National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-03
China and American Missionaries,

The religious press of the United States
is beginning to sound the alarm as TO the
effect which the mobbing and massacre of
Chinese in Wyoming and Washington ter
ritories is likely to have upon the safety of
the American missionaries. The natural
fear is that IL no punishment follows the
murder Of Chinese and no indemnity is
made for the wholesale destruction of their
property in our country, the Chinese peo-
pie will be inclined to retaliate upon the
American missionaries. The latter, 1t ap-
pears, arc scattered all over the celestial
empire, and represent all the Protestant
denominations Of the United States, the
Catholic missions being mainly under the
protection Of the French government.
In the list Of American missions are
found the Methodists and Presbyterians,
both of the north and south churches; the
American Board Of Congregationalists the
Episcopalians, the Baptists, and some other
religious societies, and they largely out
number all other American residents OF
China. BY their self-denial, devotion, and
tact they have succeeded in establishing
themselves in every part Of the empire, and
Christianizing the natives. But their very
success is exposing them to danger, in
view Of the retaliatory measures which may
be adopted in China on account of the
Chinese massacres and mobs In the United
States, as they have their missions at many
remote points in the interior far away from
the treaty ports, and where the govern
anf MI In
straining mob violence.
The Cincinnati Presbyter, in discussing
the subject, asks:
Has the Christian church weighed the
effect these unpunished massacrcs will have
on our mercantile and missionary relations?
with an unparalleled impudence, our repre-
sentatiyes at the Chinese court urge the
cultivation of more friendly relations with
that empire for the sake of securing its com.
merce. Is this the American idea of cult.
waiting friendly relations-to butcher nations
people? If 1t is true that these mobs are be.
yond the jurisdiction of our national govern
ment, surely mob at Canton, that makes
frolic Of numbering merchants and mission.
aries, must be beyond the jurisdiction of the
Chinese government! If our American public
shall let these butcheries pass without pro.
test so indignant that all Asia shall hear, and
our government should not be encouraged or
forced to bring the perpetrators 10 condign
punishment, then the only right thing for
China to do is to wipe its soil clean Of every
American in Its borders, and turn its trade to
such nations Us have some justice, II they have
no religion.
The Chicago Interior, leading religious
journal OF the northwest, In an article en-
titled sour National Shame,n says:
Against this whole business, basclesS and
shameful. let the American church speak out.
Let the press and the pulpit continue the pro-
test. The reasons for 1t deepen with every day
of our history. When the cowardly Wyoming
murderers returned to their homes after hay
ing been discharged by jury that counts 1t
no crime to murder Chinese by the hundred,
they were accorded public reception. The
freedom and honors of the community were
given to them because they had butchered the
Chinese, and driven them to the mountains to
die Of exposure and starvation. II Is thus We
commend our Christian civilization not only
TO the heather OF Asia (perhaps we think we
could despise their judgmenU, but also 10 the
firm, sharp pen of future history. Is II not
time for every lover of the fair fame of his
country to speak out with Il ringing voice
against such national iniamy being made per-
petual2
The foregoing extracts are reflex of
many articles which have appeared in the
religious press of the country on the pres
ent phase OF the Chinese question, aside
from the labor agitation. 1t is plain that
the Chinese now in the United States are
here by virtue Of treaty stipulation, just as
the missionaries have entered China under
the same treaty guarantees. If our gov
eminent Is unable or unwilling to protect
the lives and property of the Chinese Ia
borers here, how can we consistently de-
mand or expect the protection Of American
missionaries in Gilman