The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-27
Past, Present and
Future OF China

NECENI issue OF the Akron, o., star pub
n fishes an interesting narrative OF the ex.
\ pcriences and observations Of Rev. and Mrs.
c. W. Pruitt, Of IIwans IIsien, China, who
arc temporarily residing in Akron as the guests
Of relatives. Rev. Mr.. Prultt went to China as
Baptist missionary nineteen years ago; his
wife went as a Presbyterian missionary fifteen
years ago. Their work in China has been con
fined for the greater part to North China, es.
pecially the province of Shan Tung, where the
Boxers began their demonstrations They have
relatives in Scranton, notably Professor Lane, of
the international Correspondence schools.
As soon as the Boxer uprising grew serious, IN
the latter part OF April, Mr. and Mrs. Prutt
and their three children withdrew from Tlwang
iSen and proceeded, in sedan chairs and on bi.
cycles TO the coast. They got to the cost
at Tung Chow, finding the excitement increased
as they progressed, and they were taken with
other refugees on board Chinese gunboat the
Hal Chi where they were splendidly protected
10y her Chinese commander, Commodore Sab,
who did his utmost. On scant ations himself
yet he cared nobly for the Christians fleeing from
his country. From this they were transported by
Japanese steamer captaned by a Chnaman,
who declined to start until japanese official
took control. Thus they finally got from Che
Foo to Shanghai where they embarked on the
regular line steamer Gaelic, July Is, reaching
San Francisco August IL.
They admire China, speak well of the people
in many ways and will be glad to 60 back to
their work as as the way shall he opcn
One very important point in this connection as
noted by the star In its talk with Mr.. and Mrs
Pruitt, was that the Chinese in the section
where he worked were tolerant Of all religions,
and did not resist the teaching OF Christianity
They were curious to know Of Il, and gave him
respectful hearing until the very recent dis
turbancc. In his own preaching he had advo.
Gated Christian doctrines by their own excel
lcnCc not by attack upon the Chinese views
He had spoken positively upon practical moral
titles, and had met with Chinese approval there.
In. There were Confucians, Buddhsts and Tao
lists among the people, and some men actually
adopted all three forms Of faith. In fact even
among the Christian converts, some showed at
times the traces Of these different religions. II
was not the preaching, then, Of the missionaries,
nor their lives that caused the conflict and
feeling, except the consciences Of intelligent
Cinnamon reproached them as 70 their super
stitions, instances Of which Mr. Prutt gave. Some
Of the missionaries make trouble by too much
depending upon the ciyii power In appeals for
their converts to their consuls under the treaties
This would set aside the local magistrates who
would he irritatod thereby, and become ugly
against the missionaries for resorting to the con-
suls This has had much to do with causing the
opposition to the missionaries as representatives
Of the foreigners, and il is the anti-forcgn feel
ing that is deepest in China "The foreigner must
go" they say in China, Just Dennis Kear.
ncy in California started the cry that "thc
Chinese must CO. and that very thing is felt
today in China, Mr.. Pruitt SAYS, for the Chinese
argue that il their people must leave America,
the American people must leave China. This
aggravates their deep, inyeteratc hatred Of ey.
erything foreign.
The intrusion Of improvements such as tele.
graphs and railroads, has made immense trouble,
too, because they are against all the Chinese
traditions Worse than all this, though, have
been the aggTeSsions OF foreign nations, Russia
and England and Germany and France, and even
Italy, taking tort after fort, slice after slce
from China, until her people have begun to hate
every foreigner, for fear o, worse YET to come,
| The news of these things spreads rapidly all
| over the empire now, Mr.. Pruitt says, stirring
| up the people. Shanghai is the center Of China
| for the outside world, and in that city are
printed several Chinese daily papers that 20 all
over the empire in some way, single copies go.
| ing to towns and being read by individuals there
/ TO others who tell the news TO Others, so that
| the word spreads rapidly, and greatly distorted
| at that. Americans appear 10 be better con.
| sijered in respect 10 these matters than the
| people Of other countries. Japan, Mr.. Pruitt
thinks, is true friend Of China and honest to
| help that country as hest for the good OF both,
because they must stand together as against the
western nations. For this reason nc believes
that Jspan's course in recent events Is sincere
and that her tender o. her good Offices TO nego
tiate with the powers for peace is meant to be
honestly helpful.
Now that Pekln has been entered by the al
lied troops and the legations and those under
their protection rescued Mr. and Mrs. Pruiti
both think the real crisis in China has come
All depends upon the way that the powers treat
with China Int evidently neither OF these oh
servers ot Chinese conditions had great conn
dcncc as 20 the outcome. The reason for thi'
was that the legations have been blind 10 IN,
warnings Of trouble. Tor two years English