The morning call., 1891-09-05
THE TURMOIL IN CHINA.

The Chinese papers brought by the Gae-
lie state that the anti-foreign excitement
was subsiding. and that some of the foreign
gunboats were proposing TO leave Chinese
waters. We notice, however, that at
I-chang, in the valley of the Yang-tse-
Kiang, the houses of some missionaries and
their. chapels have been burned to the
ground. 1t is evident that the humane ap-
peal of the Tsung-h Yamen to the Chinese
people TO be forbearing with the mission
aries has not yet led to complete change OF
heart among the heather.
A letter recently published in the North
China NelcS. whose authorship is ascribed
to Chinaman high in the councils Of the
empire, has led to controversy which is
conducted with considerable acrimony. The
writer OF the letter holds the missionaries
responsible for the riots which have oc-
Cured. He says that they have thrust
themselves among people who do not want
them, and that their conduct has been
marked by arrogant meddlesomeness and
disregard of the feelings and traditions Of
the Chinese. He observes that missionary
is indiffere mt TO public opinion, with which
he is not in touch. and not amenable to law,
being responsible only TO his own Consul.
And he dWels upon the obstacles which
missionary enterprise is throwing in the
way OF the extension of Chinese CONNER
eial intercourse with foreigners.
The publication of this letter has led to
considerable thought among foreigners in
China. and number of merchants at
Shanghai are inclined TO side with the Chi
nese writer. The Shanghai papers are full
of letters on the subject. The merchants say
hot a. n ny+and ma ts
for American and European goods in China
are blocked by the prejudice created by the
missionaries, 10 which the latter reply that
it is better that one soul should be saved
t han that all the goods in the world should
be sold.
Naval officers on the China station write
to friends that missionary enterprise in
China cannot be said to be promising SO
long as every chapel has TO be protected
by gunboat to prevent its destruction by
the rabble whom the missionaries propose
to convert
The Chlnaman who writes in the Shang-
hal NelCS asks If "the time has not come, in
the interests alike Of Chinese and foreign
ers, to ask foreign Governments to under
take the withdrawal of the mission scheme
as it now exists" If that is the ground
ually take as the present controversy pro-
crosses it is well that Americans should De
prepared for its discussion. The duty of
disseminating tie gospel among the heathen
is high and holy duty which no practicing
Christian will deny. But in the interests
Of religion itself is it best that it should be
so discharged as to create hostility where
friendliness should be aimed at. or so as to
ALLEVIATE the very minds upon which 1t is
proposed to operate? When the extrater-
ritorial provision of the existing treaties
between China and the powers of Christen-
dom was insisted upon the idea was to pre-
vent the spoliation, or the torture, or the
judicial murder of foreigners in the Chinese
ports opened to trade. An extended inter
probation has been given to the provision for
the missionaries who have penetrated the
country and engaged in intercourse with
the natives while not amenable to the ma
tive courts. Under the present reading Of
the treaty an American missionary residing
a thousand miles from seaport may COM
nit any breach of law, and may refuse to
answer for il to the court of the place where
lie lives; he is only answerable to his own
Consul.