New-York tribune., 1900-11-21
CRIyEsE ANTIFOREIGN FEELING.
MINISTER WI TELLS HOW 1T GREW UP
MISSIONARIES NOT WHOLLY TO BLAME.

! MINISTER WI TELLS HOW 1T GREW Up
MISSIONARIES NOT WHOLLY TO BLAME.
Philadelphia, Nov. 2o-wu Ting Fang the Chi
nese Minister, who arrived here last night from
Washington. delivered an address tonight be
fore the American Academy of Political and
| Social Science. Minister WI, who has made fire.
quent trips TO this city. but had never seen the
| sights of the city, was taken on a tour OF OBJ
servation to-day by members of the academy.
A visit was made to the University Of Pennsyl-
vania, Cramps shipyard the League Island
! Navy Yard, the Standard Oil Works and a num-
| Der Of large industrial establishments After
completing his sightseeing tour the Minister was
the guest Of Provost Charles c. Harrison, Of the
University of Pennsylvania.
To-night's meeting Of the Academy OF Political
and Social Science was held in the new Century
filed with prominent men and women OF the
city, who came to hear the Chinese diplomat
Minister Wus subject was The Causes Of the
Unpopularity of Foreigners in China, and ne
handled it ably. He said in part:
The subject under discussion a delicate one for
me to handle, When was asked TO give my views
far as possible. But after giving the matter due
% SIDE It my &c duty G m IN yeT of of
ascertaining the real and suggesting remedies
SPEAK s9r i2e for myself as chnaman Who has lived
among foreigners and can speak from personal
We find that China in ancient times was IS not in
disposed
countries in Asia. They intermingled freely with
journ as Chinese. In fact. they adopted our Gus
never r manife5ted any ii feeng or anmosty toward
foreigners In later times we find that foreigners
consideration. but with great respect Even official
Now. it is an indisputable fact that there is a
strong & feeling against @ ,s at m the n
about? We have to 60 back TO the events of the
last half century We hnd that foreigners from
had been accustomed deal with.
dhey dIG were different in color race and and languag
DIFFICULTIES and disputes arising from misunder-
peace China had to grant extraordinary privileges
to foreigneTs and pay heavy indemnities After
Chinese people entertain anything but friendly senti
1t has been commonly supposed that missionaries
are the sole cause OF the anti-foreign feeling in
done great deal of good in China They have
translated useful works into the Chinese language.
established schools all over the country. Medical
missionaries especially have been remarkably sue
cesSful in their philanthropc work. On the other
hand must not be blind the fact that
Chinese their faith. have been indscreet in their
conduct. Instances are not wanting of missionaries
interfering in the administration of justice in Chi
BY treaty missionaries have a right to reside in
any part of China Other foreigners are allowed to
reside only in the treaty ports. In the interior a
missionary cannot but excite great deal of curl
osity especially when he retains his national dress
When he. moreover, publicly condemns the cher
iShed traditions of China, procaimS the worship of
ancestors and idols to be a useless performance.
etc. the feeling Of the Chinese people can be easily
understood. Missionaries placed in very deli
cate situation and not all of them are cautious and
discreet
The general attitude of foreigners toward Chinese
has had great deal to do with their unpopuarity
All foreigners in China carry with them the laws
ties have Jurisdiction them. Consequently
they form a sort OF privileged class and consider
strangers in a strange land They frequently treat
the customs traditions and Institutions of the
viii in wa lie he
i'll feeling of the natives Moreover. their conduct
toward the Chinese in other respects is by no
means exemplary. Chinese merchants have not
always met with the courtesies due to men Of their
position.
Again. the general mass Of the people receive
scant courtesy at the hands of foreigners Chinese
without the least provocation. The beating of
chair coolies and servants is matter Of daily oc
currence. Ill considered acts of this kind talked
about, and greatly smbitter the feeling of the
natives against foreigners It is fair to mention
that there are foreigners who treat the Chinese
with every consideration and who disapprove of
men, But. unfortunately. the mischief done by
others counterbalances the favorable impression
The general tone Of the foreign press in China
Is. also, calculated to set the whole Chinese
are devoted daily to denouncing the Chinese Gov
Which eRd e Its o d"H dear an %
recent unfortunate uprising is godsend to writer's
teriai for Safeguarding the Government and the
people Of China without stint. Even the diplomatic
the general condemnation Dr. Morrison corre-
spondent CT The London Times" went so far as
= -harge my colleague in London and myself with
"arcfaced mendacity. AS for myself, hope to be
ole TO live down all slander OF this kind. But the
ma SIS of the Chinese people are not so philosophical
friendly sentiments toward their slanderers.
Events of recent years have also done much 10
increase the bitter feeling between Chinese and
foreigners. The seizure of territory without COM
pensation. the forcible taking Of lands from their
Chinese owners. the rough treatment received by
those in defence Of their rights-all these have
e fl fuel to the 9a In SAYING a this he ne SG
are entirely free from blame They are at fault In
that they suspicious OF foreigners. and un-
willing to learn from the outside world.
Now the question arises. What are the remedies
for this unsatisfactory state of things? First of
all, foreigners should show more consideration for
manners not necessarily bad; foreign ways are
not always the best. Foreigners should be more
sparing in their condemnation of things Chinese.
In the next place. foreigners in their daily inter
course with educated Chinese should remember that
true politeness is the same in China as elsewhere
In the third place. the foreign press in China should
ernment and people of China Many Chinese can
read foreign papers. 1t would be good thing also
send only medical missionaries TO China; II this
is impra non-medical missionaries IN China
should establish schools and libraries
In conclusion China should not be judged accord
ing to the foreign standard. Mistakes have been
committed on both sides. Let profit by our past
experience and avoid similar mistakes in the future
1t is unpleasant to crticise other people. My ain
in doing is to remove difficulties and create har-
mony and friendship.
Other speakers at the meeting were DR.. Will
lam A. P. Martin, president of the Imperial
University at Peking, and George F. Seward,
ex-Minister to China
Minister WI after his lecture was the guest
of honor at an informal reception at the Union
League He will return to Washington to-mor
row morning.