The herald., 1895-01-21
AS VIEWED BY A MISSIONARY.
Possibilities of the China Japan
War.
Frosty Weather win Aid the En-
peror's Forces.
Intlmat That Russia May Oltppte
with Foreign Powrss Over
the Oatcomo.

BOSTON, Jan. 20.--The American
Board of Foreign Missions, representing
the Congregational churches, knowing
the value Of his opinion on the war be.
tween China and Japan, solicited ar
expression OF them from the Rev Benry
Blodgett, ID. D., Of Pekin who bsi
spent forty years in the ssrvice Of tht
board and thirty years in Petiu, He I,
now in this country. DR.. Blodestt ha'
responded to the request Of the board "a
follows:
among the common people very
little lie known regarding either the
causes OF the war or the facts occurring
in its progress. and the widest and
most absurd rumors are sfost. In
Japan. on the contrary, every thing lie
published, and some things which do
not occur, in their Numerous newsps-
pers, and their cities and towns are
illuminated at every victory over the
Chinese. In conseq uence. partly, OF
this, the most intense enthusiasm for
the war prevails. even the boys and the
girls in their ohools practicing milit AIRY
drills.
ION to Pskin. was the CRY every
where rs we passed through that coun.
try. Will the Japanese reach pekinY
They heve fought we'll and are very
brave. They have gained many vic
tories; they have still great work be-
fore them.
SIN early January they had not taken
Yingstu, which is the port of Niu Chang,
and is more than 500 miles by land
northeast of Pskin, During the winter
the army corps marching from its pres
ent position toward Pskin must be cut
off from communication with the sea.
Coolies from Japan must carry its NUM-
tions OF war and supplies for its COM
miseary. The weather is cold, the mer-
curry falling as low ss zero, or even lower
than this. Fierce winds sweep down
from the north and the ground occa-
sionslly 10 covered byla fall OF snow. Al
ready we hear of the Japanese army
suffering from the cold. Ii would not
be strange il the Chinese soldiers, who
are accustomed to this climate, should
recover little courage and offer serious
resistance to the progress OF the Jap
anese. The boast OF the Japanese was
they should reach Pekin in Novemb Der.
As things now stand it sesms improb-
able they can accom- plish this during the
winter.
What has been written lie on the
supposition that the war 10 to be con.
tinued. But in the meantime negots-
tions for peace are going forward. What
will be the result of these? We believe
they will be successful. Tbs treaty
powers desire peace and will use their
influence to secure it. China 10 ready
for peace, even on humiliating terms
Japan, considering the honorable posi-
tion abe has already attained, may con-
sent to give up her march on Pekin and
grant terms OF peace such 90 CAN be St
copied
yet these terms may be somewhat
difficult to find. They involve the in
tsrssts of European powers, as well 90
these OF China and Japan. The great
Siberian railway will be finished in a
few years. Will Russia be ssti.fsd TO
have Vladivostock, q port which is
closed by ice four months out OF the
year, as the terminus OF this railway on
tina seaboard? Will she not wish for
her transcontinental railway, port |
farther south, which 10 open all the
year; that is to say a port Of Corea?
"But such q port would make Russia
the leading power On the western border |
OF China and in the Pacific ocean. Will
England consent to such an arrange
ment? Will France and Germany con.
sent2 Will China and Japan consent? |
Corea is a second Constantinople The
only solution of the difficulty in regard |
to her seems to be to give autonomy to
the nation, autonomy granted by all
the powers. AS for Formosa, Great |
Britain and France would both oppose
the cession of that island to Japan
should such proposal be made. II is
q matter OF course that heavy war
indemnity should be sought by Japan.
and to this claim China will be COM
PEELED to agree.
"What has been the effect OF the war
on missionary work and ON the Chinese |
generally, and what lie likely to be the
effect after the return Of peace? For the |
most part missionaries have remained |
in their places. Ia Pekin and else.
where throughout the land missionary
work is carried forward without obstruc.
ton. With the common people, the
laboring classes, when the war 10 over
the matter will end there. With them
the getting of their daily bread is their
daily concern, and they leave national
ihtcf onto w tiAo lu6 HOV-
eminent, the literary classes and the
business men OF China have been taught
q grand object lesson on the iutility of
their old methods and the necessity of
adopting new ones.
''Better lessons could hardly have
been given. In November last the
writer in passing through the city of
Osaki was permitted to visit the wound.
ed Chinese prisoners. There we're 40 OF
them in all. They were quartered in
the largest temple in Osaki. Japanese
mattresses were laid on the floor for
them to sleep on. They we're furnished
sufficient bedding and abundant food.
The beat medical and surgical aid was
afforded them, the surgeon in charge
having received his medical education
in Berlin. They converted freely with
me and seemed cheerful, happy and
very thoughtful. When we remem Der
that early in the war Chinese cover.
nor offered one hundred taels for the
head of Japanese private and double
that amount for the head of an officer.