The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-10
From the Chinese Viewpoint.

From the Chinese Viewpoint.
We trust that our readers will he
sure to read the address by the Chin
ese minister which is printed else
where on this page. It's intelligent
simplicity and candor make 1t as not
able from literary point of view as
it's subject matter makes 1t notable
from the standpoint of politics and
morals.
1t is possible that Mr.. Ting -Fang's
opinions concerning the proselyting in
dustry in China will fail to command
unqualified approval in this country.
yet even on this delicate topic he is
frank without being offensive and
what he says may well receive atten-
tion as illustrating how the better edu-
Gated inhabitants of the Orient look
upon the work of Christian mission
aries when characterized more by zeal
than by common sense. The divine
injunction to carry the Gospel to every
people is not to be disobeyed, but it is
fortunately coupled with no instruc-
tions making it mandatory upon the
carriers Of this Gospel to emphasize
its benign purport by scolding, harsh
criticism of people in ignorance or the
quarrelsomenes which seeks for pre-
texts to hoist Christian flags in an
un-Christian manner and pilfer new
political dominion under cover of hu-
name professions. 1t may be that in
the ti-missionary riots which are
frequent in China honest, devoted and
worthy Americans are sometimes sac
rifced to the passion of the mob with
out having themselves given the slight
est provocation or offence. Instances
of this kind are most deplorable, al
though not by any means confined to
China. But it is safe to say that for
every life thus taken in apparent wan
toness a reason exists, could We but
know it, dating back to some prior
missionary indiscretion, when the
work OF proselyting was conducted Of
fensively to the native sentiment and
so as to scatter the seeds of prejudice,
distrust and violence. Human nature
is much the same the world over; and
they who stroke it against the grain
have themselves to blame for unpleas-
ant consequences.
The Chinese minister, however, puts
himself upon unassailable ground
when the arraigns the audacious polit-
ical and territorial aggressions of the
leading so-called Christian powers up
on the sovereignty and the dominion
of the Chinese empire and people. The
sting in his words is completely de-
served when he says with polished
scorn; Some people call themselves
highly civilized, and stigmatize others
Does it mean solely the possession of
superior force and ample supply of Of
fensive and defensive weapons? l
take it to mean something more.
understand that a civilized nation
should respect the rights of another
nation, just the same as in society a
man is bound TO respect the rights of
his neighbor Civilization, as / un-
derstand it, does not teach people to
ignore the rights of others, nor does
it approve the seizure of anothers
property against his will. 1t would
be a sorry spectacle IL such a glaring
breach of the fundamental rights OF
man could be committed with impun-
ity at the end of the nineteenth CEN
tury." Yet on the same day that this
morally unanswerable protest was ut.
tered the submarine cable was telling
m graphic details of the landing OF
Italian marines at San-Mun bay. in.
tent upon Wrestling from China By
force a concession refused in due
course of diplomacy
In the light of this somewhat start
ling coincidence the American peopl,
may take additional satisfaction from
the fac: that their government ha,
not only declined in pointed terms I,
be a party to any partition of China
but has by strong inference put OF
record its disapproval Of the who'll
nefarious business. II win be inter
esting to know how gracefully TN
powers that have recently consum
mated international robbery in the de
fenceless Middle Kingdom viii ARA!
themselves about the table at th
czar's peace congress and with wha
face they will begin the consideration
u Overtures for the millennial dawn.
o