The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-16
FOURTEEN THOUSAND SLAIN.
Bible society Agents Estimate of
Converts Killed in China.

NEW YORK. Sept 15.-The American
Bible Society has received letters from its
agent in China, the Rev. John r. Hykes,
d. D., as follows:
Shanghai, Sept. THE attitude of the
Chinese Government toward the native
Christians is such as to cause all mission
aries grave concern. In every edict that
has been issued by the throne they are
spoken OF as if they were the aggressors
in fomenting trouble with the Boxers. and
! there are covert insinuations and sug-
gestions which cannot be misunderstood
as an invitation to massacre them wher-
ever found The last of these imperial
edicts bears date of August 2, and was
issued in response to memorial from Ii
Hung Chang and Liu Kwen VI urging the
Government to protect foreign merchants
and missionaries. After some reference
to the merchants and missionaries the
Empress Dowager takes advantage OF the
opportunity to have her usual sling at
the native Christians. She says of them:
LAS to the native Christians, they are
also the children of the and no
difference should be made with them. How
ever, ever since the troubles began be-
, tween the Christians and the Boxers many
of those Christians have insisted on col
Iecting and living In villages, where they
have dug trenches and thrown up earth
works in order that they may oppose the
Government troops. This sort OF thing is
the same as rebellion and must be severely
dealt with and punished by destruction.
But remembering that they may have
taken this plan to avoid the just conse-
quences of their guilt, If they will truly
repent (by that she means recant, J. II.
H., they may still get out Of the net
THE Chinese regard such edicts as this
as permission to loot, torture, and murder
native Christians wherever found.
Shanghai, Aug Six French mission
aries, together with large number oil
converts, have been massacred at Tanning
Flu in the southern part of the province of
Chill. and five more at Chining-C Chow, in
Shantung. NJ. de BeZaure, the French Con-
sui General here, says that according to
reports which have reached him the num-
Der of Roman Catholic converts massacred
in the province of Chilli alone reaches the
appalling total Of 10000! 1t is impossible
to estimate the number of native Chris
tians connected with the Protestant mis-
sions who have lost their lives, but it can
not be less than 1000. They have been
literally butchered by the hundreds.
There could not be any stronger evil
dence of the genuineness of the work done
by the missionaries than the manner in
which their converts have offered their
lives for their faith. Remember that i'm
per1al DEGREES and the proclamatiOns OF
local officials have said that If they would
recant their lives would be spared This
ought forever dispose OF the query which
has been-repeate1 ad nauseam, Are there
any native Christians in China? How
many are there among those who sneering
ly PROFOUND this question who would show
the same faithfulness and heroism as these
humble, nameless Christians in China?
The Empress Dowager said at 8 au-
dience on June IS: The foreign powers
| have browbeaten nd prosecuted us in such
a manner that We cannot endure il any
LONGER. We must. therefore comb-c 70
fignr all foreigners to the last The edict
OF June q ordered the determination Of
all foreigners without distinction. The
Boxers have directed their rage as much
against railways. telegraphs, and other
foreign improvements as against churches,
hospitals and schools.
They themselves would use nothing for
eign and if person was seen with for
eign stockings, shoes, hat, or clothing made
Of foreign cloth he was Immediately killed.
So insane was their rage that men who
wore coats with small sleeves (Which ara
now the fashion in the SOUTH were exc
| cuted for aping the foreigner. All who
wore such things we're called second grade
foreipnere ,"