The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-10

United States: and from this deduce
| the moral that time hath its revenges.
The MfssiOnnrfe in ChinR.
Notwithstanding mistaken Adminisra-
tion confidence in the good will and good
faith of the Chinese Government. it is
found that the practice of numbering
European and American missionaries
is still in full operation in the in
terror of China. the crusade being
maintained under direct orders from the
Empress Dowager. We are informed that
at this time a number of missions are
under siege. and their inmates no doubt
doomed to death. as it is hardly probable
that they are so situated that aid from
the allies could reach them.
What is to be the future of missions in
China? From many disintcrested and in
telligent sources statements have come
declaring that missions and missionaries
are responsible--perhaps innocently-for
the Chinese hatred of foreigners, With
this view, Mr. Edwin Wildman, the Amer
lean correspondent, who is representing
the New York Journal in China fully
concurs in despatch to his paper.
While prasing the devotion to their cause
displayed by many noble men and women.
Mr.. Wildman asserts that there are
plenty OF missionaries in whom the spirit
OF commercialism and loot occupies all
the soul space they have at command:
and this class of evangelizers is not a
salutary example to the heather.
1t is not, however so much the indi-
vidual character of the missionaries that
has affected or now affects the question. as
the ineradcahle dislike of the Chinese for
those who come into the country pro-
fessedly to trample upon and destroy the
native religion. 1t may not be much of
religion-this ancestor worship, and so
on-from Western point of view, but it
is as sacred to the teeming millions of
China as Christianity is to American or
European Christians. The preachers and
teachers who go out to plant the banner
Of the cross in the recesses of the En-
pire may be as earnest, sincere. and self
sacrificing as a Xavier or an Eliot; but
that will not save them from the deep
and bitter hatred they are sure to excite
the peoples ancestors idols, and religious
beliefs and practices. If such a thing as
peace between China and the civilized
world be at all possible. it will be con-
ditioned upon the precedent disappearance
of missionaries of all nations and sects
from the Chinese field.
1t is that consideration which renders
the missionary question very serious one
for the Powers. and particularly for the
United States. There is large and poll
ticaliy influential element in this country,
quite as determined upon converting
John Chnaman, as he is not to be con-
verted. and II is doubtful il any Admins
tration would feel strong enough to defy
this power by ordering American mission
aries out of China. Far from being dis
Outraged by what has happened, the mis-
sionary societies apparently are preparing
10 send larger forces than ert,r into the
land OF the Yellow Peril Then. when they
are massacred. as they almost all will be
sccner or later, are We to have another
executive war in nsaquence; or are we
TO take a fragment of China and maintain
an army on II so as TO be conveniently at
hand when trouble occurs from time 10
time?
The friends of American missionaries
their financial hackers particularly-will
insist that they shall be protected by our
Government. How is that to be done,
short of garrisoning each mission station
with a regiment? We could not project
the American women missionaries and
their children at Paoting-fu from torture
and massacre. We could not-at least did
not-punish anyone for their sufferngs.
What different is to be expected in the
future? 1t appears certain that. unless
the leading European powers should agree
to forbid all further missionary enterprise
in China, the missionaries Will go there
and get killed in due course. The Chinese
are fighting for their affairs and their
faith. They are not likely to make any
real peace with the foreign devils while
their sacred things are in danger But
pagan thought or feeling is nothing TO the
party of the other part. Unless prevented
violently the missionaries will resume
business and proceed to feed the fires of
race rage as of yore.