CHARLES SEYMOUR. , United States Consul to John Russell Young, December 17, 1884

Mr. Seymour to Mr. Young.

Sir: I have the honor to hand you, herewith appended, the remonstrance of the American, English, and German Protestant missionaries at Canton against the use made of the memorial of Imperial Commissioner Páng Yü Lin (or Lun) and its mischievous nature and misrepresentations.

The American, English, and German consuls at Canton have been requested to transmit this remonstrance to the American, English, and German legations, respectively.

It may not be fully understood at Peking that since the arrival of Imperial Commissioner Páng in Canton, during the first week of December, 1883, he has lost no opportunity to create hostile feelings among the natives against the foreigners, and to incite the populace to acts of persecution against native converts to Christianity. His arrival was the occasion of great demonstrations against foreigners and missionaries and their native friends.

The first half of December, 1883, will be memorable in Canton for the earnestness with which the natives attempted to get rid of all foreigners and to harass native Christians.

In my No. 44, under date of December 8, 1883, I gave you particulars of that event, and the lists of correspondence for December, 1883, transmitted with my No. 48, bears record of lively work in guarding the interests of foreign residents and missions and native converts from hostile mobs in city and country, as it was generally understood by the populace that the imperial commissioner, acting under orders of the Imperial Government, had come to Canton to reverse the policy pursued by the two viceroys, Tseng (in August, 1883), and Chang Shu Shing (in September, 1883), as to protection of foreigners and foreign interests from native mobs. Again, in August, 1884, and the following months Commissioner Páng twice aroused the populace to hostile demonstrations against foreign residents and native Christians by proclamations that were unreasonable. In both of these cases he involved three other high officials by having their names and seals affixed to those mischievous documents, one of which enjoined upon all Chinese along the coast and as far south as Singapore to kill the French by poisoning their food.

The memorial of Commissioner Páng to the throne a few months ago, in favor of compelling native Christians to be so designated by registration and peculiarity of apparel and other marks for identification, as to be continual objects of ridicule, derision, and contempt, manifested his evil purpose.

During the past month about fifteen thousand students have been in Canton attending the examinations and exercises for literary honors; and taking advantage of the presence of this large body of students, some person or persons caused many thousands of copies of “the Páng memorial,” &c., to be sold upon the streets of Canton. It was posted in the yamên, and widely circulated, apparently, if not evidently, with the fall knowledge and concurrence of the authorities, including the imperial commissioner, whose overshadowing influence is felt by all subject to his control, or liable to incur his displeasure, or seeking his favor.

So unfavorably have the imperial commissioner’s efforts to keep alive bad feelings among the natives against foreigners and native Christians been felt by these missionaries whose remonstrance now goes to you, that they desire you, in conjunction with the English and German legation, if possible, to lay their grievances before the Tsung-li Yamên, and try to have Commissioner Páng admonished to refrain from a continuance of the evil course he has pursued for a year past in Canton, which is clearly contrary to the spirit and letter of treaty stipulations, and tends to alienate natives and foreigners who might otherwise enjoy peace, security, tranquillity, and mutual respect.

I am, &c.,