The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-11


~ probability will be in China,
no man writes with greater
authority than Sir Robert Hart whose
more than half century of experience
in positions of trust i'm that Country
unitcs with an exceptionally intelii-
gent mind to qualify him far above the
ordinary to discuss the subject under
siandngly.
In a contemporary magazine article,
Sir Robert gives guardedly his ideas
upon the missionary question in China
lie recognizes that in spite of what
is said to stop them. the missionaries
will continue to preach Christianity in
China. Their labor will benefit many
and probably offend more" but since
it is Inevitable in any event he thinks
the missionary will do we'll TO take
leaf rom the pages of the past. Local
customs need not b. banned-popular
preiudices need not be tilted against,
a neighborhoods feelings in respect of
si,c and style of buildings ought not
10 pe hurt. and intervention in matters
l.tigated ought to be absolutely es-
chewed. Let the missionary content
himself with making his disciples good
men and good citizens, and let him
leave il To the duly authorized officials
to interpret and apply the law, and ad-
minister their affairs in their own
way. Individual Christianity has as
many shades and degrees as mems
faces. There are converts and con-
vnrts. but oven the most godly of them
may give his neighbor just reason Ia
take offense. and the most sanity
among them may get involved in the
rleshes of the law. In such cases let
the missionary stand aloof.' Sir Rob
ert does not exactly say, but he leaves
us to infer that some missionaries in
China mix more in the politics OF
China than il best for the good of
either China or the missions.
As to whether there has been any
thing in the action or attitude Of mis-
siunaries i'm respect of indemnity
claims. punitive measures ana looting
| TO Justify the sCOldng and abuse which
| some writer's and speakers have in
|
| sver that is somewhat CirCumlOCutOry.
| ON the subject of indemnity claims he
says what each sufferer may demand
| is largely a matter of his own
| science IF circumstances guide con-
| science into demanding the utmost
| farthinG, il is right to demand it. And
| If the man who teaches tha people to
| pray. Forgive us our debts as we for
| give our debtors prefers to act ac-
! cordingly and forgive, he need not fear
the blessing of Heaven will not follow
the object lesson" As to claims which
are excessive he thinks that to satisfy
| them will in the end carry its own
| punishment with ii.
In relation to the charge that thH
! missionaries as class We're governed
| by vindictive feeling i'm their exercise
of punitive measures, or i'm othcrwOrds,
were blood thirsty, Sir Robert notes
the extraordinary provOcaton, the fact
that the situation growing out of the
Boxer uprising was altogether anoma
| lous and adds: "That what was done
merted almost Wholesale punishment
is view most will agree in-eyes
turned to thu past-hut when discus
sion tries to argue out what will be
the best for the future, some will vote
for striking terror. and others fol
trusting to the more slowly working
but longer lasting, effect Of mercy.
do not believe any missionary has
brought anybody to punishment who
did not richly deserve it. But SONS
people seem to feel it would have beer
wiser for ministers of the Gospel I,
have left to governors the punish
men of evil-doers.' For my part,
cannot blame them, for without thci
assistance, much that is known would
not have been known, and, although
numbers of possibly innocent. inoffen
sive and non-hostile people may hav
been overwhelmed in this last year
avalanche of disaster, there are stll a
, large a lot of men whose punishment
, would probably have been a good thin
for the future"
) With regard to looting, Sir \Rober
| | writes at length and says much worth
of reproducing. For example:
During the siege we looted neighborng house
: we thereby got food to live on and materia
TO make sandbags with After the siege,
= had to find quarters Tor ourselves, and We hi
D TO furnish them, And we had 10 find food /
0 | ourselves and for the Chinese connected with q
II We occupied other peoples empty houses
we collected necessary furniture from other pa
pies deserted houses, and If we seized and us
h food at points where there was nobody IN char
a 10 buy il from, II was because necessity fore
US to do so, a necessity that grew out Of 81
e lawc,s doings as temporarily swept away all p,
= sbillty ~ living according to law, tharital
Y Interpretation will recognize the plight we ",
/, in, and acknowledge the fitness OF the ofo
- produced by such cause,
o Al the samr, 1t is possible that much mC
= was taken than was required; and to whate,
= extent that was done 10 that extent might O
preparation be objected to, The question is
q course, complicated by considerations suggest
j. Of ideas OF Ieprisals, przemoney, and sack.I