The Washington times., 1901-07-01
Circulation statement.
Christianity ms Taught in China.

An extraordinary article by the Rev
Gilbert Reid. d. D., appears IN the
July Forum" explaining what the
author calls 'the ethics of loot" II
deals with the action taken by certain
missionaries of the North China Mis-
sion, Ia helping themselves to the
goods. and quartering themselves and
their converts in the houses, of Chi
nese residents of Pekin. DR.. Reid ap-
pears TO think this conduct not only
excusable, but right and commendable,
and frankly states that so far as he
himself is concerned, he regrets only
that he did not have chance TO loot
more.
With the actual principles and prece-
dents Of looting. the critics Of DR.. Reid
need concern themselves but little.
Their argument must be mainly based
upon the propriety of its defence and
commendation by a Christian mission
ary. and with the consistency of the
arguments which he advances with the
tenets of the creed which it is his busi-
ness TO preach A perfectly impartial
view should be taken Of these subjects,
and no personal prejudice OF rhetorical
skill should be allowed to obscure the
actual facts in the case. or interfere
with a clear view of the qualifications
O.. the writer of the article for the
W5rk Of q Christian missionary, and
the effect which his views are likely to
have upon the people among whom he
Iabors It is desirable, therefore, to
state his opinions so far as possible in
l,fs- 80
have ali the force possible.
He begins with a somewhat jaunty
and light-hearted statement Of his rea-
sons for writing the article, and his
conception Of the situation which has
called Il forth. He says:
The coming OF the allied forces TO Tieatsin.
Pekiu Pso-ting-fu, and the metropolitan pro-
vince Of Chihi has given rise TO the use OF the
Hindustani wore loot, probably irom the unique
presence OF Indian troops The interest which Is
displayed the world over in stories Of lootlng
Is only equaled by the interest which Is taken
in the actual thing Generals, Governments Min
isters Pienipoteutiarg, glObe-Totters, Hsr cor
respondents, soldiers, marines, Cossacks, Sepoys,
European rUfians, Chinese converts mission
aries, merchants lovers Of art adyenturers Chin
csc Hterati and western iitterateurs-eyen the
dun mind OF Mark THain-haTe all been lootiag.
speculating in looted goods, longing FOR loot, or
diagnosing the right thereof As a member OF
N---~
II venture 10 expOund the lthics OF loot
Loo; means spOils Of war II there has been
no war. looting may be set down as wrong. Il
wrong there has been. Il has been IN making
war whether by ths Chinese Imperial Government
or oy the combined troops Of Europe, Amer "a,
and Asia. and not in the incidental Tesuis Of
the collection Of sPoils"
It viii thus be seen that DR.. Reid
deity shifts the k;uden OF blame from
his own shoulders to those of some
indessils.~-<e indicated Power He takes
the ground that if loot is wrong, then
war is responsible, not he. The same
argument might be used by some of the
people caught robbing wrecked houses
in Galveston. They would probably say
that the city was wrecked, the loot
was there. and if there was wrong, it
was on the part Of Providence in send
ing a tidal wave TO create such a con-
dition Of things. On the whole, Or.
Reid is inclined to think that the Chi
nese brought the trouble on themselves.
He goes on TO say:
III the Chinese Imperial Government do
not say China-had conteuted itself with waging
war according to recognized usages. ChIna's
friends from abroad would have given her help,
and would have stood as her advocates in the
judicial court Of the world But facts were
otherwise Those representing the sovereignty o:
this ancient people gave beed 10 outlaws; spurn-
ed sober counsel; trampled on Justice; closed the
gates % liberty; poured out tie revenues 10
those who sought innocent bleots laughed Al The
g.ghts OF nations and the sacredness Of the per
sons Of foreign representatives Jet loose their
tals of wrath and opened a carnival o. hell; de-
fed holy compacts, cherished irieud.hips. human
lty. law, retribution. high heaven; sentenced to
death every foreigner and every Christian With
IN their borders; turned tie princes palace and
the governors yzfnen into altar Of human sacri-
fee; poured FROM the palace iisel' shot aud shell
well ecict; slaughtered gyeT two hundred
and forty helpless men, women, and children.
who did no harm as they dEelt in the land, ana
with them over thirty thausand native follower,
Of the CHRISTIAN faith; gicated wildly over their
indeceacies and pandemOnium in Their day o;
strength; and. in their day Of weakness, when
FORTY thousand foreign troops-C hri5tisu, HindoO,
Buddhist. Mohsmmedsn-came marching On. left
their palaces their people their biood-staiHed
swords, the throne the wealth, the confusion,
the recompense, and the DOOR, and Ted 10 the
mountains
1t will be seen that the writer be-
trays something of the triumph which
fills certain denuneiatory Psalms cele-
brating the downfall OF the wicked.
This triumph and cor 3emnatory zeal
has always more or less characterized
the church militant Il ~1u be remem-
berea that in Macaulay's ballad on the
loaAAst IA -heASrj- Nltf 1@AAk " ~ titS
Puritan that he is entitled 10 credit IS
the champion of the Lord, and to l,at
as the slayer Of the heather. is clearly
indicated:
10. comrades. soour the plain, and ere ye strip
the siain
First give another stab 10 make your search
secure,
Then snake nom sleeves and pockets their broad
pieces anu lCekets
Tie tokens Of the Hanton, the plunder Of lhe
poor
IN the time OF Cromwell such plum
dering on battleheids WAS not reckoned
q heinous sin. and DR.. Reid seems to
be possessed by much the same spirit
as that Of the Puritan when be went
forth, full Of holy-enthusiasm. 10 fight
the Cavalier. and pIunder him after the
battle was over. But unfortunately this
missionary does not belong to any
army. or even 10 the church militant
lie is in China as an exponent Of peace
and good VIII 70 all men. The para
graph which follows looks like it:
'.For the crime thus committed By the insti-
eatlafi q The Aasci4u court il seemed az ths
moment that 10 punishment could be 100 severe
haze the city 70 the ground. Burn the pal
ace lei ruins mark the site Of the ereStesi
crime Of the century, and prove warning q
coming etnivfteS- j am not sure IN the nes
moments q reelection. after 81. months % weary
aiig negotiations o. peace. with defiance, disiain