Evening journal., 1895-08-10
A self-assumed Risk.

interior Of China take great risks upon
themselves Many OF the natives have
never seen white men, and they are
welded to their idols by traditions run
ming back into the dim ages Of the past.
That they are 10th to forsake them for
what they. as mass, regard as false
gods, is not to be wondered at
Let a Chinese missionary come TO the
United States preaching the doctrines
Of the idolatrous worship OF the Flowery
Kingdom and see how quickly be will be
the victim OF mob violence. We have
seen this spirit OF intolerance shown to
Quakers, to Catholics. to Mormons and
to the Salvation Army, not to mention
other scots which were not strong enough
to stand before the tide OF an adverse
public opinion backed by violen ce. The
svangelists OF these scots we're just "a
meek, and lowly, and just as peaceable
as the English and American mission
aries who are now working for the cAlva.
tion OF the Celestials. Yet, In An en-
liEhtened nation like ours they wers
subjected to insult, outrage. imprlson-
ment, and. in extreme cases, death
Religious prejudice Is one OF the
strongest OF human emotions There are
instances on record where 1t proved
stronger than paternal and flial love
This is true Of America; It is doubly true
OF China which labors beneath a religious
fsnaticlsm which the lapse Of thousands
Of years has but served to intensity.
Missionaries who venture into suoh
places must know that they carry their
lives In their hands. They cannot be
ignorant OF It. As students OF human
nature they must spprehend the danger
for the averting OF which they must
trust In the humanity Of their natural
enemies, for they voluntarily place
themselves beyond She reach OF human
aid from the people OF their own race.
China Is an Immense country, peopled
by millions. intelligent according to their
standard but woefully ignorant, when
measured by ours. With a conelomerate
nation; with polyglot population, split
up into factions and great political
secret societies; with a people ground
down by oppression and the prey OF
rapscious and dishonest officials; with
the mandarin courts In which justice IL
bought and sold and with weak central
government upon which the classes are
preying like leeches. China lisa national
object lesson which should evoke pity
rathar than canauro
Missionaries are fully cognizant OF
these conditions before they leave hons
They owe It to themselves and TO their
relatives and friends 10 give them full
and grave consideration before taking
the step which may lead TO death or
fate infinitely worse.
Delaware has missionaries In China
We trust that their religious zeal has
not closed their ears to the notes OF
warning that have been sounded at Fo-
Klein, Hupsh. TAPPING aud An Hui, and
that they have made their way to the
treaty ports, which are apparently the
only really safe places IN the Celestial
empire Sermons and invocations can
avail them nothing The anti foreign
and anti-christian feeling is rapidly
spreading. The central government is
apparently powerless; the sphere Of
not and murder ID beyond the immediate
reach OF foreign governments, no matter
howwell-disposed they be. ard no per
auasion bat that used by Chinese Gordon
against the cruel and rebellious Tae
Pings can subdus the. fanatics