The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-12
FIGHT AGAINST PROGRESS.
REV. BAsC0M ANTHONY DISCUSSES
THE CHINESE SITUATION.

Responsible for the Uprising-Thcy
Introduced Progress and Learn
ing, which Are Not I'm Accord.
with the Ideas of the Common
Herd of Chinese-It Is Against This
Awakening to Advancement That
the Chinese Have Risen-Mr. An
thOny Makes Predictions for China.
The view the newspapers generally in
sst upon taking of the Chinese situation
and the way they have of fixing the re-
sponsibility for the uprising upon the mis-
sionaries is unfair and not in accord with
the facts" declared Rev. Bascom Anthony,
pastor of Trinity Church, yesterday. The
papers seem 10 misunderstood the position
of the missionaries. l am interested in the
matter and should like to see 1t perfectly
understood, for criticisms of the mission
aries. such as l have observed, are unjust.
When the situation is studied it is mani
fest that they are not fair
This revolution against the existing or
der of things in China was not nearly so
much anti-Christian as anti-progress. Re
ligion is noe responsible for the uprising,
OUT IL Is FeNpOnSlDle lot tne EttltIdl avian
ening of the literary class of the Chinese
to a sense of the advantages of West
ern civilization. Young j. Allen, the mis-
sionary from Burke county Georgia, went
TO China just before the Civil War. He
was a Methodist and his mission was 10
convert the heather. The missionary
forces of the church were not then organ
ICED, however and he had no means OF
support. OF necessity. he had to mix pol
Wit lipin az 10 wi
he accepted a position under the Chinese
government. His great ability marking
him for advancement, he became man
DARN, and his position among the Chinese
has been one OF power and influence. He
and the college of which he has been the
head have done a great deal for the re-
llgion and civilization of the West intro
ducing them into China and influencing
many of the best people of the empire,
particularly in the southern part, to ac-
cept them.
THE Chinese are an astute people. The
better class awoke to a realization of their
needs. They easily recognized advan-
tages, and the opportunity to seize upon
them was eagerly embraced. Business
and commerce appealed to them, and IL
was clear that they could best succeed
by being educated were those who
had proited beyond the Chinese because
of the methods and advancement of the
West. Not only Aliens school, but those
of all the missionaries became centers for
the education of the progressive class of
the Chinese Advancement was sought,
but that meant a clash with old customs
and old ideas Il is this clash that is
now responsible for the bloody uprising.
The educated class is but small, possibly
ten per cent. of the population, and ia
unable to cope with the great mass of
the ignorant people The best Chinese
have progressed, but they could not carry
their country with them. They make do
nations to the schools. colleges and mis-
sons. but the work of the regeneration
of China will be contaminated only after
the Powers have been successful in queil
progressive party.
ITO a great degree the seizure by the
foreign Powers of the best ports of China
and the talk of its ultimate division
among them has been responsible for the
uprising. All she best ports have been
taken away from the Chinese, and there
is not a single advantageous one that
remains her own. Internationally and un-
trammeled. II is not strange that che
Chinese should have arisen against such
a state of affairs.
Mr.. Anthony said that he Is fully per-
suaded that the Christian world should
make China its own. Passing over
whole book of arguments. he said he
might adduce. he simply turned to pas
sage in Genesis that declares God said:
"Replenish the earth and subdue 1t and
have dominion" This is a divine COM
mission, and II Is not possible Mr.. An
thony said in q heather country. I'VE
send aid and properly TO the starving
in India. Christianize and civilize China
and IL would not be possible for such a
famine to occur there The earth must
be subdued Tine wonderful natural adj
vantaRes of that country cannot be devel-
oped so long as II remains in the hands
of the people. Their superstitions are
against II, for the ground cannot be dis
turbed. railways cannot be built, improve
ments of this age cannot be made for
no other reason than that ignorance and
paganism declare that the souls of ances-
tors must not be disturbed. Philanthropy.
II no other sentiment, demands the Chris
tianizing and civlizing of China.
There should be no forcing. do not
believe In forcing anything down mans
throat. That is the very reason 1 am go
ing to vote for Bryan this year. Last
election voted against him because of
his 16-to-1-ism.' but / cannot accept a
doctrine of imperialism, and this year
am for Bryan. Do not force 1t upon
China, but let Christianity work it's own
reception upon the people.
he is bOld man who turns prophet,
but l believe ! can foresee the result of
the trouble In China. The outcome, in my
judgment, will be that the Powers will
quell the uprising and restore the young
Emperor, or place some one else upon the
throne who will be favorable TO foreign
ers. Then the progressive party will be
to the fore again, and the demand for the
Christian religion and Western civiliza-
ton will be greater than ever great
demand upon the church will result, and
the church must look to II to see that
this demand is met. Educators, too, will
be in demad.
China, under the impetus Of the renew
ed life and spirit Of the progressives will
forge ahead Let's say twenty-five years.
though believe IL will be less time have
elapsed since the restoration the Powers
are sure to make. A great change has
come over China. She has advanced to a
wonderful degree. Most OF her people
have received the Christian religion. the
old fanaticism about ancestors has disap-
peared, railways and great enterprises are
common in the land, and Western IDEAS
and Western customs have crept In and
displaced those that China entertained for
centuries. Now is the country IN a con-
dition that will not admit of It's being die
tated TO al the lannon's mouth.
THE end is inevitable. The Chinese see
II. They saw II before their uprising.
They are not kicking against nothing 1t
was clear 10 them that the inroads OF for