The times., 1901-05-16
Missionaries and Loot.


We reprinted yesterday an article in
the North China Herald" from the
pen of Rev. Gilbert Reid, d. D., which
is a valuable contribution TO the litera-
ture of loot recently written by Mark
Twain and others. II will be remem-
bered that MIR. Clemens, in much-dis-
cussed article in the North American
Review" enquired in the peculiarly
frank and child-like manner character
istic of him, whether it was supposed
to be proper for missionaries to steal;
and he went on TO give an account Of
various proceedings Of the kind in
dulged in by the clergy stationed in
North China Some of his statements
and implications have been vigorously
contradicted by people in this country
and by some of those concerned, but
here is a piece Of testimony from mis-
sionary's own pen, admitting in mood
delightfully."- naive that not only has he
looted, but that, like Adam and Eve, in
the garden in the days Of their innO-
cence, he was not ashamed. 1t would
be almost q pity to make this reverend
gentleman partake Of the fTjiit of the
knowledge of good and evil. He is too
Arcadian in his beauty as he is.
He was sent with a note from the
American Minister-so his story runs
to the palace of Prince Ii, soon after
the advent of the foreign troops in Pc
kin. He found that Prince Ii and his
household were not at home, which was
quite natural. and that some French
soldiers and a French priest were there
in great comfort, amid safes containing
nearly 900. .O90 taels Of silver, trunks full
of magnificent furs, silks, and satins,
and treasures Of Chinese art ad libitum.
The rest of the tale shall be told in the
missionary's own words:
ssFor a moment forget the tenth command
Inent / had no house, no art, no books, no sil-
YER no clothes except suit made fOr me by
missionary iadies while had been lying IN the
hospital The only trouble was, the French
were there, and not kind enough 10 leave.
The French general came IN and told Us that
on that morning that section Of the city had been
.oted 70 the French Seeing our downcast
count ntenances he uagnanlIn 5tslS sad. i am very
sorry. gentlemen, but each one may ta-S
memento.' / selected t&o elegant tUrs and
moved
than foreign soldiers or var correspondents, 70
discriminate real f.iend and foe, those whose
places should be looted and those not. For weeks
} was busy in seeking protection Tor the friendly
disposed and in encouraging shops 70 reopen
their door with proper passports Now and
fhcn ! branChed out 70 loot from those who
we're our enemies, and ] only regret didn't
have more time % loot from such cespicabe
rretrhes instead u leaving much TO others,
including net q iew loot critics. H. however,
those from whom I have looted their
things back, let them meet me face 10 face, and
! viii take the matter into consideration. II
has also grieved me that 50 many really good
people think that my loot Is good enough for
them 20 want. The friends OF the lcotefa are
beyond my calculation At this late date IL
should be known that lootng under all cir
c,Inlstances is wrong, and therefore none need
apply'-for Loot, on sale OF donated
1t will be observed that this argument
is in substance precisely the same as
might be used by an inhabitant Of what
Mr. Flynt calls the Under World
hobo. pickpocket or burglar-to de-
fend his depredatiOns upon civilized
society He has no house, no art, no
books, no silver, no clothes and in some
cases not even food. He sees in the
house OF the millionaire diamonds; he
has no diamonds. and his conclusion is
inevitably that the millionaire owes
them tc him. and that he may take
them just as soon as that gentleman
and his servants are kind enough to
leave" The argument is as old as the
world; ii is only surprising to find it in
this connection. When a man is doc
tor Of divinity and has crossed the seas
10 spread the knowledge Of the Ten
Commandments among heather
and unenlightened people. it Is a little
curious TO find him above the necessity
of using the commandments himself
DR. Reid evidently belongs to the same
class as that other parson. who, when
called to account for preaching one
thing and doing the opposite, said IL
was too much to expect one man to
preach and practice, too.
Dr. Reid further says that having
lived In Pel1in he was able TO discrlmi-
nate between those whose places should
be looted and those who should not. He
thus clearly leads TO tins conclusion that
it Is right to plunder ones enemies. It
was said In Palestine some two theu-