The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-08-02
THE NEWS FROM CHINA.
n GLOOMY VIEW IN EUROPE.
LITTLE Hope for the Foreigners In
Pekin and Relief Nj ust be PrOmpt

Pekin and Relief Must be Prompt.
While tho latest impression derived
from the conflicting kilograms from
the lar cast Ia that u portion OF tho
foreign colony ut Pekin may have es-
capped slaughter until q recent date, the
general consensus OF the hest informed
opinion OF Europe seems to continue
to favor tho acceptance OF tho worst
news and the prompt action thereon
the contention being that the only
possibility OF definitely Obtaining tho
truth is by the allied commanders in
| curing at Pekin. Judging from news
from Tien Tsin, however, recording
divisions among tho admirals there,
tho prospects for an early advance
seem to ne endangered unless the gov
ernments speedily agree upon IL gu
preme leader.
kilograms from Shanghai report
that LII Hung Chang has taken up his
abode at tho arsenal, as u measure OF
prccautiOn. It ia not stated whether
The attack by the Chinese or tho at
tompts OF the powers to curtail his lib.
critics oaus ID It.
Apparently, the foreign consuls at
Shanghai have informed the viceroy
that unless he obtained definite dis
patches from 'okin within five DAYS
they would concluded that tho minis
ters had been murdered, and act ac.
cordingly.
| Reports are recurrent that u number
OF missionaries, either American or
English, have been murdered In Shan
81. One OF the dispatches from Shang-
hal, says:
| 'Tho Canadian missionaries from
lionan had terrible experience en-
route here. The natives everywherc
were hostile. The rabble attacked the
refugees, beat them and tore the
clothes from their backs. The women
suffered cruel indignities."
The dispatches continues :. "Canton
remains comparatively quiet. The ma
| tives, however, are beginning to fear
mat mat the reinforcements arriving at
Hong Kong intend to attack the Bogue
forts and occupy the city. The militia.
ry mandarin has asked the colonial
secretary ut Hong Kong for assurances
that Great Britain does not intend to
take Canton.
A dispatch from Yokohama stated
that the Japanese division will all be
landed at Taku by July 3lst, and will
reach Tien Tsin August 3.
The following cablegram has been
received at the navy department:
CEErOO, July 24
Navigation Bureau, Washin gton:
Written message, signed Conger,
dated July 4th, received Tien Tsin 2lst
says: "Rccn hesleged two weeks Brit.
ish legation. Grave danger general
massacre by Chinese soldiers, who are
shclling legation daily. Relief soon II
at all. City without government ex-
cept by Chinese army. Determined
massacre all foreigners Pekln. Entry
relief forces into city probably be holly
contested. THOMAS.
The receipt at Tien Tsin of an un-
doubtedly genuine and autographic
message from Minister Conger has
done nothing to dissipate the doubt as
to the situation at Pekin. The mes-
sage, which was forwarded by the ma
val officers at Tien, Taku and Chefoo,
has indeed served only to deepen the
darkest mystery OF the century. The
olliciai conclusion remains unchanged,
OF course, but 1T is admitted that q
careful scrutiny Of the autograph mos
| sage from Minister Congcr admits OF
the belief that the two messages were
indited by Mr.. Congcr at about the
| Same time.
| The situation at the British legation
ts represented to be the same In each
case, aud as Mr.. Conger declares that
relief must come quickly II at all,
there is ground for the supposition tn at
conditions could not long have remain
ed unchanged In such crisis. The
assumption that th!s reaso.!!ng ~ cor.
rect Involves the further conclusion
that Mr.. Conger's cipher message, H
genuine, was redated as OF the 18th OF
July, two weeks later than the date o.
actual writing and Of course, II redateC
at all, that WAS done by Chinese OIL
ciHls.
On the other hand and In support OF
the State department position, came q
message from another Of the great
Chinese viceroys, TAX, at Canton, he
Changes departure. This also affirmed
solomnly the safety OF the logationors
and coming from so many different
sources and from such important Chi
nose officials, those dispatches do claim
attention.
a peasimstic view OF them, however,
attributes to all common origin,
namely, some one high Chinese per-
sonage at I'ekin. II Is noted that TAX .
assurance brings the ministers One day
further towards ultimate rescue than
has any preceding message. The fact
chat 1t allows only three days to cover
the transmission over the great dis
tance between l'ekin and Canton has
attracted attention here, and appears
to demand explanation II tho message Q
is to be accepted AZ genuinely OF pekin
origin.
Lord Salisbury has notified the Uni
| ted States ambassador that 1t WAS i'm
possible to accept the evidence 30 far
submitted by the Chinese or that trans
mitted by the United States regarding
the safety OF the foreign minittersj at
Pekin, and that until their safety was
thoroughly established tho British
government would be unable to discuss
any question OF mediation or kindred
matters.
The Canton correspondent OF The
Daily Telegraph, wiring Tuesday
sends the following important news
"Viceroy Tax Su to day publishes
the following mandate
IAN important imperial decree was
issued on the 2}d day OF the sixth moon.
1t says:
owe have lost Tien Tsin and great
precautions are taken In Pekin. No
peace can be obtained without going
through war. In tho time OF Chung
an aproement Waa naIp that M ,nnc