The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-08
Missionaries in China-Severe Restrictions
of the Government.

A short time ago we mentioned that the
Chinese had addressed 70 the Foreign Minister a
despatch asking for & revision Of the missionary
question. We are now able % give a sketch OF
It's contents which viii be found fairly correct.
though we cannot vOuch for minute accuracy.
We nave insisted for some time that the mission
sry question was one OF the most pressing with
which we should have 20 deal and our readers
Will here see the proof
Female teachers and consequently female schools
20 be done away With, as interfering with the
peace and retirement OF Chinese social life.
No Mission TO be permitted 10 have more than
- converts. and these must be reported monthly
70 an Official 10 De appointed IN each locality Tor
the purpose. BOYS schools are only 20 embrace
the children OF converts. and then under certain
restrictions and limitations; these also 20 be re-
ported monthly To a registrar.
All teaching and preaching against CoDfneius
and the received and cherished doctrines and ideas
Of the Chinese. TO be strictly prohibited.
All missionaries 10 be treated as Chinese sub
lects. except at the open ports, and 70 be amena-
bic 70 Chinese law In every respect, and 10 be
Obliged TO conduct themselves towards officials II
every way like the natives.
A Christian convert 70 be non suited, IN a
native law suit, If a missionary interfere II has
behalf.
Mission establishments 70 be visited by regular
officers, ana no founding hospitals or ~asylums TO
be permitted.
No women 20 be allowed 70 attend foreign re-
ligious services and female missionaries 70 60
home, or at least desist from work.
In the event Of another massacre occurring. the
actual murderers only TO be punished no COM
p~ensation allowed and no city or district % be
indicted in consequence TIE 6ferGEI are not 70
De made 20 pay for the reckieSsBeSs OF individuals;
and land once conhscated Is not 20 be restored.
MANY of these terms seem based on the charges
alleged against missionaries as causes OF toe
flemish massacre II TACT, judging from the IN
formation before Us. proposals more calculated 70
excite more emphatic and angry rejection eOnld
hardly have been penned. A request that mis-
siOnary teaching should cease altogether would
have been simpler ana less obleetionabie.-Ihat
the receipt Of this despatch created some excite
ment 10 diplomatic circles. we can well believe
and our information saws that it mad called forth
more than one strenuous repiy. The Chinese
Government have shown their hand al last. and
given Us a pretty good lesson IN play. Hitherto
they have contented themselves with rejecting oar
claims for progress. Now they turn the tables
and demand our retreat. Foreign Governments
viii be obliged 10 take Up the question now
whether they viii OF nOT.-Phiio-Chinese are said
70 De az Lass rather ashamed of their prOteees.
Oar correspondent also writes that persecution
has occurred al I-cbOw, and the converts there,
and the owners Of the house rented by the Ameri-
can Mission, have been beaten-as was done IN
the case Of the Presbyterian Mission IN the Shanse
last autumn-and that compensation which was
asked, for the Chinese who suffered IN the mission
compound, has been refused 70 the American
Minister. No wonder Lbe Chinese are preparing
Tor war if they are prepared 70 stand BY their
present lire OF diplomacy-N0rt China DaIIv
NeirS.