Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-10-17

Expect Uncle Sam 70 Protect Them-The
state Department Said 60 30 Given No
End Of Trouble FROM sucn Causes-
WASHINGTON, Oct. I0-The state de
partment is still having no end OF
trouble as result Of the inconsider-
ate acts of jealous American mission
aries in foreign countries. Only last
week Minis ter Ransom. by very care
:ul work. averted serious clash be
tween American Protestant mission
sries and resident Roman Catholic
Mexicans. As is generally known.
Mexico is large field for Protestant
missionaries, who are sent by their
churches to convert the Mexicans
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 10 very
likely that we would have had another
troublesome question to settle with this
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 desire to take sides in any religious
controversy between various sects, 1t
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 q 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:
mo one has any idea of the amount
of tt ouble given diplomatic officers OF
every country by missionaries. make
no distinction between the churches to
which missionaries belong. Trouble
some missionaries are not confined to
any one church. Some of the questions
which have arisen as q result of the
residence of missionaries in foreign
countries were due to the care1essness
or immoderate zeal of such missiona-
ries. They are generally opposed by
ignorant and selfish local authorities
often cruel. Naturally personal diff
culties which arise from an attempt of
local authorities to einterfere 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 volun-
inous correspondence which entitle it
to place in the annual volume Of for
eign relations of the United States" E
SIS the trouble in which missions
ries involve this country unnecessa-
ry?" was asked.
Generally speaking it is unavoida-
BILE. There are rare instances. possi-
bly, like that in Mexico where q time
" 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 peo-
pie where there is scant observance OF
corrupt and frequently wicked men
and where there is every opportunity
for infraction of law and order. 1t is
natural that there should be persecu-
ton of those who have penetrated to
those unusual places and most mission.
aries expect and prepare for this.
It 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, accompanied with confisca-
ton of property, for which last act.
however. the government at Madrid
has paid an indemnity to the board OF
missions at Boston.
There was recently question agi-
tated by the United States minister to
China regarding the refusal of certain
officials at Nankin to allow American
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 good deal of work that any sat
isfaction was obtained. It took large
amount of diplomacy in this case not
to offend the various officials, who
would be likely to make it more un.
for missionaries in China
1T was found necessary by change
OF government in the Mosquito terri
tory, Nicaragua, to secure from the
at Managua q renewal Of
the promise to protect the Moravian
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 residences
and work of American missionaries
It 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
generally are Intelligent.
and law-abiding people.
There are a few instances, however,
when their religious zeal seems TO
carry them beyond the bounds OF dlp-
lomatic action.
MARLeoRouGH-vA VANDERBILT.
The Date Of the Wedding Set for Tuesday,
Novembor B.