New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-24
A CELESTIAL TRACT.
SELECTIONS FROM A BOOK SHOWING
THE FOREIGNER FROM A CHINESE
POINT OF VIEW
POINT OF VIEW.
~. Henry LIdden. in The Independent

DR.. Henry LdddeI, in The Independent
While 1t is doubtless true that the hostility
shown the foreigner in China is in a measure
due 10 the attitude assumed by the Western
American toward the Monaghan dOmiciIed on
the Pacific slope, this is by no means the whole
ot me truth Ihe root OF the matter lies deeper
and has many rami1cati0ns In the first place
the foreigner is Gtsliked simply because he is a
foreigner, no matter what his nationality. He
Is a ian kuWai,' "a white faced dog scarcely
human. A mob of Chinese out on a raid
against foreigners wastes no time in consider
atlon OF the question of nationality any more
than an American inquiries whether the laundry
Hu-Peh.
To one who has not resided in China the de-
termination of The problem involving the ques-
. ION OF responsibility for native attacks on for
experience no difficulty in the premises Who
are at the bottom Of the mischief? Is it the
othclals the priesthood, the people themselves?
II is the IiteraG
Missionaries resident in China are as one in
this opinion. The Rev. Alexander Williamson
author Of Journeys in North China and Man
Churia,' says: The Chinese opponents of mis-
sIons. as Of everything foreign. are not the
people. but the Hteratl or officials" Another
American missionary, speaking of the massacre
OF the TWO Swedish missionaries, WikhOlm and
Johansson. in the province of Hu-Peh few
years ago. says cur sympathies with the Chi
Eese oppressed race should not blind us
TO the fact that some of the highest and many
ol the lower oHclalS are committed 10 an anti
foreign policy that works with the deadly
weapons Of poisonous SANDER and mob vio-
lence.' This is confirmed by the Shanghai cor
respondent Of a leading London daily, who re-
ports that NiCeroy Chang notorious for his
hatred of foraig1ers and for encour,siTs-
natives in the harbarous treatment of Euro
peauS, is reported 10 have addressed petition
to the throne openly advocating the extermi-
nation of foreigners in China, and especially
I--NSuS'l, N oIu@t 20 prevent lIe eventual par
tition of China among European Powers.
The IiteIati of China include all those who
nave taken degrees at the literary examinations
held at stated periods. either at the district
city or at the great triennial examinations at
Peking, at which thousands of aspjrants from
Z
are few. The successful competitors may
ceive official appointments or NAV have to
rest content with being placed on the expect
ant or eligible. list. The majority remain
there, and the number Of Iiterau belonging TO
large. As might be inferred, they are not a
very scrupulous bCGy of men. They are fanat-
les in everything relating TO China and the Chi
neSe and their hatred OF foreIgneTS-''the outer
barbarians'-is only exceeded by their Grass
ignorance of everything relating to them.
This is well eXemplihed in the pages of a
small book of The most scurrilOus and indecent
character, ''published appears from the title
page. by the Gentry and People" Il is en-
! titled, a Death Blow to Corrupt Doctrines"
1t has had an enormous circulation throughout
the Chinese Empire one Jealous person alone
having subscribed for eight hundred thousand
. copies, to be distributed gratutOusly. 1t is a
/ significant fact that the headquarters of the
fanatics responsible for the dissemination Of
this outrageous publication in each of the eigh-
teen provinces has been found TO be the yamen
Of the chief magistrate.
The attention Of certain Christian missionaries
resident al Tuug-C Chow, in the province Of Shan
Tung, having been directed TO this ScandalOus
. treatise. it decided to translate it, and
make its contents known TO the outside world.
The transIatOrs regard 1t as of too much i'm
portance TO be withheld from the foreign public
believing we do that it is remarkably truth
full representation OF the animUs of the ruling
and literary classes of China toward foreigners.
We believe, also. that it has been largely in
stTumentaI in giving rise TO the vile and SANDER
Gus stories concerning foreign residents and
native Christians which have recently spread
. throughout China; and that it sheds important
light the by which the massacre at
Tien-Tsin was brought about. No de-
scriptiOn. however full could possibly convey
any adequate idea of its vileness and deadly ami
mostly"
Practically, and in the intent of the author,
the book is attack on Christianity, and
Christian nations at large. All Europeans
casSed together, and their religion is regarded
1T is not says the tranSatOrS, AN
ordinarily obscene book; its ObScenitieS
+ 10 connect with the very idea of a foreigner
+ sociatious of the lowest and most repulsive."
Il might seem to some that it is a book sc
. fun of exaggeTatiOns misrep presentations and
wholesale faIsehOods, it's excuses would be its
/ refutatiOn. But says the trauslatOrs,
I "the author doubtless understood his readers
better than do. He knew their extreme
ignorance of everything relating to foreigners,
and with what ready credulity they drink in
be no doubt in the minds of those who know
the Chinese that nearly all who read the book
will believe it
SO much for the transIators; now for the
Chnaman himself. The first to speak is
anonymous scholar who describes himself as
a man of JaO-ChOW, above all others distressed
in heart The religion of T'ien-Chu Git.