The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-30

ARE MISSIONARIES TO BLAME?
Editor Providence News:
Dear sir-I keep hearing and seeing
charges that for the slaughter In China
our missionaries are at fault Are such
charges intelligent or according TO the
facts In the case?
The storm centre OF all this recent
outburst against foreigners Is the en-
press dowager of China. Tsze-Hsi-An.
who deposed. In reality made a prisoner
TWO years ago, OF Kwang-Su. And the
fanatical inspiration was. as now with
the Boxers. irrational devotion to old GUS
toms and opposition to advance and re-
form. The emperor had dared to aid and
abet the progressive element I'm Chinese
circles. Had declared in favor OF fac
tories, railroads and western methods of
education. newspapers. with the culture
or western sciences languages. etc. To
break I'm upon the exclusiveness of the
court To consort with any who had been
educated and liberalized by our free in
stitutions. was his offence for which he
lives In splendid but degrading incarcera-
ton. That intolerant spirit. the slavery
to the past OF the Celestial empire. and
ignoble bondage to cast iron custom is the
solution OF the whole question. What
invades Chinese methods In art or science.
education or religion, Is crime 10 the
old regime and must be extermlnated.
The Evening Post in replying TO Lord
Salisbury's structures on the ''impru-
dence OF missionaries" in China as
contributing cause TO the troubles"
says: 'One OF the missionary boards has
met the challenge of the British pre-
mier." This reply to his lordship shows
conclusively that for 35 years. in which
period that board had planted 125 sta
tions I'm China. I'm 10 provinces. It's mis-
sionares going far beyond all gunboats
and they had been so wise and prudent
as TO stir up no violence, and in only one
instance had a missionary fallen. and he
was killed by Chinese fanatic who had
no provocation.
And the Post states: British consuls
testify 10 the value OF the work that the
missionaries conciate the natives and
lead them to more friendly attitude to-
ward all foreigners"
l may submit TO all candid persons
what think. as the Post says is nearer
the exciting cause OF the outbreak. "If
Lord Salisbury and others will apply
their cynical analysis 10 the diplomacy
shown China and the seizure OF Chinese
territory by some of the great nations.
that Will sooner explain where the blame
lies.
While no one can deny that our civili-
N"''h' ''Hiiutfct, culture ana the Chris
tfan religion. would change China from
n national fossil 10 land OF progress.
how can they virtually put themselves
among the opposers Of Christian mis-
sions? If they would get the facts they
would see that tens OF thousands of Chi
mas men end women. BOYS and girls
have been blessed with better education.
better physical and moral conditions as
well as the Christians hope and 10Y by
the labor of missionaries in the "Flowery
Kingdom" Orphans the outcast. the ig-
norant and MANY OF the low caste have
been uplifted and refined. And I'm the low
strata of society. Jesus Christ began. and
with a true philosophy. for when the
lower class is elevated the whole race
rise In proportion. and the worlds hope
higher climb the heavens
(Revl GEO. W. ANDERSON.
Prov. r. T., July 2s. 1900
MRS. BARNEY AMAZED" NOT
AMUSED"
Editor Daily News:
Dear Sir-Will you kindly correct the
mistake in Saturdays paper. where 1 am
made TO say that l read the statements
concerning Crescent Park with 'amuse-
ment."
In my letter the word was amaze
ment. and even that Is hardly strong
enough to express my thought. Very
truly yours,
MRS. j. X. BARNEY.
Providence, July 20. 1900