China; Chinese -- United States -- Education; Education -- China; Yung, Wing, 1828-1912
The Chinese newspaper Kodama showed me contained a proposition I drew up
for Viceroy Chang Chi Tung to memorialize the Peking government for
adoption in 1894-5, about six months before the signing of the Treaty of
Shemonashiki by Viceroy Li Hung Chang. The proposal was to have the
Island of Formosa mortgaged to a European Treaty power for a period of
ninety-nine years for the sum of $400,000,000 in gold. With this sum
China was to carry on the war with Japan by raising a new army and a new
navy. This proposition was never carried through, but was made public in
the Chinese newspapers, and a copy of it found its way to Kodama’s
office, where, strange to say, I was confronted with it, and I had the
moral courage not only to avow its authorship but also a correction of
the amount the island was to be mortgaged for.
To bring the interview to a climax, I said, should like circumstances
ever arise, nothing would deter me from repeating the same proposition
in order to fight Japan.
This interview with the Japanese governor of Formosa was one of the
most memorable ones in my life. I thought at first that at the request
of the Chinese viceroy I was going to be surrendered, and that my fate
was sealed; but no sooner had the twinkling smile of Kodama lighted his
countenance than my assurance of life and safety came back with
redoubled strength, and I was emboldened to talk war on Japan with
perfect impunity. The bold and open stand I took on that occasion won
the admiration of the governor who then invited me to accompany him to
Japan where he expected to go soon to be promoted. He said he would
introduce me to the Japanese emperor and other leading men of the
nation. I thanked him heartily for his kindness and invitation and said
I would accept such a generous invitation and consider it a great honor
to accompany him on his contemplated journey, but my health would not
allow me to take advantage of it. I had the asthma badly at the time.
Then, before parting, he said that my life was in danger, and that while
I was in Formosa under his jurisdiction he would see that I was well
protected and said that he would furnish me with a bodyguard to prevent
all possibilities of assassination. So the next day he sent me four
Japanese guards to watch over me at night in my quarters; and in the
daytime whenever I went out, two guards would go in advance of me and
two behind my jinrickisha to see that I was safe. This protection was
continued for the few days I spent in Formosa till I embarked for Hong
Kong. I went in person to thank the governor and to express my great
obligation and gratitude to him for the deep interest he had manifested
towards me.
APPENDIX
An address by the Rev. Joseph H. Twichell, delivered before the Kent
Club of the Yale Law School, April 10, 1878.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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