Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-06-21
LETTER PROM CHINA.
From the National Baptist

sing from the movements of the mis-
siOnaries. This has become known
in political and diplomatic circles as
''The Missionary Question"
A sudden increase Of hostility has
been manifested by the Chinese
against evangelistic labor in the inte-
rfor. 1t is all-impOrtant to keep this
fact in mind. The Mandarins have
raised no special objection to Christi
anity, nor do they evince any aversion
to its being preached in the vicinity
Of the open ports but they have or
ganized crusade against missionaries
obtaining an inland residence, and
this crusade, in its present violent
form, dates back no farther than the
year 1867. It Is this unwonted mani
festatiOn we are now called upon to
account for.
tits not because they have just made
the discovery that Christianity Is sub
versive Of fdolatry, for they have
known that for half q century. 1t Is
not because Of any recent inundatiOn
Of missionaries, for the departures du-
ring the last three years have kept
pace with the arrivals. 1t is not be-
cause OF any alarming increase Of con-
verts within that period, for they
speak contemptuously Of the gains
thus far. The Victory, Tseng KwO
Fan, says: 'iIf they take every meth
cd TO propagate their doctrines, they
will after all get but few supporters
and cOnverts.h Another reason car
ries more weight in the consideration.
It has been said the hostility has aris-
en- from the protectorate over Roman
Catholic converts, assumed by the
French government, thus creating an
iDlDeriunl IN iH1periO. There is here
real grievance, Of which the Chinese
have Just cause to complain, and
which they may rightfully call upon
the treaty powers to assist in remoy;
ing. But then, this grievance had
long existed and the Chinese had been
endeavoring to grapple with the diff
Guilty, and they had the cordial SYM
pathy OF all Protestant missionaries.
If the trouble came from this source
only, why did the opposition take
such an embittered form in the par
ticular year 1855? Furthermore, it
was well known to the Chinese high
authorities that Protestant missiOna-
ries insisted upon the obedience OF
their converts to the civil authorities.
Wen Slang, a Cabinet Minister, stated
his opinion that tone reason why the
Protestants had so few converts was
that their missionaries did not pro-
pose or try TO protect those who join
ed them, but declared plainly that
they had nothing to do with the na-
tives and their rulers" And yet the
hostility to inland residence broke
out as suddenly and as violently
against the Protestant missionaries
who did not interfere with the civil
administration, as against the Roman
Catholics who did. Some other reas-
on of more comprehensive appliea-
ton must therefore be sought for, and
this reason, we think, we can indicate.
We will glance at the state Of things
in China at theperiod in question and
then readers may judge for them
selves.
When the English treaty was made
with China, in 1858, it was provided
that at the end Of ten years a revision
might be had at the call Of either par
ty. The time was to expire in 1885,
Therefore 1t was that in the year 1867,
in compliance with q request from the
British minister, the various English
mercantile communities in China sent
in from all quarters lists Of the new
demands which in their opinion ought
to be made upon the Chinese govern
ment, when the revision should be
made in the ensuing year. Many
particulars were included in these de-
mands, but chief among them were :
The right Of inland residence for the
merchants,-thatis Is, the right Of resi-
ding in the interior, instead Of being
restricted to the treaty ports, as they
now are the free use Of steam in the
navigation Of inland waters the con-
struction Of railroads and telegraphs;
and the opening OF iron and coal
mines.
Now these were the very things the
Chinese had made up their minds not
to grant, and the year 1867, therefore,
witnessed the organization Of an En-
glish column Of attack and a Chinese
line of defence. The English meant
to introduce improvements and gain
new opportunities for themselves
The Chinese determined that if they
could help it there should be neither.
They had full and specific knowledge
of the designs Of the foreigners in the
summer Of 1867. They went to work
at once to devise plans Of successful
resistance. By the latter part Of
autumn they had decided upon their
plans, and had begun to put them in
execution. The great struggle came
offin 1858, and comprised two distinct
movements, one Of which was led by
Mr.. Burliugame, who seemingly fail
ed to see the real bearing Of the work
he was doing. He got the United
States to commit themselves to the
agreement "that any privilege or i'm
munity in respect to trade OF naviga-
tiOn within the Chinese dominions,
which may not have been stipulated
by treaty, shall be subject to the dis
cretiOn Of the Chinese government ~
and also to "disclaim and disavOW any
intention or right on the part Of the
United States to interfere in the do
mestic administration Of China in re-
gard to the construction Of railroads,
telegTaphs, or other improvements; :"
and also, to "eoncede to his Majesty
the Emperor Of China the reserved
right to decide the time and manner
and circumstances ofintrOduciug such
improvements within his dominiOns."
The other movement was led by the
Chinese Cabinet ministers in a discus
sion with the British minister at Pc
kin, Of six months continuance, in
which, in the exercise OF their dis
cretiOn,n they steadfastly refused to
grant the wishes Of the merchants as
they had expressed them. They re-
fused to grant railroads or telegraphs;
they refused the free use Of steam on
the inner waters; with a single excep-
ton, they refused to open iron and
coal mines; and they refused the
right Of inland residence to the mer-
chants. It was in connection with the
anticipated discussion Of one Of these
points that the Missionary Ques-
ton" presented itself to the Chinese
mind and loomed up into a sudden
importance.
We must now 90 back a little. Du-
ring the nine years that had already
elapsed since the formation Of the
treaty Of 1858, various missionaries
had one by one established themselves
in places away from the treaty ports.
They had done this upon the warrant
of a clause in the French treaty, by
which missionaries were expressly
allowed to reside in the interior. The
Chinese affirmed this clause to be an
Interpolation. The French denied it.
Sir Rutherford Alcock took sides
either way, according to circumstan-
ces. With him the matter was made
to resemble the movement Of q
thumatrope, wherein q rider is made
to appear on OF Offa horse according
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