The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-20

NEW YORK, Oct. ia correspondent
Of the Commercial Advertiser" writing
1 from Shanghai, under date of September
Is, says:
The missionary conference held here
last week was composed of 400 represen-
tatives CT twenty Protestant societies. II
met to place on record the views of the
missionary body as to the terms Of set
Element with the Chinese and to forestall
any settlement hastily made to meet
purely political eXigencies. 1t must be
granted, in view of what the missionaries
have done and can do for China, and
what they have suffered in the past six
months, that their united opinion should
not be lightly regarded. 1t must be re-
| membered, too. that the missionaries
have the best possible means of knowing
the Chinese, and their opinion is no more
| likely to be biased than is the opinion OF
the foreign diplomats whose know edge
| is incomplete and at best secondhand.
| After a long and earnest debate the
missionaries appeal most earnestly 10 our
| fellow countrymen at home, and to cur
| home Governments, to secure a thorough
| and lasting settlement of the present diff
| ficuities in China and of civilization.
I, Knowing intimately the people among
| whom we work, we can assert confidently
| that the present troubles did not origi-
| nate in any hostile feelings toward for
eigners upon the part of the common peo-
pie, and they would never have occurred
but for the direct instigation and patron
age of the Manchu Government The
missionaries, therefore, assert that the
settlement to come should aim to secure:
'First-The restoration of kwang Hsu.
the rightful sovereign of China, to the
throne.
"Second-To secure Christian missions
freedom from all hindrance in the prose-
cution of their legitimate work, and the
maintenance of all the rights and privil-
eyes guaranteed to them under the trea-
ties, which rights and privileges have
been too often disregarded and denied by
the Chinese authorities.
.Third-The recognition and protection
by their rulers of native Christians as
loyal and law-abiding citizens, and their
exemption from the payment of contribu-
tions for idolatrous purposes and from the
observance of all religious customs other
than their own.
'Fourth-It is also suggested that any
settlement should be preceded by the ade-
quate punishment of all who are guilty of
the recent murders of foreigners and ma
tive Christians, both those who have ac-
tually done the deed and those, however
high in rank. by whose orders or CONN.,
vance these crimes have been committed.
and that the trials and punishment take
place so far as possible where the crimes
were committed. We further urge that
in taking punitive measures every effort
be made to avoid all needless and indis-
criminate slaughter of the Chinese and
destruction of their property.
.'Fifth-There should. following the set
Element, be a universal proclamation of
its terms throughout the Empire. which
should be kept posted Inc every Flu and
Hsien city for period Of two years. This
is rendered necessary by the persistence
with which such facts are hidden from or
misrepresented to the people.
There was some objection to the first
recommendation regarding the restoration
of Kwang Hsu, but the resolutions as Civ
en- above we're finally adopted with prac-
tical unanimity. They should have care
full consideration.
The PnotinR Expedition.
Some reports have 1t that the no. !
torious Jung LII is dead, either by suicide |
OF murder, while other reports have 1t |
that he is in Paoting-fu, where he assists |
in expediting communications between !
Pekin and the imperial court The allies |
were to send an expedition against |
Paoting on the 7th instant. If that re-
solve was carried out, General Jung has
probably been obliged to betake himself
elsewhere. This expedition to Faoting 10
a curious incident. Paoting lies nearly
due south of Pekin, at a distance OF
eighty eight miles, and is connected with
the latter by rail.
Being the capital OF Chill. l. IS a
place of considerable Importance, and if
the Chinese Minister Of War has retreatei
thither with large portion Of the troops
which opposed the allies advance from
Tientsin. it is quite natural that steps |
should be taken to reduce the town. But
does the expedition include Russian and
French contingents? Probably it does.
On the other hand, II those powers still
hold to their policy of evacuating Pekin,
it is difficult 10 understand their pushing
still further afeld. II the Pacing expe-
dition is not a myth it will prove to BE-
a big undertaking. 1t is as far from Pekin
to Paotins as from Tientsin to Pekin, and
an expedition of the kind in question
would entail as great difficulties as were
en- the way to the CAPT, al.
The adyices OF the Mercury the Daily
News and the 'Hongkong Daily Press
ust received. agree in the opinion that the
Afl0y disturbance oil august "a was TO- |
nented by the Japanese. The facts, as
souchod for by these papers. show that
small house in Annoy City. used as jap
lnese Buddhist temple for some years,
vas burned. At O'Clock an armed party
If some sixty men were landed from one |
,f the Japanese men-of-war in port |
marched to the scene, and. returning an |
lour afterward, crossed the harbor to |
kulang-su.
ARMED sailors, fully equipped, are pa ,
aiding the island with fixed bayonets.
Several so-called Boxer placards have {
een collected by energetic Japanese. The | ,
,hinese say the owner of the premises
lad not received any rent for long time. Q
nd that several days ago the priests re-
moved most Of the furniture, and that the S
lace was burned by themselves, with the @
i'd of kerosene; also that the placards
ere posted by the Japanese.
1T really looks very much like a pre-
ranged affair. with one object in view "
create trouble. Japan wants Annoy, and
making fair bid to get it, as the 9TH
powers will find out when perhaps too
tie. From later advices it appears that 1t
lie Japanese only partly fulfilled their Fl
-omise regarding the withdrawal of al
oops from the native city. ard that as ia
result feeling of unrest continues to W
evail. and the outlook is said to furnish re
ound for further apprehensions. az
To us here it seems that there are II
oubles enough in the north without stir Pc
ng up more in the south Several things VI