A TROUBLOUS PERIOD, 1891-1897

The Yangtze Riots, 1891

In 1891 serious riots occurred along the Yangtze River and dispelled the vision of China's immediate entrance on the path of progress. The prime instigator was a scholar in Hunan, named Chou Han, who employed the members of a secret society, known as the Kolaohioei (venerable brothers) for carrying on anti-foreign propaganda. This society is said to have been founded by disbanded troops at the close of the Taiping Rebellion. A series of vile posters accusing missionaries of barbarous crimes, such as the kidnapping and vivisection of Chinese children, were spread broadcast, and the people were incited to rioting and murder.

Disturbances broke out in many places along the Yangtze, churches were demolished, missionary residences wrecked and looted, and missionaries themselves were obliged to abandon their stations and to seek refuge in Shanghai. At Wusueh two British subjects were murdered, one, an officer of the Maritime Customs, and the other, a missionary.

Posters were put up calling on the people to rise and attack the important mission establishments at Siccawei and Jessfield. Naturally there was considerable apprehension in the Settlements and the volunteers were ordered to stand by.

The Legations in Peking felt that the riots must be checked, and made strong representations to the Tsung-li Yamen (Foreign Office), and brought pressure to bear on the Chinese Government by the assembling of foreign warships, British, French, and American.

Ultimately, the riots were suppressed, reparations were made and the danger passed away.

In connection with the Kolaohwei riots an attempt was made by an Englishman named Mason to start a rebellion. He was a fourth class assistant in the Maritime Customs at Chinkiang where he became connected with the Kolaohwei. Having entered its ervice, he undertook to procure arms and ammunition, and to smuggle them into Chinkiang for the purpose of starting a revolt against the Manchus.

Proceeding to Hongkong, he secured 35 cases of arms and ammunition and shipped them in piano cases as freight on board the SS "Chi-yuan." He and his associates took passage on the same ship, intending to start a mutiny, gain control of the vessel, and proceed directly up the Yangtze to Chinkiang, without calling at Shanghai. At the last moment his nerve failed, and instead of assisting in the mutiny, he helped to suppress it. On arrival at Chinkiang, his share in the plot having been discovered, he was arrested and sent to Shanghai. At his trial he pleaded guilty and was given nine months' sentence. While in gaol he tried to escape, but was recaptured and finally deported.

The trial caused a good deal of discussion in Shanghai and it was followed with considerable interest. It is generally supposed that Mason was obsessed by the idea that he might, through a successful rebellion, make himself Emperor of China.

He was the type of adventurer found occasionally in China, ready to take part in any nefarious traffic, and causing the reputation of his fellow countrymen to suffer accordingly.

The Shanghai Jubilee

Shanghai celebrated its semi-centennial on November 17 and 18, 1893, and the International Settlement was en fete. There was considerable discussion in regard to the establishment of some permanent memorial of the occasion and various proposals were made, such as the opening of a new park, the founding of a hospital for infectious diseases, the building of a school for foreign children, the starting of schools for Chinese, and the erection of a Town Hall, but it was finally decided to collect a sum of Tls 15,000, the capital and interest to be placed at the disposal of the Shanghai Municipal Council to be used at its discretion to benefit public institutions.

An elaborate programme was carried out. On Friday, November 17, there was a parade of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps and men from the men-of-war in harbour. An address by the Rev. Dr. William Muirhead was delivered from a raised platform on The Bund, at 11.30 in the morning, in which the orator reviewed the history of the past 50 years and the progress made during that period. A salute of 50 guns was fired by the artillery at noon, a banquet was held at one o'clock, and at two o'clock there was a children's fete on the Race Course. The fountain in the Public Gardens was illuminated at night and made a very beautiful spectacle. The Bund, Nanking Road, the Garden Bridge and a part of Hongkew were bright with illuminations after dark. At night there was also a procession of the Shanghai Volunteer Fire Brigade, followed at ten o'clock by a display of fireworks.

On Saturday, November 18, in the morning there was a parade of the native guilds and in the afternoon there was a performance for the children by the Amateur Dramatic Club at the Lyceum Theatre.

Among the distinguished guests were the Governor of Hongkong and Admiral Sir Edmund Fremantle, R.N. In connection with the Jubilee Mr. Thomas Hanbury, who was visiting Shanghai, presented a gift of Tls. 5,000 to be used for some permanent memorial.

Sino-Japanese War

The next stirring event in the history of China, which had an important influence upon the future of the Settlements, was the war between China and Japan, which began in 1894.

It is not necessary to enter into the causes of the conflict, more than to state that the control of Korea was the matter in dispute. The Japanese, fearing encroachment by Russia from the north, were anxious to dominate the government of Korea, so that it could be used as a buffer state between Russia and Japan.

There was considerable excitement in Shanghai when the British steamer "Kowshing," commanded by British officers, was sunk by the Japanese man-of-war, the "Naniwa," while transporting Chinese soldiers to Korea. Inasmuch as the British Foreign Office was of the opinion that war had already broken out, it was held that the Japanese were within their rights in sinking a transport on which enemy troops refused to surrender when summoned to do so.

On account of the war, the status of Shanghai caused anxiety to the commercial nations interested in the Settlements. The Taotai informed the Consuls of his intention to block the Woosung Bar, but as this would seriously cripple trade, it met with a general protest.

The British representative in Tokyo obtained from the Japanese Government an undertaking to "regard Shanghai as outside the sphere of its warlike operations." Notwithstanding this assurance, the Woosung Bar was for a time partially blockaded.

The Japanese authorities soon found they had been too generous in regard to Shanghai, as the Kiangnan Arsenal was located on its outskirts, and the port was used to ship ammunition, supplies, and troops. The American Government, however, joined with England and France to bring pressure upon Japan to carry out the neutrality agreement.

The result of the war was in some ways disastrous for China. Her weakness was still further revealed, and Western nations, realizing her inability to resist, became more insistent in their demands. China, yielding under pressure, became resentful, and the seeds of future trouble were sown.

In the Treaty of Shimonoseki made at the conclusion of the war, there was one article in the subsidiary treaty of commerce signed at Peking on July 21, 1896, which was calculated to introduce a new element into the industrial situation in Cbina. The right was conceded to carry on trade, industries, and manuftures at any of the treaty ports. Hitherto China had opposed the introduction of factories, but from this time it became permissible. The privilege gained by Japan could be shared by other nations, under "the most favoured nation clause," and this prepared the way for an Industrial Revolution in China.

The Second Riot in Shanghai

At a Ratepayers' meeting held in 1897, the Shanghai Municipal Council was authorized to raise the price of wheelbarrow licences. When, on April 1, an attempt was made to carry out this regulation, the wheelbarrow coolies went on strike, and for two or three days there were minor disturbances.

On April 5 a mob from the French Concession crossed a bridge over the Yangkingpang, and, streaming into the International Settlement, started a riot. The alarm bell was rung, the volunteers called out and shore parties landed from H.M.S. "Linnet," H.M.S. "Plover" and U.S.S. "Monocacy." The rioters were dispersed, but for several days there was a state of tension. Much to the indignation of the foreign community, it was announced on April 6 that the Council had backed down and agreed to a compromise. At a meeting of the community which was very largely attended, a strong protest was made against the Council's action, and the opinion was expressed that owing to it, the prestige of 50 years had been lost.

As no satisfaction could be gained from the Council, a special Ratepayers' meeting was called on April 21, at which the Council was subjected to the severest criticism. The Chairman, Mr. E. A. Probst, not only justified what the Council had done, but claimed that a victory had been won. It appeared that the Consular Body had deputed the Senior Consul to confer with the Taotai on the situation, and that the latter had promised to see that the increased licence fee would be paid by the wheelbarrow coolies, if the date for imposing the new tax was postponed for a short time.

Mr. Probst claimed that by this arrangement the Taotai acknowledged the right of the Council to increase taxes, and that it prevented the occurrence of similar trouble in the future.

This explanation not being satisfactory to the Rate- payers, a resolution was passed expressing "the most profound regret that the Council should have so far disregarded the interests and dignity of the community as to agree to the compromise which had been effected." The mover and seconder of the resolution declared that the Council should resign, as they had no right to make an agreement in opposition to a vote of the Ratepayers. This scathing vote of censure was passed unanimously, with the result that the whole Council retired. The Chinese are past masters at compromise but it is difficult to persuade the Westerner to adopt that method, and unwillingness to compromise has been a constant source of friction between the Oriental and European.

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee

The Queen's Jubilee of 1887 was observed in Shanghai without any great display of enthusiasm, but it was quite otherwise with the Diamond Jubilee of 1897. The fountain in the Public Gardens was built as a memorial of the first Jubilee, and the Victoria Nursing Home was presented to the Municipality as a gift at the Diamond Jubilee.

Shanghai being a cosmopolitan Settlement, it was impossible for the Council to take an official part in the Diamond Jubilee, and therefore the celebration was carried out under the auspices of the British Consular authorities and the British residents. The people of all nations, however, co-operated in making the day memorable, and the rejoicings were truly international. The Settlement was decorated, there was a great service in the English Cathedral, there was speech making and a reception, and at night there were illuminations and a torchlight procession.

It was a recognition not only of a great and good Queen, but a tribute to the prestige of the British nation throughout the world, as a pioneer in international commerce and the upholder of law and order.

Anti-Footbinding Movement

A great deal has been written about the evils of footbinding. The credit for starting a movement against the practice belongs to the late Mrs. Archibald Little, who, in the year 1895, started the Tien Tsu Hui or Natural Foot Society. Much was done in the way of rousing public opinion and the reform was eventually taken up by the Chinese themselves. Nothing is more convincing of the advent of the new China than the discontinuance of the barbarous practice of footbinding.

In a city like Shanghai, the modern young Chinese lady has complete freedom of movement. She now takes part in athletics and is as fond of dancing as the Western girl.