Frederick F. Low to F. F. Low, United States, August 18, 1870
Mr. F. F. Low to Mr. Fish.
Sir: The alarm which the Tien-tsin tragedy produced does not subside. On the contrary, the feeling of insecurity and peril among foreigners seems to increase.
The Protestant missionaries in Tien-tsin have been gathering the testimony of native Christians, and upon this they base opinions and publish them, which, though honest, are for from being true, judged by the testimony, direct and corroborative, that comes to me from all sources.
As a sample of the letters which are given to the public through the newspapers, I send herewith (inclosure A) one from Rev. Mr. Stanley, of Tien-tsin, to me, which he thought of sufficient importance to publish in Shanghai papers. In it, you will observe, he gives it as his opinion that the riot at Tien-tsin was a part of a grand plot to massacre or drive out all foreigners residing in China, and not a local uprising against one nationality and one religious creed. With the original of this letter Mr. Stanley sent me the affidavits or statements of a number of native Christians.
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One of the witnesses deposed that he was arrested by the mob as a “Christian,” taken to a building or a prison, and detained until evening; when examined he was able to prove that he was a Protestant and a member of an American church, when he was immediately released and safely conducted to the foreign settlement. If this statement be true (and it is corroborated by the other testimony) it goes to show that Mr. Stanley’s opinions are erroneous, arid that the fury of the mob was directed against the Roman Catholics alone.
Rumors of threatened attack are almost daily put in circulation, which, upon investigation, usually prove to be without foundation other than the belief of some native Christian. These stories always increase in size and intensity in the relating, and are finally embodied in communications to the Shanghai newspapers for publication, and by this means gain a large circulation. From the newspapers the stories are translated and told to the Chinese, and by them related to one another in the remote parts of the empire. All this is calculated to excite alarm among foreigners, and this alarm leads the ignorant natives to believe that they are really powerful enough to expel all foreigners.
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To-day I received a copy of a letter written by Mr. Stanley to Commander Taylor, of the United States steamer Ashuelot, now lying at Tien-tsin, which I inclose, (inclosure B.) This you will observe is based on the opinions of “native Christians” alone. A copy of the letter was sent by Mr. Stanley to Pekin and circulated among the missionaries, which, as a matter of course, created much alarm. A portion of the statement I know to be incorrect, and I hope the balance has no foundation in fact. This paper is sent merely as a sample of the reports that gain currency almost daily, in which foreigners place more or less reliance, and serve to keep up excitement and create alarm as to their personal safety.
An inspection of the Protestant chapels discloses the fact that the damage is much greater than I was led to believe was the case by the first reports. The local officials at Tien-tsin appear to be desirous of affording reparation promptly—either to rebuild the chapels or pay equitable damages; and I instructed the vice-consul to see the missionaries, ascertain the cost of the buildings and the damages sustained, to the end that prompt reparation might be made by the Chinese.
A large amount of correspondence ensued between the missionaries, the consul, and myself, copies of which are hardly necessary to send you; nor is it possible, were it desirable, with the inadequate clerical force attached to this legation. I inclose, however a printed slip, from a newspaper, (inclosure C,) which contains the reply of the English missionaries to her Majesty’s consul, upon the same subject. The ideas embodied in the letters of the American missionaries are about the same as the English, but the duties of foreign nations and their representatives in China are elaborated and defined with greater particularity by the former. They close their communication to me by saying that until it is known what reparation France will demand they are not prepared to agree upon a settlement.
Both the American and English missionaries appear to be impressed with the belief that they are somehow specially charged with diplomatic functions by their governments, in addition to their self-imposed task of taking care of the spiritual welfare of the Chinese; and, according to their diplomatic judgment, a war between France and China must first take place before it is proper to adjust any claims for property destroyed in the late riot at Tien-tsin. I have notified them that when they are ready for a settlement I shall be prepared to present and urge the payment of a just claim for damages, but until they signify their willingness to act I shall take no further steps in the matter.