Mckibben to Chester Holcombe, April 13, 1882
Mr. McKibben to Mr. Holcombe.
Sir: Remembering the kind interest you expressed two years ago in my unsuccessful attempt to obtain a building site at Chow Chow Fu, I recently addressed you a note, through Mr. Williams, asking for information in regard to the status of American missionaries in the interior of China. This note made inquiry to the following effect, viz: The various treaties provide that missionaries may travel freely in pursuit of their calling; but they say nothing about where or for how long a time they may stop; what, if any, are the usages or. restrictions to which the missionary should conform?
The special occasion for my raising the inquiry is that in November of last year I was mobbed at my inn and driven out of the city of Fai Poo Hien by a mob, led by runners from the Yamên, and apparently with the connivance of the district magistrate. The town of which I speak is about 120 li from Swatow. I reached the place October 26, and put up at the house of a church member. Shortly after I rented some upper rooms of an inn that adjoined. I called a man to patch the floor, and did a little whitewashing, all in the inside, and made no further changes. About November 9 I heard that some of the people were threatening that I should not be allowed to stay. Both in writing and in person I requested the magistrate to take some measures to prevent a disturbance. He promised, but did nothing, and on the 13th he left the city. The next morning a crowd of several hundred men came, who broke up the church member’s shop, destroyed a part of the inn building, and destroyed or carried off a quantity of property. While this was going on I escaped by a back door and made my way to the river, pursued by a part of the mob, who pelted me with stones, sticks of wood &c. A heavy umbrella protected me from injury, and I obtained refuge on a revenue boat.
Arriving at Swatow I laid the case before Consul Williams, who has spared no pains to get some of the ringleaders brought to punishment and to secure compensation for damages sustained by the property. The usual Chinese shifts and evasions have been resorted to by the officials, and no very tangible satisfaction has yet been secured. Mr. Williams is exerting himself to the utmost to secure such a measure of satisfaction as will make it safer for missionaries to visit that region hereafter, and which will practically serve the purpose of giving some measure of security to the native Christians of that region. He may find it necessary to refer the case to the higher authorities before it is settled.
But a question arises with regard to privileges of missionaries traveling or sojourning in the interior. And it was to ascertain with some degree of definiteness what is recognized as coming within the scope of the treaties that I wrote you through the consular agent.
Two years ago I sustained a serious defeat in having my plans thwarted at Chow Chow Fu. It is of great importance to me at this time to be able to avail myself of whatever measure of support a fair interpretation of the treaty may afford. Whatever information or suggestions you may be able to give will be gratefully appreciated.
I am, &c.,