Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-09
FOSTER ON CHINA.
The Professional Peacemaker on the Massacre. The Affair of Rock Springs Should
 Make Us Blush.

Watertown, N. Y, Sept. S.-EX-Secre- tary John ". Foster delivered an ad- dress tonight in the First Presbyterian church, of which his son-n-law, Rev A M Dulles, is pastor. In the course of his address he made the following ref erence to the recent Chinese riots:
 "The opinion formed by me, after care full inquiry and observation. is that the mass of the population in China, partic- ularly the common people, are not spe- cially hostile to the missionaries and their work They have been permitted to penetrate every part of the vast em- pire with as little disturbance as the Chinese laborers who have spread them selves over the United states, and Tn case of danger the authorities have usu- ally exerted themselves for thelr pro- tection Occasionally riots have taken place. but they are almost invariably traced to the literati or prospective or , ,ficeholders and the ruling classes. These are often bigoted and conceited to the highest degree and regard the [yichlnB of the missionaries as tending to over throw the existing order of government and society, which they look upon as perfect system, sanctified by aye.
 '"The war with Japan, which resulted in a humiliating peace and the loss of territory, has greatly weakened the lnl- perial authority and the disbandment of several hundred thousand troops, mostly without receiving the pay due them. has added very much to the pre- vailing discontent and disorder. Under such circumstances 1t is not strange that riots should occur and that the Wide spread missions should be the chief sui ferers These riots have been mostly confined to pillaging and destruction of property the chief exception being the Kucheng massacre, which justly horri- fled the civilized world.
 "Rut we in America should be chary of our condemnation when We recall the many outrages which have been inflicted upon Chinese subjects in the United States. and remember that the Rock Springs. Wyo., riot a few years ago was equally cruel and fatal in it's results, and reflected rpore severely upon our authorities. Although only few weeks have elapsed since the Kucheng massa- ere, the telegraphs informs us that near ly a score of participants have already heen condemned to death more than loo are in prison awaiting trial, and the imperial government is already arrang- ing to fully compensate the mlsslons TOT all their losses. In contrast With thlS summary administration of justice by the Chinese authorities stands the fact that no punishment followed the Rock Snrings massacre, compensation was delayed for three years and then accom- panied by legislation against the Chi nese which was pronounced by our su- nreme court as in violation of the treaty, but without remedy. l am, however, in sympathy with the prevailing demand in the United States that the Chinese government should be held to strict ac- countability for these outrages. But in doing this care should be exercised by our government that it does not lend it. self to advance the sinister projects or foreign governments which are on the alert to turn the internal troubles or China to their own benefit. The United States is strong enough to act inde- pendently of European commissions ana China has never yet failed to comply with it's just demands. There seems to be on the part of the public press in our country a misconcept on of the ground upon which it bases ts intervention on account of these riots. It is not because we are Christian country and are seek ing to support Christian propaganda ism in China. It is simply because the people in whose behalf our government Snteryenes are American citizens, pursu- ing an avocation guaranteed by treaty and permitted by Chinese law"