The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-31
CANTON PASTOR
SPOKE OF CHINA.
Made Oriental Situation Sub.
ject Of Discourse.
NATIONAL AGGRESSIvENESS
In the Matter of Trade Has Had Much
to do with the disturbances
Reason For Dislike OF
Foreigners.

Foreigners.
DR.. C. w. Harshman, pastor of the
Dueber avenue M. E. church, Sunday
preached, or rather, talked on
the Chinese question, and 1t was evil
dent from the statements made that he
had given the matter considerable at
tention and research. The address was
primarily meant as q refutation Of the
charge that has been SO frequently
made that the missionaries were the
cause Of the trouble and agitation there.
The doctor took no text, but read the
l1th chapter of Hebrews, and prefaced
his remarks with the statement that
for a time all eyes had been upon Cuba,
later upon South Africa, but that now
the most intense interest was felt in the
Chinese situation. Proceeding, Mr..
said substantially:
So many rash, unwise, hasty, and
even bitter statements have been made
in my hearing, to others, and published
in the newspapers Of the country, blam-
ing the troubles in China upon the mis-
sionaries and the effort to introduce
the Christian religion into that coun-
try, that took occasion to read up and
post myself upon the subject, relying
for my information upon the state
ments of the Chinese minister to this
country in his recent magazine article,
Of ex-consuls and Of returned missiona-
ries. This investigation led me to the
Conclusion that four or five things, not
in any way connected with religion or
the missionaries, were at the bottom Of
all the trouble.
First, the unfair treatment Of the
Chinese at the hands Of other nations,
especially with regard to the laws Of
immigration. The United States, for
instance, has laws prohibiting the COM
ing to our shores of any Chinese, while
without let or hindrance hordes Of q
lower and more dangerous class from
other lands are admitted without ques-
tion. The Chinese complain, not so
much of their own exclusion, but be-
cause the law is not general, and is aim
ed only at them, and this too, when Am
orleans are seeking entrance into and
trade with China.
In China the military calling Is not
an honorable one and she Is not mill
tary nation; but many Of her citizens
are men Of deep learning and educa-
tion is highly esteemed in that land.
England, years ago. at the mouth Of
the cannon and by force compelled Chi
ma to accept opium in her ports, that
she might find a market for her colo
NAL products and extend her foreign
trade. She sent a strong navy to aid in
this trade expansion, and this display of
force naturally engendered bitter
feeling toward the Expressing foreigner.
The agg1essiveness Of the nations to-
ward the celestial empire had also much
to do with the animosity toward for
eigners that eliminated in the present
uprising. For years the press of Euro
pean nations has been discussing the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of China and looking
forward to and preparing for the time
when this slicing up process should
take place. What wonder, then, that
the Chinese felt bitterly toward those
who were planning the destruction OF
their empire. What would be the feel
ing among Americans If Europe should
so discuss and plan for the dividing up
of the United States? European ma
tions have not only talked Of the divis-
ion Of China, but some Of her territry
has already been seized and occupied.
The Chinese, by the million, earn but
a pittance a day by performing offices
that in other countries are done by Ia
Dor saving devices and machinery, per-
forming even the duties Of beasts OF
burden, rather than that their employ
ment be taken from them. You will
all remember the statements Of Dr.
Julia Donahue, a returned missionary
upon this very subject, some time since
She told how the Chinaman hated and
l,l IAxHa Nk,n
same feeling Is manifested in the Uni
ted States by great many. laborers
who feel that their livlihood Is endanger-
ed by the many labor-saving machines
that are being manufactured and put
in use. Take as illustration the inland
carrying trade on the rivers Of China
Fifty years ago millions Of people lived
on the proceeds Of that trade, conduct
ing the traffic in small craft. The pow
erful western nations, seeing an oppor-
tunity of gain came with their steam
boats and monopolized the trade throw.
ing these millions of native rivermen
out Of employment. The raising Of the
oil bean from which oil was expressed
and used for Illuminating purposes was
also quite an industry. Petroleum from
Russia and the United States has sup
planted the oil of the bean and thus an
other domestic industry Is destroyed
with its consequent effect on labor.
Fifty years ago Chinese tea trade was
her one great industry and she annually
produced over 1OO.OOO.OOO pounds. which
sold for an average of about zoe pei
pound. This represented ninety million
days wages, or employment of 270,00t
people for year. American and En-
glish saw the possibilities of the tea
trade. went to China. studied the man.
ner of it's culture, secured plants and
the tea fields Of India and Ceylon have
robbed China Of her greatest industry
Not only this. but the indignities have
been carried further. China has beer
compelled. by force. to accept an En-
glishman to be ct the head of her GUS
toms house, and all her customs receipts
must go through the hands Of a for
eigner that was unwelcome to the peo-
pie OF the nation.