The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-09
Nh. WI, FROM CHINA
Deity Transfers the Shoe to
the Other Foot
INQUIRING OF JONATHAN
How He'd Like to Wear 1t as
a Steady Thing.
INQUIRING OF JONATHAN

Philadelphia, Pa, April Sat the night
session here Of the Academy Of Political
and Social Science, Charles Curtis Harri-
son, provost of the University of Pennsyl-
vania, occupied the chair. he principal
address was delivered by WI Ting Fang,
Chinese minister to the United States,
who spoke upon the subject of "China's
Relation to the West"
Hon. John Bassett Moore, professor of
international law at Columbia university,
made the Introductory address. on 1.-The
Policy of the United States in the Far
East Professor Moore said in part:
when in 1928 the Monroe doctrine was
announced, one of its declared objects was
to prevent the extension in any part of the
American continents Of the colonial sys-
TEN under which foreign commerce was
restricted and excluded. Such was the
policy of the United States. It's object,
as tersely expressed in the recent negotia-
lions at Paris with reference to the Phil
ippines, was to maintain an open door to
the words commerce. But, in the con-
sideration of the situation in the east, it
is impossible to concentrate our vision ex-
clusively upon the relations of the United
States with the particular governments
with which we have contracted treaties in
that quarter Of he globe. In respect to
China, it may be said that he government
policy of endeavoring by fair diplomatic
action to adjust all differences in con-
formity with international rights and in
terests."
The Chinese minister followed He said:
at IS a mistake TO think that China
has been stationary. Compare China of
the present day with China of fifty years
ago, and the progress she has made will
be at once apparent.
Thought China may not have made
very rapid progress, from a western point
OF view, in times past. there are signs
everywhere at the present day indicative
of a general awakening among the peo-
pie
''The most important question with
which the Chinese government has to deal
arises from the spirit of commerciausm
and the spirit of proselytism. In all the
treaties which China has concluded with
western powers, there is article generally
known is the federation clause This ar
ticle provides, in effect, that Christianity
inclucates the practice of virtue, and that
those protesting or teaching it should not
be harassed or prosecuted. This appar-
emily innocent provision has not, however.
helred to further the cause of Christian
ity in China. 1t must be borne in mind
that this official recognition of Christian
ity was first obtained from her after a
disastrous war. The clause was no
doubt inserted with the best of intentions
But it had the apparent effect of exciting
in the native mind the unfounded sus-
picion that a deep-laid political object was
Intended under the cover of religion. The
provision itself was hardly necessary, as
the subjects of every treaty power are all
protected under the general provisions,
which apply equally to missionaries. I'm
fortunately most OF the trouble occurring
in China have arisen from riots against
missionaries. Hence it has been said by
some foreigners in China that, without
missionaries, China would have no for
eign complications. I am not in a posi-
ton to affirm or deny this.
But let US put the shoe on the other
foot, and suppose that Confucian mis-
sionaries were sent by the Chiense to for
eign lands with the avowed purpose Of
gaining proselytes. and that these mis-
sionaries established themselves IN New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and
other cities, and that they built temples,
held public meetings, and opened schools.
1t would not be strange if they should
gather around them a crowd Of men, wo-
men and children of all classes and con-