Prince Kung to To his Excellency Frederick F. Low, United States, July 9, 1870

Prince Kung to Mr. F. F. Low.

IMPERIAL DECREES RESPECTING TIEN-TSIN RIOT.

Tungchi, 9th Year, 6th Moon, 27th Day, (July 29, 1870.)

Sir: Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication.

Two days since, I was honored by receiving the following imperial decrees:

“Tsang Kwoh-fan and Tsanghow have sent up the following memorial, wherein they give the result of their inquiry into the riot at Tien-tsin and its attendant cireumstances:

“‘We have thoroughly examined into the charges brought against the Roman Catholics of having bewitched and carried off people, and find that there is no reliable evidence that the missionaries had anything to do with it; for Wang-sun, who at first confessed that he had given drugs to Wu Lan-chin, afterward retracted all he had said, and their depositions did not agree; further, the boys and girls taken from the hospital of the Sisters of Charity, more than 150 altogether, all declare that they were brought to the place by their relatives and not one among them had been kidnapped.

“‘When Tsang Kwoh-fan first reached Tien-tsin, he personally made inquiries and fully questioned people about the accusations of taking out eyes and opening hearts, but not one of them could bring forward a single actual case; nor had any family in or around the city of Tien-tsin complained in the courts of having lost children. The incidents closely resemble those in the provinces of Kianasi and Hunan in the cities of Yang-chau and Tienmân, and in Ta-ming and Kwangping, in this province (of Chihli,) all of which were caused by anonymous inflammatory placards and exciting talk by which people’s minds were distracted. Although these cases were all satisfactorily settled, the truth or falsity of these rumors and placards was never fully investigated and made generally known; while the people of Tien-tsin were continually hearing of them and fully believed them to be true.

“‘Moreover, owing to the practice of these foreign Roman Catholic mission establishments to close their doors thoughout the year; and to the existence of cellars under the mission-house and the hospital of the Sisters of Charity, dug to contain coal and prevent dampness, and to the rule that persons under medical treatment are not allowed to go out; and lastly that many of the poor homeless wretches taken in for relief were at the point of death, (and suffered great mortality,) it came to pass that the popular suspicions were all strengthened and not dissipated.

“‘During the months of May and June it happened that some kidnappers, who had used drugs to bewitch people, were arrested and charged the Roman Catholics with participation in their doings. [On the day] the populace saw M. Fontanier, the consul, fire his pistol at the officers, and immediately raising a great cry throughout their ranks, at once ran together, crying out, this is the one who takes out the eyes and hearts and cuts up human beings; words that were mostly wild rumors, without a shadow of evidence to support them.’

“The orders which were sent to Tsang Kwoh-fan and Tsanghow to jointly manage this affair with fairness, have now brought out this report, showing that the whole disturbance arose from unfounded rumors which excited the suspicions of the people at Tien-tsin. This is plainly to be seen. If the same rumors prevail in other provinces they will give rise to endless suspicions which should be dissipated. It is to be feared, however, that the strict laws relating to the bewitching and carrying off of children and people have gradually come to be regarded as a dead letter; and the board of punishments is therefore ordered, wherever cases of this kind are brought before it, to inflict even additional punishment on the guilty. The authorities in the provinces will follow the decisions of the board of punishments in dealing with all persons convicted of these crimes and execute strict justice, that the wicked and cruel may be deterred from similar doings.

“Pekin itself, being the head of the empire, (lit., the place of the head of goodness,) must still more be carefully cleared of such miscreants. Let the commandant of the metropolitan guard therefore institute strict search, and let all kidnappers who are taken up be immediately delivered to the hoard of punishments for trial and condign punishment. Respect this.”

In addition to the preceding, I have received the following decree:

“Tsang Kwoh-fan having reported that Chang Kwang-tsao, the prefect of Tien-tsin, and Liu Kieh, the district magistrate, had so acted as to excite a riot between the people and the Roman Catholics, and been very remiss in taking precautions before it occurred, and since then have been unable to arrest the criminals quickly, requests that they be degraded from their posts and handed over for trial and punishment. Let these two officers, therefore, be instantly deprived of their rank and delivered to the board of punishments to be dealt with. Respect this.”

I have now the honor to send you copies (of these two decrees) for your excellency’s information.