The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-10

why the Chinese have such a hatred Oh
foreigners, particularly of the missionaries
and OF the hangersSon Of the missions, pc
cause they look on ti.ese people as moth.
Ing more nor less than the advance guard
of spies of an enemy, with whom trey
know they Will not be able to cope. Their
sole idea, therefore. says he, IS to rid their
country OF these people, and to do 1t IN
such a way that other foreigners will be
so tcrrorIzed that they viii not care to
come Mr. Cargill further says that
against the merchants Of foreign countries
having established branches in various
parts Of China the Chinese have no preju-
dices, but that they are incensed against
the missionaries, who insist that all their
cherished traditions. all their national life.
ali their religious institutions-and the
Chinese are very religious peopie-are
wrong and must be given up TO embrace
a religion and a philosophy which the
Chinese regard as the creation of people
whom they look upon as little short OF
barbarians. or al least as extremely new
in their civilization. He adds to this, that
when the Chinese have given their minds
over into the leading-strings of the new
Corners the next move is for concession of
some substantial sort. demanded by the
bangers-on of the missionaries, or those
who follow in their wake.
There are two sides to this story OF the
Chinese outbreak, and while the, barbara
ties that have been practiced are inexcus-
able il is easy TO see, as Mr.. CarSil says,
why the Chinese have such hatred of
foreigners and why they ara disposed to
drive them all out. We have seen it stated
elsewhere, and We doubt not that there
is much truth in It, that many Of the
Chinese converts, so-called. have embraced
the Christian religion for purpose, and
punished therefor, run to the missionaries
with the complaint that they are being
prosecuted for the faith, and the mission
aries being deceived, frequently report the
cases 10 the Minister and ask for protec-
ton.
The great body of the Chinese know
absolutely nothing about the work which
the Christian religion has accomplished
throughout the civilized world. They have
not had the opportunity of seeing the Won
derful fruits in America and England and
elsewhere. They have simply seen the
missionaries and the hangers-on, few
faithful converts among their own race
and some unfaithful ones, and believing
firmly as they do in their own religion and
their own philosophy, it is, not surprising
that they should want to drive out the
missionaries and the foreigners generally,
believing that unless they do their whole
country will be captured by the foreigners,
their institutions overthrown and their
whole empire dismembered. Let US not be
too severe on the Chinese. Let us not be
too rash in accusing them of religious in
tolerance. Let US ask ourselves what we
would DO if the Chinese were sending mis-
sionaries into the United States and max
ing the same effort TO overthrow our re-
ligion and our institutions and set up the
religion Of Confucius and Chinese institu-
tons and customs in their stead. Have
we SO soon forgotten the bitter fight that
was made on Congressman Roberts be-
cause he was a polygamist? Do we not
see almost daily reports in the newspapers
of vigorous warfare here and there against
Mormon elders?
The Chinese are genuinely alarmed, and
well they may be, for it is the avowed
purpose Of the foreigners to Christianize
China and to Introduce European progress
and European customs. But we have an
abiding faith that good will come our of
this Chinese trouble, although, as all revo-
lutions come, at the expense OF human
life. For one thing, it has been shown
that China is not such a feeble Power
as was supposed. Her people are not cow
ards as had been SO often said, and the
Chinese have demonstrated their fighting
qualities 10 the astonishment of the Eu-
ropean Powers. The ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of
China will not be such an easy thing as
the foreigners had thought, and it will
not be accomplished without mighty
struggle. II all the great Powers of the
earth combine against China, of course.
they can whip her and tear her territory
TO 1atters. But against any single Euro
pean Power China will be q, fair match
and will not be subdued without mighty
and bloody struggle. After this trouble
has blown over, and after peace between
China and the Powers shall have been re-
stored, China will be treated with more re-
spect and consideration than hitherto, and
slices of her territory will not be had by
this nation or that for the asking.