
Of action, have had DO means of know
iog the true state Of things, and accord
ingly cannot lay the views Of their gov
ernment before the ministers of foreign
affairs of the respe ective powers to which
they are accredited. Now We take this
opportunity of going fully into the mat
ter f,r the information of our representa-
tives aforesaid.
In the first place, there arose in the
provinces of Chilli and Shan Tupg a
band of rebellious subjects, who had
been in the habit of practicing boxing
and fencing in their respective villages,
and at the same time clothing their
doiDgs with spiritualistic and strange
rites. The local authorities failed to
take due notice Of them at the time.
Accordingly the Infection spread with
astonishing rapidity. Within the space
of month it seemed to make its ap-
pearance everywhere and finally even
reached, the capital itself. Every one
looked upon the movement as super
natural and strange and many joined
it. Then there were lswless and
treacherous persons, who sounded the
cry Of Down with Christianity About
the middle Of the fifth moon, these
persons began to create disturbances
without warning. Churches we're
burnt and converts were killed. The
whole city was in a ferment. A sit
uation was created which could not be
brought under control. At first, the
foreign powers requested that foreign
troops be allowed to enter the capital
for the protection Of the legations. The
imperial government, having in view
the comparative urgency of the occa.
sion, granted the request, as an extra
ordinary mark Of courtesy beyond the
requirements of international inter
course. Over 500 foreign troops were
sent to Pekin. This shows clearly how
much care China exercised in the main
tenance of friendly relations with other
countries. The legations at the capital
never had much to do with the people.
But from the time following the troops
entering the city the guards did not de-
vote themselves exclusively to the pro-
lection Of their respective legations.
They sometimes fred their guns on
top of the city walls, and sometimes
patrolled the streets everywhere.
There were repeated reports Of persons
being hit by stray bullets. Moreover,
they strolled about the city without re-
straint, and even attempted to enter
the Tung Hua gate (the eastern gate Of
the palace grounds They onl y de-
sisted when admittance was positively
forbidden. On this account both the
soldiers ard the people were provoked
to resentment, and voiced their indig-
nation with one accord.
"LaWless persons then took adVan-
tage of the situation to do mischief,
and became bolder than ever in buro.
ing and killing Christian converts. The
powers thereupon attempted to rein
force the foreign troops in Pekln, but
the reinforcements encountered resist.
ance and defeat at the hands of the
insurgents on the way and have not
yet been able to proceed. The insur-
gents of the provinces Of Chihli and
Shan Tun had by this time effected a
complete union, and could not be sep
arated. The imperial government was
by no means reluctant to issue orders
for the entire suppression Of this in
surgent element. But as the trouble
was so near at hand, there was great
fear that due protection might not be
assured to the legations, if the anarch-
lists should be driven to extremities,
thus bringing on national calamity.
There also was fear that uprisiugs
might occur in the proyices Of Chihll
and Shan Tung at the same time, with
the result that both foreign missiona-
ries and Chinese converts io the two
provinces might fall victims to popular
fury. 1t was, therefore, absolutely nee
essary to consider the matter from eV-
cry point Of view.
CAS- measure Of precaution It was
finally decided to request the foreign
ministers to retire temporarily to Tien
Tsin for safety. 1t Was while the dis
cussion of this proposition was in pro-
gress that the German minister, Baron
Won ketteler, was assassi2ated by a
riotious mob one morning while on his
way to the tsung-li-yamen. On the
previous day the German minister had
written aletter appointing time for
calling at the tsupg-ii-yamen. But the
yamen, fearing he might be moies'ed
on the way, did not consent to the ap-
pointment as suggested by the minis
ter. Since this occurrence the auar-
chists assumed more bold and threat
ening attitude and consequently it was
deemed wise to carry cut the project
of sending the diplomatic corps to Tlen
Tsin undersn escort, However, orders
were issued to the troops detailed for
the protection Of the legations to keep
stricter watch and take greater precau-
ticn against any emergency.
''To our surprise, on the goth day OF
the fifth moon (Juno 49, foreign
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