The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-02

ton. As soon as my attention was called
10 their conduct made them replace the
stun. and told abe missionary that if ne
could not control them | would After
that they confined their looting to arti-
cles they were able to conceal | was
glad 90 reach Pckin and be reid of the
outfit"
Rescue Parties.
Out of this expedition the missionary
tribute excursions" undoubtedly grew
So-cal,ed rescuing parties became merely
armed escorts, under whose mailed wing
missionaries collected indemnities from
the towns about Pel1in. Under fear OF
having their towns burned, the inhabt-
ants would suffer almost any extortion,
and huge sums speedily accumulated In
the Pekin mission houses.
Now the tribute excursion has run
it's course. For n month II wendell where
IL listed. protected by soldiers who made
believe they were engaged in war. Then
the upper military authorities suddenly
perceived the blackmail aspect of it, and
declined to furnish escorts. As it could
not continue business withuot an escort
TO bluff with, the tribute excursion lam
guished and finally gave up the ghost.
North China is still nevertheless, at the
mercy of any band of either military or
civil hooters who may choose to wander
plundering as they go, over the country.
In Pekin and Tien-Tsin provost guards
have enforced a tardy semblance OF pro-
lection to the inhabitants; but afar from
the camps and stan headquarters bandits
wearing the uniforms OF civilized nations
still wantonly range and wreak their will
upon the people The reign of terror In
ausurated at Taku still, months after OPP
position has ceased, holds a great part of
Chill province in its thrall
When a Chnaman processes Christian
ity,' said a prominent missionary to me,
''he must abandon his home his family
and all his prospects in life. lie becomes
an outcast among his own people. 1t sure
~ is the concern of the Christian world
to provide these converts with liveli-
hood in place of the one they cast away
when they reject paganism Is not the
money used in caring for our converts
as truly spent in the cause OF Christian
ity as ii would he in dispensing charity
or building churches at home? If out OF
ten professors we get one real convert,
is not that worth the doing?
Here is an incident which happened to
an American officer few days ago. He
employed a Chinese servant to accompany
him on tribute excursion" which also
brought a number Of Chinese Christians
back to Pekin On the return trip 1t be-
came necessary to cross the Pei-ho, whose
waters are now exceedingly cold. The
Chinese Christians were ferried over, with
all their property; but the officers ser
want was compelled to strip and wade
carrying his clothes on his head. He
emerged with chattering teeth, and for
several hours thereafter was observed to
be in a contemplative mood, as he tramp
ed after the carts which conveyed the
converts. At the next halt he came to
the officer with mission Interpreter
who explained that the man wanted to
become a Christian. Astonished, the OFF,
change of faith.
HE say he like no have made river
and ride in cart alec same Christian,"
explained the Christian interpreter, with
an approving grin.
what the soldiers Think.
The missionaries and missions referred
to in this story are English and Ameri-
can. They are the least blamabe of the
lot. If l wanted horrible examples |
would find them among the. French and
Russians The missionaries of those ma
tionalities looted and levied tribute with
an abandon worthy Of Ckasseur
d'Afrique. l have not mentioned names,
but can do so IL it becomes necessary.
one InlnB lIlpIeSSeS ME Ntly iptNAbl1.
The missionaries, without exception, re-
gard the presence of troops as good
thing to promote their work
Recently an American missionary called
on an American, officer in Tien-Tsin to
ask advice how to collect a bill against
the United States government for rent
of the mission compound, which had been
occupied by American troops for a period
during their presence in Tien-Tsin. The
officer with a frown on his face, advised
him to forward the claim to Washington.
"And now" continued the officer, chow
would you advise me to go about Collect
ing a claim again your Board of Missions
for all the money | have contributed TO
foreign missions since / carried my first
nickel to Sunday-school? 1t was OBJ
tanned under false pretences, and used for
purposes l do not now approve"
The troops in China have some deep
grudges against the missionaries. They
accuse them of refusing to offer their
commodious buildings when the wearled
relief column was nigh shelterless, and
comment on the fact that no mission
aries volunteered to aid in the hospitals
when aid was sorey needed. If you would
not hear hard words about missionaries
do not sit in the tents of the men who
marched scores of feverish miles to sue