New-York tribune., 1901-03-30
MARK TWAIN'S"APOLOGY."
HE HAS No AVERSION TO CALLING IT
THAT, But 1T DOES NOT
APOLOGIZE.

may call Il an apology II he be careless about
the actual meaning Of words The humorist wishes
II distinctly understood that he has prejudice
against apologies. and then he proceeds to review
the controversy started by his article. ITO the
Person Sitting in Darkness which appeared in
the February number Of The Review" He
quotes. among other things. a dispatch from
George Lynch. the well known correspondent. IN
which mention made Of the Rev. Messrs.
Tewksbury and Ament holding sales Of looted
goods. Sir Robert. Hart Is referred to having
declared that "even some missionaries took a
leading part in spelling the Egyptians"
Mark Twain's first article was based largely on
a cable dispatch which represented the Rev DR.
Ament collecting thirteen times the amount OF
the indemnity. Subsequently correction was
made stating that this should have read ene-third
extra tax. Twain asserts that the claim for
apology is based solely this reduction in the
figures. Commenting this. and the attitude of
the Rev. DR. Iudson Smith and the American
Board Of Foreign Missions the humorist says:
admire the alertness Of the board in watching
morals. and get the best of the swap; for cannot
9ade n9s PeoP they sTg yellow hand AND Ray Rays
been like the board-pe-fecty well meaning: but
main reasons why il is so hard TO make the board
understand that there is no moral difference be
legal one, is that vacancy in its makeup; Morally
ment merely says, Thou shalt not steal and
stops there. Il doesn't recognize any difference
between stealing a third and stealing thrteenfold.
Twain speaks of the board waiting hfty-six days
before sending a cable message to Dr Ament to
ascertain the facts. and then
1t got fatal reply-and was not aware Of 1t.
That that curious confession about the "one-
mir third extra t its Application not to the pr0pasa
support of widows and orphans and. top of
The dizzying fact that our missionaries who went
TO China TO teach Christian morals and Justice.
had adopted pagan morals and justice in their
place That cablegram dynamite.
II seems odd that the board did that that
made
before; for there was saving doubt. before-a
should have been carefully left undisturbed Why
did the board allow that revelation to get into
keep stiiI: But no; In the boards opinion this ms
Smiths latest letter to suggesting that speak
also1a letter which is a good enough letter,
that the boards head is not good as its heart.
The Rev. DR. W. s. Ament. OF the American
Board Mission. who is stationed in Pekins. in
recent interview denied the accusations against
the missionaries and defended the demands for
punishment Of Chinese who committed outrages
upon converts.
Replying TO questions about indemnlties for ma
tive Christians and why the missionaries took IT
upon themselves collect the money from heather
natives. DR.. Ament said:
There seemed very ts hoPe Of qf native Chris
iy Of their ofcisis. nor did the foreign powers
think they were called upon to provide indemnity
tor them. They We're even very reluctant to un-
dertake their protection at the beginning of the
All the survivors OF our churches were reduced
10 absolute poverty. They were harmless inonen-
and had not intruded their religion upon any one.
This At least true OF the Protestant Christians
might be friendlv 70 him could bring the neigh
bors OF his prosecuted people 10 the Of
their ways. and persuade them contribute money
support Of the survivors OF the families think he
Is justified IN 80 doing II seems To- To- me ,- ne would
indemnity for the loss OF his goods from tae Chi
for the reimbursement Of his followers would indi-
In several cates l have known Of native Chris
tians taking the matter into their own hands and
Protestant missionary doing SO. In general. the
process has been as follows: To demand the re
| building OF houses or an equivalent In money; to
or for animals stolen; In case the head OF family
had been murdered. or one who was the prov!der;
h h sum Of 80 aes is demanded for the support
In most cases Il sum equal TO about one-third of
The church, which sum was used more or less en-
resed tte 10 peops II money wss Ief. over was
made fund for the support Of widows and or
phans who have no other visible means Of sup
port. We have connected with our church in Pc
king, largely as result of the recent outbreak.
nine haf-orpha1s who are practically thrown upon
In case have harsh measures been resOrted to
to secure this fund which is not large, and the Jus
tice of the claims would 10 be clear 10 all.
iHIicated no the Roxer sympathizers an abnormal
weakness and Indifference 70 the sufrerings OF
native Christians that would have tended TO In
crease the latters troubles by raising the courage
W. might say here that though the s1m of 500
taels was expected for the murder Of each head
Of family. IN very few cases was the full sum
siouares have yielded on the. side OF generosity
and charity in the collection Of this indemnity. 1t
yb r ~ not interested IN The welfere Of nafivs
Christians or even concerned for the progress OF
Christianity, TO criticise missionaries for doing
tartan thing
Or Ameut denied that any of the missionaries
took part the carnival Of Iooting following the
relief OF the legations. For any affirm that
one or more missionaries joined the great army OF
hooters here IN PekinG. said he is to affirm what
IS not true"
Regarding the right or propriety of the mis-
sIonary selling the stun which he found in the
place he took a residence. DR.. Ament explained
that at the close of siege missionaries. in
common with all other foreigners in Peklng, had
20 hasten and gather what grain they could
from various sources for their and their peo-
pies consumption A. they had money with
which to purchase clothing and other necessaries
for themselves and their people. it suggested
by the United States Minister. Mr.. Conger that
the missionaries sell the stuff found on the prem
ses which they had occupied.
In my own case having been severely criticised,
I would say that the premises took had been
Boxer headquarters. From this place they issued
| forth burn our chapel but hundred yards dis
| tant. and murder people, eighteen or nine
lT'irT1an Of t6e C'omniiiaa an Conffscated Goods
and following the orders Of Sir Claude Macdonald
| / had charge of the auctions at which were sold
| the porcelain, garments. curios. furniture and
buildings during the siege. but none were taken
before the siege What was done was done under
the authority and by order Of Sir Claude Mac
vided among the British marines
only the poorer articles were disposed of under
being reserved to be sold under the direction OF
British colonel AS II Was ] by the hard labor OF