Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25
Report Made by Mr.. DENLY to South
ern Methodist Church.
CHRISfIANIZATION and COMMERCE
Chinese Outbreak Not Chargeable
to Missionaries as Such.
OPPOSITION TO FOREIGNERS

China, at the request of the Foreign Mis-
'sionary Society of the Southern Methodist
Church, recently prepared for that organ
ization a report on the missionary question
in China. This has just been made public
and copy has been received in Washing
ton. Mr.. DENLY says in part:
The missionary question as affecting
China claims at this time calm and fair
consideration, if for no other reason than
because it may furnish an element in the
settlement which the allies must soon make
with the Chinese government. 1 assume
that such a settlement will be made After
the terrible experiences Of the past two
months it will not do for our troops to with
draw from China without securing safe
guards for the future protection Of foreign
residents. If by means of the indecision
of the powers. or their conflicting views,
nothing is done. the Chinese will claim. as
they invariably do under such circum-
stances that they defeated the foreign
troops, and the foundation will be laid for
new troubles in the near future Now is
the time to settle all questions touching
foreign rights. 1t is the time also, If 1t be
possible to do so, to settle what rights
China has, if she has any, in the family Of
ne lions. A declaration in which ali the
treaty powers would guarantee her against
ACKNOWLEDGMENT or partition would be the
foundation stone of a convention which
should contain abundant safeguards for the
protection of foreigners. Undoubtedly one
of the prominent subjects in such con-
yention would be the status Of the mis-
siorary. 1t is probable that China would
enGeavor in some way to curtall rights
which have been granted to the mission
aries by existing treaties and conventions
but she would not demand the impracti-
cable thing of their total exclusion.
Historical Data. -
The history of the Christian missionaries
has on the whole been that of Chinese pro-
gress toward modern civilization. Com
mencing with the arrival of the Jesuit
father, Ricci, in 1852, through the time
when the first Protestant missionary, Rob-
ert Morrison, arrived at Canton, in 1901
and down to our own day. missionary work
has never failed to instruct and benefit the
Chinese. The missionary has been the edu-
Gator of the Chinese. He has written orig
inal books for them; he has translated for
eign books into their language; he has
established schools, colleges, universities
and hospitals; he has introduced foreign
arts and sciences; he has been the fore
runner of commerce. To the ordinary for
eigner, whether tourist or resident the
Chiraman is a stranger, but the mission
airy is his constant companion and friend,
and always the dispenser OF charlty. II IS
stated that the converts informed the for
eign ministers of the impending riots, but
that their warning was not needed.
China has rarely refused to grant TO the
missionary whatever privilege was demand
ed for him. In the French treaty OF lS5S
she allowed the missions to secure land in
any part of the empire, and in 1s6o IN the
Berthemy convention, she agreed that the
magistrates should not necessarily be con-
suited before land was bought, and she
made this privilege emphatic at the in
stance of NJ. Gerard, the French minister,
in 1898. In 1891 the emperor, among other
things, declared in an imperial edict: The
religions of the west have for their object
the incubation of virtue, and though our
people become converted, they continue TO
be Chinese subjects. There is no reason
WHY there should not be harmony between
the people and the adherents OF foreign re-
ligions."
Charge Not Sustained.
Now, when the position of the missionary
Is made secure, both by imperial edict and
by treaty it is sought to charge him with
The responsibility of the last outbreaks in
China, with a view to prevent him from
continuing his labors. Recent history does
not sustain the proposition that the people
are so much opposed to missionaries as to
be willing to drive them out by violence.
If that proposition had been true they would
long ago have been driven out of China.
In the province of Chih-l, where the recent
riots had their most important sphere Of
operation, from 1870 down TO 1899 there
| was no riot. though the province is full OF
missionaries. There have been usually spe-
| cific causes for riots. At Chinkiang, Tor
| instance the riot which occurred few
| wears ago arose from the striking of a
| Chinaman by q Hindu policeman. Several
! riots have been caused by the ridiculous
| charge that the missionaries use the eyes
| of infants to make medicine. This was the
| origin of the celebrated riot at Tien Tsiu
| in 1870 Here it must be said that If the
! foreigners would give up the establishment
| or orphan asylums they would avoid pro-
| life source of disaster. In one of the
1 i, he note "a mis-
! hand on a boys head in the streets. The
boy claimed that he was bewtched, and a
| fearful riot ensued.
! II must be admitted that sudden disturb
| anCes growing out of such incidents or de-
| lusions as above mentioned, do not indicate
u general antagonism among the people To
! missionary work. Missions are established
| all over that great empire, many in the
| most isolated and unprotected places, and
| disaster has come to comparatively few OF
| them. il is not to be denied that hatred OF
missionaries exists among the iterati and
| the higher classes. While the government
! has not failed on suitable occasions to ac-
| knowledge that the missionaries do good
| and to order that they should be protected
| still official classes view them with envy
| hatred and malice.
Economic Results.
I must distinctly say that in this article
! l take no account of the spiritual side Of
| this question. That field of argument mus
| be left to the reHglouS teacneT Inc HeT'
chant, the manufacturer the diplomatist
the statesman look to economic results
rather than to the spread Of religion
Surely the western world gains by having
! residents all over a great empire who have
its interests at heart. Surely the spread o.
modern civilization conduces to the extern
sion of trade and commerce. Surely the en-
lightenment of the nation tends to promote
peace and good will and all friendly rela
tons with other nations.
In the great question of commercial ex
pansion the labors of the missionaries il
all parts of the world have been appreciated
by all intelligent rulers, and they have con
| sequently been fostered and protected.
| noted example of this line of policy ha;
recently been furnished by the Emperor o.
Germany. Whatever may be said of the pc
culiarities sometimes exhibited by the kaiser
it must be admitted that his foreign
| policy has been definite, determined and
brilliant even If occasionally too aggres
| sive. He has realized that one of the i'm
portant agencies in the development of th'
| world and the extension of German infu
ence is the establishment and protection O.
foreign missions. France learned this cen
turtles ago, and from the time of Louis XIV
she has been the protector of Catholic mis-
sions Though she excludes and deride
| tbar, at horne in the orient she has imme