Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-18
MISSIONARIES HELD TO DIANE.
Chinese Minister Ia London Suggests
Theft Partial RcspOnsibiiity.

| Their Partlnt NetpOusibft1tys
A london dispatch OF the 18th 20 the
New York Herald says: Over long cigar
| and a fragrant cup OF real Chinese tea
your correspondent had the privilege OF e
few words with his Excellency Kung
Tajen. the Chinese Minister Plenipotenti-
airy 10 the Courts OF London. Brussels.
/ Paris and Rome.
In referring to the recent massaercs o,
| the missionaries, his Excellency declared
that they were on this, as on the pre-
yious occasions, mainly tho work II rus-
| fans c'malfaiteurs'D. who had availcG
themselves OF the exceptional cireum-
stances In order 10 work mischief aud
loo, property in the confu-icn which en-
sued.
/ In the town OF Cher:-tu. for instance.
1t Is notorious that bad characters. who
have their lairs in the neighborins noun
| talns, had come into the town on the
/ lookout FOR robbery, somewhat IN SINH
/ lar manner TO that which prevails now
/ and then In outlandish places In Western
America, where rOwdle5 ride IN broad
daylight and loot the banks
with regard TO tina special case 90 the
missionaries, II was TO be noted that
the German mission had not been at
tackled Thus the matter probably was
10 b. traced 10 a special local conccntra-
ton of circumstances. not 10 any out
break Of feeling against the missionaries
as such.
His Exceiloucy himself had been man
DARN In the Sze-chuen district three years
ago. and he could vouch FOR the fact
that the Inhabitants treated foreigners.
missionaries included. with greater regard
, than was usual among themselves.
.t,.r go h. n ~
tional OF late. The Chinese had suffered
defeat. and a sore feeling prevailed in
consequence. which the foreign rs and
the missionaries in particular, had not
always made due allowance for; but on
tho contrary. now and then had scarcely
taken the trouoie to conceal their poor
opinion of tho natives.
This had naturally led 10 ill-fcelnr.
which the violent characters had done
their best 70 foment
HOW ONE RIOT BEGAN.
For instance. a. Chcng-tu some boys
had thrown little stones at a missionary,
and when demonstrated with had per-
sisted. The missionary IN question lai1
hold Of one of the boys, dragged him
through the street and locked him up IN
the church or chapel. Great popular ex-
citcveut resulted The crowd storfned
followed murdered the missionary The
authorities were promptly apprised ~
what was going on. and hurried to the
scene but instead Of being assisted by
tho missionaries. the latter upbrailei the
mandarins. swore they would wreak terri
bic retribution. and even laid hands on
one OF the mardarins.
Hence a renewed outbreak OF fury and
more fatal violence.
IL was not easy TO form an impartial
! opinion on this matter Of missionaries
in China. II could. perhaps. best be
realized by comparison. for instance. OF
a case that mf4ht be imagined. II Chi
nese missionaries were at work in
some English Industrial centre-MiIles-
borough. for insiance-tryirg to convert
the natives 10 their creed. "rictions"
might be looked for and would be Diff
cult 10 avoid.
However. leaving anaiogles aside, the
Emperor Of China had u perfect horror
Of every kind Of outrage. and had launch
ct three energetic DEGREES calling
upon the Foreign Onlce-the Tsung-li-
Yamen-to meie out the severcst punish
mont 20 the guilty, and he dhe Chinese
Minister felt perfectly sure that these
ouiragcs would not occur again.
At tho same time notice had been sept
/ TO al lNe governments VINO We're inter-
csted, as having their missionaries In
China, to do all they could 70 recon-
/ mend certain forbearance I'm their man
ner toward the natives, I'm view Of the
! exceptionally sensitive state of Chinese
/ public feeling, in consequence Of the dis
! asrrous war which had Just been
! brought 70 an end.
a MISSIONARIES VIEW.
I, has frequently been asked why the
missionaries IN China should remain at
| outlying stations when rlmors Of impend-
ing trouble wtre in the air. Such rumors.
| II has been contenled. were always in
| circulation for days before any outrages
/ were perpetratei. and the refusal e the
| missionaries 20 make for the shelter Of
! central stations or treaty ports has been
| stigInJ,ized as fooharllncss. On this sub
| isct Or. Birdwood Taylor. an Engishman
| who was for seventeen years connected
| with the Church Missionary Society In
! Fo-kien. has written a defence Of his col
| Leagues, several points Of which are OF
| interest.
For the last sixteen years" says DR..
Taylor I'll has been my privilege 10 know
both Robert Warren Stewart and his
wife. who were killed In Kucheng. /,
| was from my house in FOOchOw that they
returned - Kucheng, and it was round
| his fireside that We talked over the out
| look in December last. Little did think.
| when. half in earnest and yet half in jest,
| said: You know. Stewart | don't want,
when arrive I'm England, to read of
| dreadful massacre OF missionaries that