The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-20
THE LIMITS OF MISSIONARY EN-
TERPRISE.
(Boston Transcript. J

NoOSUOl 1IbAoCIlPUsy s.f--
To Judge from the earnestness with
which the demand Is made that we now
send fleet to Constantinople and demand
at the lannon's mouth that the Sultan
pay for tho damage done to the American
mission property in Armenia, the war
fever must be entering the blood of men
whose calling is supposed to be to preach
peace on earth. That our Government
will insist on payment for the wrongful
destruction of the property of American
citizens who were peacefully domiciled
in Turkey is only to expect it to do its
plain duty. The means and methods
may be safely left to the Government,
but one distinction ought to be borne in
mind by the public, and that Is that tho
President is not bound either by law
or usage to use our power to back up
missionary effort as missionary effort.
Wrongs done to missionaries ought to be
dealt with as wrongs done. American citi-
zens Missionaries are at the most toler-
ated by Governments of opposite relig-
priests from Constantinople were set
up their mosque in Boston and begin to
preach and proselyte, they would be en-
titled, as Turkish subjects who were
doing something not forbidden by our
laws, to the fullest protection of our
Government. They would be entitled to
protection as Turkish subjects simply,
not as missionaries of Northumberland
but their rights in one capacity would
protect them in the other. But what a
riot their lapors would be likely to stir
up here. Some very good people might
possibly be found in mob pulling down
the mosque II the militia did not get there
in time. The feeling Of the masses Of
Bostonians towards the Mohammedan
missionaries might enlighten them as to
the mental attitude Of sincere Mohamme-
dams towards Chrietian missionaries in
Turkey.
But say those who would have us turn
our guns on Turkey forthwith "the rule
Of the sultan is intolerable Granted that,
and still we have no business to interfere
in Turkish affairs any further than Is
necessary to protect American citizens in
Turkey In their rights as American citi
zens. The moment our Government backs
up missionaries as missionaries 1t will
become the victim Of politicians with
missionary support, and It's policy will be
pulled first this way and then that until
1t loses all consistency.
We see this danger already looming up
over Cuba and the Philippines. The
majority of the people OF the United
State are Professionals the majority OF
Spaniards are Roman Catholics. The
United States has defeated Spain, and
to many people this seems to be the tri-
umph OF Professionalism over Catholicism
that should impel us to push Catholicism
to the wall in Cuba and the Philippines.
Such a policy would be shortsighted and
unjust. 1t would involve us In domestic
sectarian quarrels Ithat would work IN
Justice to dissenters from any scot that
happened to "get on top for the
moment, and it would provoke revolution
in colonies we may gain or countries we
may protect. The United States has had
no quarrel with the Spaniards as Catho-
lies but simply as Spaniards..
national capacity to interfere with tho
religious beliefs of Cubans, Porto Rtcans
OF Philippines, and we are sure our Gov
ernmenu has no disposition to do SO, but
many good people would like to drag our
Government into position Of quasi. sup
port of missionary enterprise. These
same good people will be ct perfect liberty
TO labor In missionary enterprises on the
present lines and under present methods,
and that ought to satisfy them. Tha {
they Will have to be satisfied with q con :