No. 23.
Mr. Low to Mr.
Fish
No. 45.]
Legation of the United States, Peking, December 27, 1870. (Received February
24.)
Sir: A short time since a report came to me from
Tientsin that the people there were preparing to give to the men that were
executed for participation in the riot of last summer, a grand public
funeral, and that funds were being collected to erect a tablet or temple to
their memory. While it appeared desirable in every respect that the proper
authorities should endeavor to prevent such proceedings, it did not seem to
be a case in which a formal official protest by myself or my colleagues
would be proper or becoming. I deemed it advisable, however, to send Mr.
Williams to the Foreign Office with a verbal message pointing out the danger
to be apprehended from a large popular assemblage such as would be collected
at the funeral, and the evil effect the news of such proceedings would have
abroad, and advising the government to take such measures as should be by
the proper officers deemed advisable to put a stop to it. At the same time
the vice-consul at Tientsin was instructed to call upon the viceroy and make
similar friendly representations to him. Herewith I have the honor to
inclose copy of a dispatch from the vice-consul giving a report of his
interview with the viceroy, and the assurances of the latter that the
proceedings contemplated will not be allowed to take place. This matter is
important, chiefly as exhibiting the temper of the people of Tientsin, and I
should not have troubled you with any reference to it but for the fact that
the
[Page 77]
rumor, when it reaches Shanghai,
will probably be seized upon and given undue prominence in the newspapers,
and have the effect to keep alive the fears and apprehensions of the foreign
community.
I have, &c.,
Mr. Meadows to Mr. Low
United States Consulate, Tientsin, December 22, 1870.
Sir: On the 20th instant I called on
Li-Hong-Chang, the viceroy, and brought on the subject of your last
letter to me in regard to the report current at Peking, “that the people
of Tientsin are preparing to give the beheaded martyrs a grand funeral,
and that a memorial tablet or temple will be erected to their
memory.”
His excellency said that shortly after the executions a rumor was current
in Tientsin that it was the intention of the people to erect a
tsze-tang, (which we may, in this case, translate by the words a
“sacrificial temple,”) dedicated to the memory of the executed men, but
that on the rumor reaching his ears, he at once called the prefect and
magistrate (Chefoo and Chehsien) to him and ordered them to rigorously
prevent any such action on the part of the inhabitants, if they actually
contemplated it. He further added that the men had been punished in
accordance with the laws of China, for the killing of foreigners, and as
Chinese and foreigners were one family it could never be permitted by
the territorial authorities that the people of Tien-tsin should be
allowed to erect a tsze-tang to their memories; and if the attempt was
made he himself, as the viceroy, would personally proceed to the spot
and pull the building down.
On no account would it be permitted by the territorial officers. It was,
however, he was sure, never the intention of the respectable inhabitants
of Tientsin to do any such thing, and that rumor arose, he was
confident, from some utterances of the lower orders, who were
congregated at the place of execution. I am confident in the opinion
that the viceroy would not allow the inhabitants of Tien-tsin to erect
any such tsz-tang or temple as mentioned in your letter of 15th instant.
I told the viceroy that I would report his words to your excellency, and
I further added that you might be passing through Tientsin next spring
on your way to the southern ports, which you had not yet visited. He
said he would be very glad to see you if you came to Tientsin.
I am, &c.,
