The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-13
PROTECT THE MISSIONARIES.

The report made by Consul Goodnow
to the Shanghai papers of the number of
missionaries killed or missing in China
comes at time when it's significance will
be more surely and correctly estimated.
The negotiations for peace appear now to
rest on the outcome of the two great
requirements of full security for what
ever indemnity may be exacted from
the Chinese rulers and the satisfactory
assurance Of protection for life and
property in the future.
Whatever results may be reached with
reference to the indemnity proposals, it
should be made a prime condition that
the future Of the devoted men who take
their lives in their hands, and, for the
propagation of the Christian faith, go
into the interior of China, shall be pro,
tected at all hazards.
For many months before the outbreak
the situation Of the missionaries was
precarious in the extreme The testi-
mony of a high prelate of the Catho'ie
church resident in the interior was given
long before the outbreak came, that in
the infamed condition of the masses
there was but little hope that a savage
massacre could be avoided. The pre-
dictfon was too true. But the appeals
which were then made to the representa-
tives of the foreign powers to take steps
which would avert the awful calamity
whose approach had been foreseen for
many months, were without avail The
representation of Minister Conger to
this government showed plainly that
nothing Vas being done by Chinese au-
thority to curb the lawlessness and thirst
for blood which even then was animating
the masses of the people toward the poor
missionaries.
Every representation made was I'M
needed, and the Chinese officials con-
tented themselves with promises which
were not fulfilled and probably were never
intended TO be fulfilled Whether the i'm
perial authorities were disposed to dis
regard the threatening conditions and to
quietly foment the disturbances which
afterwards broke out and the full brunt
of which had to be borne in the first
instance by a lot of defenseIess men,
women and children, the fact remains
that these people were left to their fate
and that those of them who did escape
with their lives did so only after running
the greatest risks and as the result of
special protection from one source or
another.
Whether it will ever be possible. in the
prevailing condition of Chinese popular
sentiment. and in the condition of decrep-
itude and uncertainty which attends im>
perial authority, to secure the protection
of the missionaries without policing the
empire on behalf of the European powers
will remain an open question. Certainly
the history of China for the past forty
years or so negatives any such assump-
ton. Periodically during that time the
word has come to us OF some devoted
band or other being done to death. It
was not until Germany exaeted her pres,
ent possession of Fou Chou as indemnity
for the murder Of two of her missionaries
that it began to dawn upon the empress
and her officials that perhaps, after all.
this popular batting of Christian mis-
sionaries would one day prove O. serious
matter for China.
This matter should be settled once for
all. Compared with it most other REQUIRE.
ments are of small moment Wherever a
foreign mission is maintained there ought
to prevail the necessary military protec-
ton, provided either by the Chinese an,
therlties or by the nations which are rem
resented by the missionaries. It ia
comparative safe and easy position
which the legationers, traders and Others
occupy who remain close to the sea
coast. But it will remain equivalent to
death by violence at some time, sooner
or later, if these missionaries are permit
ted to go into the interior of the country
and remain there without adequate pro.
lection, as they have been doing for =
century or over.