Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-20
Thc French Bal China.

The Westminster Review, for April has pa
per on France, the Jesuits and the Tientsin
Massacre" which aims TO give a full explana-
ton of that affair, and of the Chinese public
opinion and feeling by which such outbreaks
are produced The writer says nothing which
is not well known to those who have sought to
understand China; but what he says may lead
Others to more intelligent view of the matter
discussed. He points out that the state of
Chinese feeling which preceded the massacre
can not be understood without a careful exami-
nation of the attitude of the French government,
through its officials, and the position of the
Roman Catholic missionaries scattered through
the empire.
French trade with China amounts to little or
nothing, being estimated at less than one per
cent. of the whole trade of Europeans with that
country. 1t is not on account of this trade that
the French have spent so much money on their
diplomatic establishments in China, and as
sumed tone so lofty and dictatorial in their
dealings with the Chinese government. The
chief purpose Of this French diplomacy, for
some years past, has been to support and pro-
tect the Catholic missionaries in China. Louis
Napoleon adopted this policy, just as he main
tanned an army in Rome, to win support of
the French Catholics. He thought and cared
very little about its effect on the Chinese. GAN
thepower of Protestant missionaries combined"
says the Chinese Recorder, would have failed
to erect church surmounted by cross over
looking the emperor's palace; and so would that
of the Romish missionaries, if it had not been
backed by the Gpower of France" Is it sur
prising that Chinese public opinion is not in
love with either the French or the Catholics2
AS France has habitually gone further than
any other nation in what is known as the "high
handed policy" the Catholic missionaries have
undoubtedly been encouraged to assume bear
ing and claim prerogatives, which would not
have been thought of as possible under other
circumstances. They are somewhat numerous
there, and have, not only priests, but also
several bishops. Probably, they have lost more
than they have gained, by this French diplo-
macy, for its chief effect has been to provoke
and madden public opinion against them. There
has been difficulty, constantly, growing out of
arrogant and provoking claims of these mis-
sionaries In one of the diplomatic papers on
file at Washington, it is stated, that, in 1867,
Prince Kung, on one occasion spoke at diplo-
matte reception, with some feeling, OF his
troubles with the French minister. He was on
the best terms with other foreign ministers, but
his relations with the French minister were in a
constant state of disturbance. He said :-"the
causes of irritation were the French demands on
account of the missionaries, and the nature of
correspondence touching affairs in Corea; this
&o Il A..
aries not content to spread their faith, to which
there was no objection, were political agents,
and undertook to absolve their Chinese converts
from obligations to their own government"
In addition to this, Chinese imagination, sup
ported by intense dislike, has made of the con-
vents, and other religious establishments of the
Catholics, horrible dens of diabolical agency.
The appearance of secrecy and mystery con-
nected with these houses, made belief in their
dabolical character as easy in China, as belief
in witchcraft was in Europe, two hundred and
fifty years ago. AT any rate, there were stories
of the kidnapping of children to dig out their
brains, eyes, and hearts, for use in sorcery; and
there were beliefs in all sorts of stories and
horrors, until it was believed that the religious
houses of the Catholics were the abodes of sor-
eerers and devils. Most of this could have been
prevented, if more friendly relations had exist
ed. 1t is safe to believe, there would have been
no Tientsin massacre, if there had been no
French diplomacy in China. But this high
handed diplomacy was there, as active and
arrogant as the French officials could make it,
although the like of it, on the part of the Chi
nese, would not have been tolerated a moment,
in France, or in any other country of Europe.
Probably, there will now be some change
Louis Napoleon is no longer emperor, and
France is not just now in a condition to seem
very terrible 10 other nations. But the nations
that trade with China should be able to Yindi-
cate their superior civilization by means of
something different from their power to attack
and destroy. They have no right to demand of
the Chinese government, in regard TO missiona-
ries or anything else, what they would not
grant in return; and their conduct in that coun-
try should be regulated by the same rule which
they would insist on establishing for the Chi
nese under similar circumstances. If all these
nations would adopt a nobler policy, and accord
to the Chinese ciyility, good will, and justice
equal and exact, it is likely that they would ac-
quire new views of Chinese character, and form
much higher estimate of that people,-an esti
mate that is not possible to buccaneering trad
ers and propagsndists.