The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-13


horror at the thought of semibarbarous
and wholly degraded race, as we regard
the Chinese, referring to Europeans and
Americans as "the foreign DEVILS" we
should not forget the circumstances at
tending the introduction of the Chinese
to the blessings of Christian trade and
civilization.
AS Mr.. Smyth very thoughtfully says:
when, therefore, men went to her
from Europe, not only claiming equality,
but protesting to be able to teach her,
it was a shock to the national pride not
easy for the West to appreciate. 1t is
not easy for people who have thought
themselves the chosen of the world, and
who, it must be admitted, had, under the
circumstances, some reason for think
ing so, to be summoned to sit a the
feet of men whom their peculiar history
and recent experience had taught them
to look upon as barbarians. The claim
to equality, then. made by foreigners in
their relations with China had been a
cause of offense, a fl uitful source Of
antagonism. If it be said that the claim
was right, and that China has had time
to learn the folly of her conservatism
and the madness of her intoierant ma
tiOnal pride, let it be remembered that
the feelings of a nation do not easily
change; that the prejudices of centuries
cannot be overcome Dy the teachings Of
a decade"
OF course the mission of Europe in Chi
ma is the same mission as our own in the
Philippines. 1t is a mission of Christian
civilization. Trade is but an incident, as
we try to convince ourselves. 1t is the
protection Of the missionary which has
in every instance offered the European
powers the pretext for appropriating Chi
nese territories and Selling her ports 1t
was by avenging the death of two mis-
sionaries, for instance, that Germany
oYercame the results of her beIated ap-
pearance in China and was enabled to ex-
act from a helpless nation one of her
principal ports and large area of land in
its vicinity, the concession of two railway
privileges and the right to open mines in
a vast territory, in addition to a large
money indemnity. This is not yet three
years ago. Baron Won Ketteler has since
paid the forfeit of his life for the activity
of his nation in the cause of Christian
civilization, and German troopers have
the orders of their imperial master that
they shall not halt till they have planted
the German colors above the walls of
Pekin.
And how do the objects Of all this activ-
ity-the Christian Observation-Disclosures
themselves to the Chinese mind? The
question is answered by the writer. him
self Methodist minister and missionary.
in the following terms:
I'm the minds of many, the whole mis-
sionary movement is suspected because
of the striking contrast between its pro-
fessed aim and the conduct of some
Christian governments toward China
And surely, this cannot be wondered al.
with Western missionaries preaching
ticing murder. it should not surprise us
II the Chinese suspect the former as
they fear the latter. You cannot go to
people with a Bible in one hand and
a bludgeon in the other and expect that
they viii accept either cheerfully''
What have we got to show in China
as the fruit Of our evangelizing activity?
few beggarly missions-a handful of
Christian sands taken from the seashore
Of Buddhism. And what has been the
cost to the Chinese nation? Let the
writer of the article in question an
cost to the Chinese nation In the fol-
lowing picture of devastated national
possessions:
All her finest harbors have been ia
&c 71n& al.
where her fleet can rendezvous, except
by the grace of foreigners. Port Arthur,
fortified harbor, on which millions were
spent, has been leased to Russia; Wei
Hai-Wei. with its Notifications, on the
coast of Shan Tung. to England; Kiao
Chow, also in Shan Tung with the finest
bay on the coast of China, large enough
to accommodate the fleets of the world
to Germany, and Kwang-chu bay on the
Southern coast Of Kwang-tung to
France. There would be some justifica-
ton of these seizures-for seizures they
are, although only called 'leases'-if they
had been made in retaliation for broken
pledges, for crimes for which the gov
eminent was responsible; but every one
knows that, with the apparent exception
of Kiao Chow, and the exception is ap-
parent only, they are all due to the mutual
fears and the mutual jealousies of for
eign states. The sovereignty of China
over her own domain IS not recognized;
he who is strong enough may take what
he pleases, and his neighbor, lest the
balance of power be broken, may go and
do the same. That under. such circum-
stances the wrath of the people Is
aroused is no matter for wonder The
West cannot sow the wind In the East
without having later to meet the terrible
necessity Of reaping the whirlwind.
Even among Americans there Is little
of sympathy being extended to the Chi
nese In the present crisis which attends
their national existence, and few Of US,
loud as we may protest our love OF
liberty. have word to say in condem-
nation of the courses being pursued In
deed many men who pretend education In
matters of Chinese concern are heard ask
ing in the public prints where and when
America will mark off her sphere Of in
fiuence. and cautions are expressed that
If We do not hurry up all the spheres
will be gobbled up.
Nothing that may be said or written
will stay the ruthless hand of Christian
civilization in China, as represented by
the Christian European nations But It
is as well that some Of US at least should
not voluntarily remain under any Illusion
as to the real character of t.rs interna-