The Portland daily press., 1894-12-27
Tile Anti Foreign Sentiment Greatly
Exaggerated.
INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE
SITUATION BY A MISSIONARY.
The Emperor Feels Friendly Toward the
Churches as They Educate the People
The weather and Foreign Sentiment
VIII End the War.

VIII End the War.
Plainfield, N. j., December 26.-The Rev.
DR.. Henry Blodgett. who has just returned
from Pekin, is visiting his son-in-law, the
Rev. DR.. ". II. Richards.
or. Blodgett went to China in 1854. aLd
has been connected since with the Congre-
Rational mission situated at Tien-Tsin ana
Pskin. removing to the capitalin 1864. he
is the senior missionary of the mission.
DR.. Blodgett returned to this country De-
cerber 5. In an interview today he said:
s'The Emperor of China lives IN the IN
terror, or Prohibited City, with his wives.
He OILY comes out to worship six times
year, and occasionally to visit his pleasure
garden in the northwestern part OF the
city. He gives audiences to his mandarins.
Priyy Counselor, Princes of the blood,
snd high military commanders daily. He Is
inaccessible 10 foreigners. except when he
gives occasional audiences to Ambassadors
from other countries. In case the japanese
should invade Pekin, the Emperor would
probably withdraw to Jehol. lust as one OF
his predecessors did in 1900. when the
British invaded the city.
'rhe anti-foreign sentiment In Pekin Is
greatly exaggerated. OF course the Chinese
do not like foreigners, and If they were
not restrained they might do injury.
shortly before my departure. in response to
remonstrances of foreign representatives
the Emperor issued proclamation to pro-
tect foretg ners. A copy OF the proclamation
was tackled up in every mission churo hand
comrIetely auieted all manifestations to-
ward foreigners. No American OF other
foreigners are allowed by treaty to do busi-
ness in Pskin. In other parts of China little
business is done by Americans, most OF
what used to be In American having
passed into English hands.
DR.. Blodgstt says that there is little re-
sentment on the part Of the Chinese In gen
erai to American restriction of immigration.
In fact, they know little about 1t on
account of the lack of newspapers. The
high officials rather favor 1t. because they
do not wish their followers to leave the
county. Mr.. Robert Hart. who is at the
head of the Chinese Customs Service, re-
Gently told DR.. Hlodgett that the Chinese
did not care anything about the action OF
this government.
Lii Hung Chang has been greatly misun-
derstood. He believes in the Western World
civilization, without the Christian religion,
and had he had his way, the Chinese would
have been educated in the arts OF mod ern
warfare. The defeat of China, he says. is
from a supercilious disregard of the advance
Of the world in warfare. The Rev. Charles
Penney, an American missionary, teaches
the children of LII Hung Chang the English
branches. He also runs private school,
whi cL il patronized BY, the msndarins and
rich men. who send their sons to him TOR
these branches. Lii Hung Chang's liberaI-
zation is only his belief in the fact that In
tho arts and sciences the rest OF the world
long ago surpassed China.
There are in Pekin three Congregational
churches, three Methodist. three Presby-
terIan, one Alliance. and six English
Protestant. To these the Emperor extended
proteotion mainly because he feels friendly
to them as they educate the people.
DR.. Blodgett believes the war is practical
ly at an end. The severe weather and the
general foreign sentiment against 1t being
too much. he thinks, for the Japanese to
continue at the present time.