New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-09
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE MISSIONARIES NOT AT FAULT.
DEFENDED As VICTIMS or SPANISH INToLER-
ANCE IN THE ISLAND OF PoNAPE.

DEFENDED As VICTIMS or SPANISH INToLER-
ASCE IN THE ISLAND OF PoNAPE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
1t Is we'll known that the American Board OF MIS-
sions had ouris..ng mission the island OF Ponape'
one OF the Caroline group In the South facihc' lhey
had schools OF different grades and Tor both sexes.
They had churches in different parts OF the Island and
their spiritual condition unusually prosperous Ill
the carly part 1887 for though long years of patient
labor first seemed TO bear little fruit the mission
founded In 1882 yet for years previous 10 ioo'
there had been constant increase in spiritual results
That year the spaniards to Ponape, and,
though the missionaries welcomed them ana counseeA
the natives to obey tem they soon found themselves
only hwarted in their Iabors, but their prop
erty that they had bought taken from item without
redress. The authorities denied their right OF owner
ship, and when their title deeds produced these
taken from them nnder prctence OF being regis
tered at tie Capital and have not been returned 10 THIS
day. But time would fail to review the history Of
high-handed wrong and outrage that followed The
schools were closed the churches broken the mis-
ion-houses burned, and tie missionaries not-ban-
ished that had been comparatively an honorable act
they were forbidden to teach preach and com
manded 10 reside away from the natives and within the
Spanish lines. What missionary work could be done
in suclt circumstances, and what missionary woud
consent be supported by the churches In such en-
forced ldlenessl
In view OF the we'll known Castiian spirit we were
prepared to find unwingness confess the wrong Of
such procedure; though Emilio Terrero Governor-Gen-
eral at Manila set them a good example in striking
off the feters Of Mr. Doane transferring him from the
prison-hold OF a man-of-war TO the rooms OF one OF
the best hotels, and then, instead OF even sublecnng
him TO trial sending him back in the best cabin with
letter OF commentator, Of which TIE following IS an
extract:
The important Ia5ors performed by yourself and
L~,t Ia int cd IA
counted as OF extraordinary service to humanity and
civilization Also the great hardships suffered by
yourself in the propagation Of the Gospel convince me
of the cdth with which you have overcome all sorts OF
obstacles to the conversion of the savages OF those
islands.
Wherefore in acknowledging your interesting let
ter wish to express to you my thanks for the well
known services rendered by yourself and the other mis-
sionaries which have resulted to the advantage OF
Spain, since in establishing her dominion In the East
Crolnes she has found natives already hty prepared
TO enter upon the life of a cultivated people
Knowing also the poverty OF the Spanish EXchequer
we were prepared for some demur In replacing 'ile
losses inflicted a mission in which good Chrstahs
in the United states had invested not less than
S733, 643. But We not quite prepared for the
preposerous charges that missionaries stirred up
edltlon made the mission houses forts and armed the
natives to wage war with Spain. We cannot stop here
10 refute such outrageous SANDERS. NO doubt ther
authors made their calculations that II would require
volumes 10 refute these sentences which have not
even the shadow Of foundation. The attitude OF our
missionaries from last has been that Of loyalty
TO the powers that be, because they are loyal to the
bible that requires 1t. Doubtless the authors OF sucn
baseess charges would in the situation have acted
As they say the missionaries acted But the MISSION
aries act from other motives, they seek holier ends
They are filed with spirit which these sanderers DO
believe In, because they cannot even form con
cepton Of il in their thoughts. Mr.. Doane, at the
cost of no little personal danger secured the surrender
OF the chiefs after the first outbreak in 1887 NO
greater wrong could be done TO the memory OF eood
man than even TO suggest that ne favored that re-
bellIon And when war broke ont in 1890 Miss Palmer
was the only missionary the island and she, win
the aid OF i've helper gave shelter TO tne priests
and some OF the soldiers till they could return 10 ther
port in safety. Then, when Mt. Kama arrived, III
August his principal employment was urging com.
Ulauce with spanish requirements. Ihat ne ala NJ
succeed was owing 10 lack OF urgency on MS par
on the part OF the Spanards. But our missionaries
need no defence. Unless they are the most Dateiace
liars and the most cOnsummate lypoertes-ano VINO
laws such things their charge tey are Tue WRONGLY
and not the wrongdoers and 10 beDooves US as cIu-
zens OF this Republic TO see that telr "ronsS "Io
righted. ., ,,o an, ou-, Cov
erment for the redress Of SUCH wrongs not tue "or
Of a day That there wrongs TO 10 rlghted Is ln9
fault OF those who inhic,e ed them, and theirs only hhu
II redress delays that delay also lies AZ tine ooor N
those who Instead Of fighting them, ada Insult u III
Jury in formulating such sanderous charges am
4 CORPORATE MEMBER Or IHf' bOhh0
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