The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-30
THE MISSIONARY IN CHINA.

ton prevailing in China, that most of
the troubles that have prevailed in that
country are due in considerable measure
to the presence and activity of the Chris
tian missionaries. Indeed, the opinion
prevails, especially among those who do
not regard the spread of Christian teach
ings with even complete toleraton, that
advance agent of. commercial and politi-
cal greed in countries which have ulti-
mately come under the sway of white
civilization; and that in China particu-
eign nations in working out the claims
which they now put. forward to terrific
rial sway in the FIowery Kingdom
The case is made up against the mis-
sionaries in China. All that can be said
tending to show, that they. have exercised
a controlling and conscious influence in
bringing about the existing situation has
been said repea tedly. We know the
strongest evidence fhatshas been brought
against them tending to show direct inter-
ference on their part with the rights or
privileges of the natives who have not ac-
copied their teachings, and setting forth
their demands from time to time upon
the governments of their several countries,
to secure special privileges and immunf-
| ties for their native converts The intellI-
! gent sentiment of all countries, even Of
China, agrees in regarding the indict-
ments urged against the missionaries in
these directions as being of little moment.
There is really nothing shown in the gen.
eraI conduct of the missionaries which
| could be regarded as offering any excuse
whatever for the brutal murders and out
RACES which have been perpetrated on
them from time to time by the native
! Chinese.
A question of more practical concern
is whether the missionaries can be re-
| garded, in the regulations which have
been. secured from the Chinese imperial
government by the powers concerning
the propagation Of the Christian faith, as
the conscious chosen instruments Of the
| foreign governments for working their
purposes on the decrepid empire.
Much has been made of the aggression
of Germany OH The Chinese people and
government Because its ostensible cause
was the murder of two German mission
aries. No doubt more than one of the
governments now laying claims to Chi
nese territory have more than once
made the occasions of Chinese attroci-
ties perpetrated upon defenseless mis-
sionaries the medium of exactions as
unjust in principle att least as those of
Germany in Selling Iliao Chou bay, and
getting its clutches simultaneously on the
Shan Tung peninsula. But the nation
which engages however unwiiling1y, as
China has, in treaty obligations with
other powers, must under the mandates
OF international law see to it that the
citizens or subjects of other powers who
are sojourning within its borders and en-
gagged in any lawful form @of activity
shall be protected in their persons and
! property
We have our own treaty agreements
with China as to the rights Of the mis-
sionaries in their work. They are plain;
and none viii think of charging this
government with any Interior purpose in
securing their adoption So have the
| other powers similar agreements If
those treaty provisions were designed so
| as to make the missionaries advance
naIitioaJ a cents +}faro oh oy,i7 a lao-4 -
some evidence of the purpose shown In
| the treaty provisions. But there is not.
France has gone further, and been more
explicit, perhaps, than any other nation
in the provisions insisted on regarding
the rights of. the missionaries to prose
cute their work OF evangelization within
! the Chinese empire.
Here IS the main provision of the
treaty between. France and China adopted
| In 1860:
1t shall be promulgated throughout
the length and breadth of the land. IN
| ruary 20 1916 that it is permitted to all
| people In ali parts Of China to prupaga tie
and practice the things OF the Lord of
| heaven, to meet together for preaching
| of the doctrine, to build churches and to
| worship; further, all such as indiscrinl-
/ inately arrest, CChristians) shall be duly
/ punished; and such churches. schools.
cemeteries, lands and buildings as were
/ owned on former occasions by persccuted
| Christians shall be paid for and The
money handed to the French represen Ia
| tive at Pelin, for transmission to the
Christians in the localities concerned
1t IS, in addition. perfnfttsd tn 1SrnnT.,
missionaries to rent and purchase land
In all the provinces and erect buildirrs
thereon at pleasure.