The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-21
The Looting by the Missionaries

The public is somewhat familiar with
the statement Of Rev. DIR. Ament, a
missionary to China. in regard to the
lootlng by the missionaries in hat
country during the Boxer revolution.
1t was explanation and denial, confess
sion and avoidance. and did not make
an entirely favorable impression. Now
comes another missionary, Rev. DR..
Gilbert Reid. and blurts out the whole
truth. without ~equivocation or evasion.
In a communication to The North
China Herald. which is reproduced in
the press of this country, he says in
part:
"A few days after the relief, while the
American troops were encamped in
mud and on the city wall, I carried a
note from the American minister, and
conducted some American officers espe-
cially deputed. to a certain palace, as
possible future headquarters for the
American army. The palace was that
of Prince Ii, head of the cabinet which
had decided to support the x and
fight foreigners. Not to our surprise,
Prince Ii and attendants had fled, but
much to our SUI prise we found French
soldiers n a French priest surrounded
with vast wealth-iron safes containing
nearly 300, 900 taels of silver, trunks
laden with magnificent furs, silk and
satin and rooms adorned with the finest
of China art. For a 1 forgot
the tenth commandment. 1 had no
house. no art. nc books, no silver, no
clothes except a suit made for me by
missionary ladies while I had been ly-
ing in the hospital. The only trouble
was the French were there, and were
not kind enough to leave. The French
raror o0o ~-l A~NI ~ Tho M
that morning that section of the city
had been voted to the French Seeing
our downcast countenance, he mag
unanimously said: L am very sorry,
gentlemen. but each one may lake a
memento.' I selected two elegant furs
and moved on"
We are told-for we have not seen
! this communication in full-that DR..
Reid tells Of other instances in which
he took possession of property which
was not his:
Having lived in Pekin, I vas able,
! better h foreign soldiers or war cor
respondents to discriminate real friend
and foe, those whose places should be
looted and those not. For weeks I was
| busy in seeking protection for the
| friendly disposed and in encouraging
shops to reopen their doors with proper
passports. Now INC then I branched
| out to loot from hose who were our
| enemies: and I only regret I didn't have
| more time to loot from such despicable
wretches, instead Of leaving so much
| to others. If. however, those from
| whom I nave looted want their things
back. let them meet me face to face and
/ I will take the matter into considera-
ton.
1T has also grieved me that SO many
really good people think that my loot
lis good enough for them to want. The
friends OF hooters are beyond my cal
be known that looting under all cir
cumstances is wrong and, therefore
none need apply'-for loot on sale OF
donated"
We pass by the morality OF these
transactions to commend DIR. Reid fol
his candor. The needs Of the mission
aries may have been as great as they
represent them to ave been, and If sc
something Is to be pardoned, under tn
circumstances. to the frailty Of human
nature-though it is not clear tina
elegant furs". could have served an,
Immediately necessary purpose-bu
certainly pillage is not to be helpet
by adding to it p~revarication, and hencl
the credit due to DIR. Reid. His state
ment suggests two other points: tina
in the claims for indemnity agains
China the Chinese are surely entitle
to an offset on account OF the lootini
of the missionaries and other foreign
ers. and it gives emphasis to the reso
luton offered in the Southern Baptis
convention in session at New Orlean
a few days g declaring against tn
asking for or receiving Of n indemni
ty from Chinese at all--Charlotte Or
server.