The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-26
He Thinks the Government Should
Make Special Effort to Protect
Foreign Missionaries.
PROBLEM NOT A SIMPLE ONE
BUT Is IMPORTANT FOR PEO-
L OFF THE UNITED STATES.
other Addresses mt the Ecumenical
Conference-Many Sectional
Meetings Held.

NEW YORK. April 25.-After a morn
ing and afternoon session at Carnegie Hall
the Ecumenical Conference had two central
meetings tonight. one at Carnegie Hall
and one at the Central Presbyterian
Church. The first and chief paper of the
evening at Carnegie Hall was read by
President James b. Angel. of the Univer-
sity Of Michigan and ex-minister to Tur-
key. His subject was Some Present
Problems in the Relations OF Missions to
Governments" He said:
THE government whicl breaks treaties
with respect TO missionaries and sees that
their own government takes DO steps to
protect them will easily yield to the temp
tation to infringe on the rights of other
citizens. Is IL not possible hat because
our government has allowed outrages
against our missionaries TO go on since 1883
In Turkey. highway robbery. brutal as
sault and destruction Of buildings without
any demonstration beyond peaceful and
patient argument that the Ottoman gov
eminent is now proceeding In so high
handed a manner to prevent by false allie
cations the Importation of our flour and
our pork? A nation which allows one class
d citizens. who are of the purest charac-
sr and most unselfsh spirit. TO be insulted
md outraged with impunity in a foreign
lmd must not be surprised IL other classes
OF it's citizens are also imposed upon and
wonged in that land wherever selfish in
teests are .nvoked against them.
Careful observation will show that our
lage mercantile interests are likely TO be
imeriled by our neglect to insist on the
ri0ts which citizens of any honorable
ealing are entitled TO under treaties of in
Ter QffOn laVV A diSnlaV of fOrca doac nnf
necessarily mean war. 1t Is certainly an
emhatic mode of making a demand. Ii
Otto insures a prompt settlement of diff
cules. which IL allowed TO drag on and
accumulate would end in war. There
fore wisely and OPPORTUNITY made. a proper
demonstration in support OF a just demand
mayobviate the Ultimate necessity OF war.
The problem Is not a simple one for the
government. II IL does nothing but reg
isteireouests for justice. injustice may be
dontnot only to missionaries, but also TO
othe citizens. Those dilatory Oriental
governments. embarrassed by so many diff
1cull problems OF internal administration,
do Mt willingly act except under some
pressre. And pressure which is not war
and 'hich will probably not lead to war,
can } brought TO bear by diplomatic and
nava. agencies. Our government was
neverin so good condition TO pursue such
a poly. IL has a prestige among Oriental
natfos before unknown Its voice. which
speak with an imperative tone will now
be herd. The question for IL Is far larger
than missionary question. An influential
Amerhn citizen, not a missionary, has
lately written me from ar Oriental coun-
try WIRE our requests have received little
attenth. saying: If our government pro-
poses do nothing for American citizens
they sluld say 80 and turn Us over to the
care ofhe British embassy
"~Sucnanguage as hat makes ones blood
tingle ad stirs Us 10 ask afresh. not alone
az friefs OF missionaries. but as American
citizens what policy WIZ our Nation adopt
10 secm the right of all our countrymen
OF wh'ever pursuit who are travelling un-
der trey guarantees In China and Turkey?
The frnds of Missions ask no exceptional
fayors rom the government. They simply
seek ft such protection as their fellow
citizenEeed.
1T isof course, for eur government 10
say at hat time and by what methods II