The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-10-19
THEY MAkE TROUBLE.

State Department Said to be Given No
End of Trouble From Such Causes
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The state de-
partment is still having no end OF
trouble as a result of the incousider-
ate acts of Jealous American mission
aries in foreign countries. Only last
week Minister Ransom, by very care
full work, averted a serious clash be-
tween American Protestant mission
aries and resident Roman Catholic
Mexicans. As is generally known,
Mexico is a large field for Protestant
missionaries, who are sent by THEN
churches to convert the Mexicana
from Roman Catholic to Protestant
ideas of Christianity. The American
missionaries in Mexico had raised OBJ
lection to the annual religious cere-
mony prominent in the Mexican
church, known as the Coronation OF
the Virgin of Guadalupe" Mission
aries had gone to such extreme
ends in seeking to prevent this cere-
mony that Mexicans had become very
much aroused and missionaries had
received threatening letters from local
enemies. Had it not been for Minister
Ransom's prompt action, it is very
likely that we would have had another
troublesome question to settle with thk
neighboring republic, and another diff
ficulty added to the Chinese and
Armenian missionary troubles which
constantly harass this government.
While the government of course, has
No Iocir. 70 to1y., SilaS in u n u ralininuS
controversy between various sects, it
much less wishes to become involved
in diplomatic warfare brought about
by the zeal of American evangelists.
Already these international difficulties
are very costly, even if peaceful, and
no small expense in a roundabout
way is borne by this government an
nually in the propagation of Chris
tianity.
A state department official, speaking
of the matter to-day, said:
NO one has any idea of the amount
of trouble given diplomatic officers OF
every country by missionaries. make
no distinction between the churches TIC
which missionaries belong. Trouble
some missionaries are not confined tC
any one church. Some of the questions
which have arisen as a result of the
residence of missionaries in foreign
countries were due to the carelessness
CIR immOderate zeal of such missiona-
ries. They are generally opposed by
ignorant and selfish local authorities
who are sometimes unreasonable and
often cruel. Naturally personal diff
culties which arise from an attempt of
local authorities to sinterfcre with the
religious work of missionaries lead to
a complaint to the nearest consul, and
the questions develop into diplomatic
controversy with a history and Tolum-
inous correspondence which entitle it
to a place i'll the annual volume of for
eign relations of the United States"
is the trouble in which missiona-
ries involve this country unnecessa-
rye" was asked.
Generally speaking it is u~navoida-
bic. There are rare instances, posi-
bly, like that in Mexico. where a time
ly word of warning from our repre-.
sentative is sufficient to prevent any
embarrassing questions. 1t must be
remembered that the missionaries
penetrate TO territories and among co.
pie where there is scant observance OF
law, where the authorities are often
corrupt and frequently wicked men
and where there is every opportunity
for infraction of law and order. 1t is
natural hat there should be persecu.
ton of those who have penetrated tc
those unusual places and most mission.
aries expect and prepare for this.
at is true, the diplomatic history OF
the country includes many questions
which have arisen from missionary
work abroad. Notable among such
controversies is that now pending with
Spain regarding the return of Protest
ant missionaries to the Caroline is.
lands, whence they were excluded
with much unnecessary cruelty some
years ago,a accompanied with cOnfi>ca-
ton of property, for which last act.
however, the government at Madrid
has paid an indemnity to the board OF
American missions at Boston.
There was recently a question agi-
tated by the United States minister &c
China regarding the refusal Of certain
officials at Nankin to allow American
missionaries to reside during the sum.
mer months among the hills near that
city. In this case the consul, who in.
tervened, was ignored, and it was only
after a good deal of work that any sat.
isfactiOn was obtained. 1t took a large
amount of diplomacy in this case not
to offend the various officials, who
would be likely to make it more un.
comfortable for missionaries in China.
1T was found necessary by n change
of government in the Mosquito terri.
tory, Nicaragua, to secure from the
government at Managua a renewal OF
the promise to protect the MOravian
missionaries there. This was secured
by the United States minister at Man.
aqua. who thus succeeded in dis.
polling the apprehension of the mis-.
~sionarieS concerned.
There are naturally many questions
%springing from the foreign residence
and work of American missionaries.
1t is sometimes difficult to arrange
prompt settlement by reason of natur
al delays of diplomatic negotiations
and the dishonesty of people when
called upon for explanations. The
missionaries generally are intelligent,
conscientious and law-abiding people.
There are a few instances. however,
when their religious zeal seems tC