The Republican journal., 1898-06-23
Missionary Phase of The War.

There is a missionary view of the
Spanish war. We have been looking at t
from the American side, and CONSIDERING
the national and humanitarian interests
involved. 1t may be well to have
Christian view.
Spain is the tagging hindermost of
European nations in the march of civ
iIization and Christianity. Protestant
ism has had no legal permission within
her territory, and scant tolerance even
under pressure of nineteenth century ma
tons The story of the heroic Baptism
missionary. Alberto j. Diaz, shows how
bitter is the persecution of Protestants in
Cuba, and how much of the spirit OF The
Spanish inQuisition pervades her hierarchy
and priesthood. 1t reads like the record
of some Waldensien hamlet of long ago
She has excluded Protestant mission
aries from her other dependencies, while
her state church has presented to pagan
savages a hideous caricature of Chris
tianity, cruel and rapacious. 1t is not
strange, therefore, that while we have
Oeen looking at the American movement
on Manila as a part of a great national
campaign, Protestant missionaries along
ing OF the American fleet to Manila as the
sword Of the Lord to smite the man OF
stu aud unbar the gateway ion the entrance
into those tropic islands of the messengers
OF the Prince Of Peace.
Manila as centre is half encrcled by
Il Gordon of missionary stations. Japan is
fifteen hundred miles to the north. South
ward two thousand miles lies the great
Australian continent, with hundreds of
islands extending south and east Of it. all
dotted with missions. And between Japan
and Australia, half encircling the Philip
pines, are mission stations in Java and
neighboring islands, in Singapore and
Penang on the continent, and in all the
great seaport cities OF China. OF Metho-
dist missions Canton, Hong Kong and
Foochow are but two or three days distant
and Singapore is nearer to Manila than to
Calcutta.
1t is not strange, therefore, that some
OF the missionaries can scarce restrain
their eager feet as they stand tiptoe with
expectation. Bis lop Thoburn is provi-
denially in England, laboring in the in
terest OF his Indian missions; but his
throbbiug heart transports him to his
mission home, ard with the vision of a
Christian prophet he looks across from
Singapore to the opening Philippine fields
and sends his call to American Christians
to be ready to thrust in the sickle. He
writes: ''If | could 10y any possibility do
50, | would be in Manila at the earliest
possible day after the cessation of HOSTILE
ties. A large Chinese population is set
tied in the islands and as in Penang,
Singap ore, and all over the Malay PENN
sula SO now in Manila the Cinnamon will
be extremely anxious to have their sons
taught the English language. A self sup
porting mission could be established there
in year or two at very slight expense.
We ought to see in the startling events of
these wonderful days the hand of God,
and hear the divine voice commanding
the Christian people of that nation which
has in SO strange way become RESPONSE
able for the astonishing change of the
past few weeks, to rise up in their
strength, enter into this fruitful field,
and take possession of ii in the name of
the Lord" Zion's Herald.