The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-23
F0OT-HOLD IN CHINA
FOR CENTURIES THE CATHOLICS
HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOB 1T.

Capital OF the Standardization In
Modern DAYS by the European Nations
Success of the German Missiona ries
Up to the Time of Their Massacre Was
NotabIe-Germany's Move Is Pleasant
to the Teutons
New York, Dec. 22.-Occupation of Kiao-
Chou, in China, by German troops and the
6stensible cause which led TO the unexpec;-
ed naval display On the part of Germany
have directed public attention again to the
activity of Roman missions in the greatest
pagan empire of the world. 1t is probably
not too much to say that the assassina ton
of the two German Roman Catholic mis-
sionaries has been rather welcome to the
statesmen who direct Germany's foreign
policy. because il has gwen opportunity TO
crafty a long cherished desire, the estab-
lishment of a great German naval station
IN Chinese waters.
In an Interesting pamphlet, DR.. ]. H.
Bechhold, weli-known German publicist,
gives a history Of Christian missions in
China which is very oportune at the pres
ent time. The principal points of this work
may be briefly summarized.
As early as 1857 Pope Clement V. ap-
pointed John of Monte Corvino 20 the Of
lice of Archbishop of Pekin, or Khandalik
as the capital of the Tartar emperors was
then called. Monte Corvino administered
this office for fifteen years, nine of them
unaided. During the remaining six years
ae had an assistant an a German, Father
Arnold of Cologne. The last traces of his
administration disappeared about the mid
die of the fourteenth century contempora-
neously with the downfall of the Mongo-
lie dynasty.
At the same time ceased the missionary
work Of the HISTORIANS, who, as early as
the seventh century, had reached China by
way of Persia, and not until the last quar-
ter of the sixth century were the Jesuits,
who came TO China by way Of India, sue
eessful in gaining a foothold in the fiowery
empire. Still another century elapsed be-
fore, in 1885, new bishoprc was estab-
.ished in Pekin at the request of the Port
uguese government.
After the disbandment of the order of
Jesuits in 1773. the Missions Etrangeres de
Paris paris Foreign Miss.ons), founded
"A 1868, assumed the heritage of the Jes-
Tits in China. The organization of this
cOClcly anu TIE II VI II ItnCA DloDOpS
10 eastern Asia was based chiefly upon
political reasons.
The political power exercised by the Port
uguese in India and Maceo had caused
he papal government to grant TO the Port
uguese crown certain rights of patronage
over the Catholic missions in India and
in the countries east of the latter. No
bishop could be appointed for the exist
inc =. md al
be established without the consent of the
King of Portuguese; missionaries were per-
mitted to use no other than Portuguese
The Portuguese government 10 go TO India
and from there TO China or Japan, and no
5apal decree could take effect in these
territories without having first been SUBJ
mitted to the King of Portugal and hav-
ing received his sanction.
In consequence of this arrangement all
missions TO eastern Asia were Portuguese,
and the foreigners who had found employ
nent in these missions had to abandon
their own nationality and to become Port
ngueSe subjects as a matter OF course. DR..
BeChheld, in his work referred to, goes so
Tar as to claim that the papal government
had made a solemn declaration to Portu-
saI which rendered void all future papaI
iecrees that might conflict with the ar
angement.
Naturally the discrimination in favor Of
Portugal aroused the jealousies of other
Catholic colonial nations Spain succeeded
In the early years of the seventeenth GEN.
Jury In obtaining notifications of the
agreement, particularly in regard TO the
admission of the mendicant friars TO aJpan
and the routes by which these friars might
reach their eastern destination.
The French Father de Rhodes attempted
In 1855 to obtain the appointment of French
bishops for Indo-China, but the opposi-
ton of the Portuguese ambassador at the
Gapal see and the death of the pope rem
dered these attempts fruitless. However,
the Duchess of Aigullon renewed the agita-
ton during the reign of Alexander VII,
who succeeded Innocent Y. as pope, and
she secured the appointment of three
French bishops.
Bishop Pallu. in Tangking, presided over
4 diocese comprising the Chinese provinces
Yuen-nan, Kweichan. Hupeh, Human, Sze-
,huan and Kwang-si: Bishop de la Mothe-
Lambert, in Cichin-China, had the Chinese
provinces Che-kiang. Fu-chien, kwang-
-ung. Kiangsi and the Island of Hainau.
and Bishop Cotolend;. in Nangking, had the
provinces of Chill with Peking, Shansi and
and Manchuria and Korea
Toward the close of the seventeenth CEN
ury episcopal seats had already been es-
ablished in the larger number of these
provinces. French influence has gained
steadily since then. During the present
century the treaty between France and
china, concluded at Whampoa in 1874. has
,till more strengthened French ascend
.ncy in China. This treaty abolished the
punishment of native Christians. and it has
,een followed by repeated energetic action
m the part of French representatives to
reserve the rights and asssrt the claims
IF French missionaries.
Even the government of the present
french republic, despite its anu-clerical
lttituds in France itself, has steadfastly
osteret this tendency. The interests OF
missionaries in China are repre-
ented and energetically protected by no
'etter than by the present French ambas-
ador. NJ. Gerard.
II may, therefore, we'll be said that If
''ra nee does not exercise by law the pro-
ectorate over the Roman Catholic missions |
n France, il certainly does so as a matter |
Il fact. This policy IS greatly supported !
~ the fact that of the thirty-two episcopal |
iioceses IN China, eighteen are in the hands !
# French Jesuits. Lszarists, or bishop OF |
he Missions Etrangeres de Paris Nine |
lioceses are in the hands OF italian Fran |
iscians or members of the Missions Etran- |
.eres of Milan. two are Spanish. two Bel |
.an. and one is German.
During the Franco-Chinese conflict. 1883 |
o 1855. the Italia missions applied repeat |
dly for protection 10 the Italian secular |
and this protection was always 1
endersd in the most efficient manner. but /
he papal government has 50 far succeed /
Z 70 prevent any sort of national pro- l
ectcrste for the italian missions. In fact, /
he Eurnnean end of the political rsla- |