Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-07-18
Acts of Violence Have Retarded an
Amicable Adjustment.


PEKIN. July 15.-Chou Flu provin.
cial treasurer and special commits
soner on the missions question. has
sent letter to the senior Protestant
missionaries, at the same time eX
planning that its contents have no ref
ereuce to the American board or the
Presbyterians, but that they refer to
the Catholics. The head OF the Cath
olics have not received a copy of the
letter. however The writer says:
Throughout Chi lie all cases re-
lating to the church have, with a few
exceptions, been adjusted. If the mis-
siOnaries will candidly consult the of
ticials and gentry soon all will be sat
isfactorily arranged. Our humble
thought is thereafter Christians and
others ought to cast away causes of
disagreement and alienation. and live
harmoniously II the converts con
tinue to cherish hatred and act vic
lently. seeking revenge. the good
name of the church will be injured
and perfection from local officials
hindered. The outcome of such things
is difficult to estimate.
I'VE hear reports everywhere that
plundering and extortion on the part
of Christians continue as fromerly,
and. If anything. are more frequent.
the behavior of Christians is AFRO
giant and contemptuous. Though the
officials have power. the government
hopes that the missionaries will in
struct their members. and then. by
consulting and arranging with us. we
shall be able to reserve order. We
request you to prepare a manifesto
directing Christians to observe the
laws not violating the requirements
of the church.
In the matter of the uncompleted
cases, Christians should submit to the
decisions and gentry in consultation
with the missionaries. Converts have
been frobiden privately to use extol-
ton or to plunder, but II men behave
like robbers and ruliians 1t is imme
| terial to the people whether they call
themselves Christians or not and we
shall treat them in accordance with
the law.
Iii Hing Chang has already issued
orders recommending that bad char.
acters. even IL they are members of
the church, should. after proper In.
vestigation, be punished The officials
must protect the church capture ruff
fans and finish the case relating TO
the church / have asked the yiceroy
to issue instructions to the subordi
nate officials to be faithful in admin
l. ~
quest your consultation and compli
ance that Imay inform the local of
fcials that the church has no inten
ton to protect lawless Christians.
write this that peace may prevail"
The Catholics. while feeling that
the attitude of the officials is less
friendly, are ready to issue instruc-
tions to their converts to avoid seek
ing revenge, to practice patience. and
to assist the officials in establishing
| order.
AT meeting of the Protestants It
| was decided to frame manifesto in
| accordance with Chou Fu's letter. It
| should be remembered that it Is easy
| to bring accusations OF this sort
against the Catholics, because their
church has large and growing mem.
beship. There were certainly $4,000
| Catholics in fifteen villages In Chi III.
who defended themselves against re-
peated Boxer attacks. Six OF these
villages were unable to Withstand the
| attacks. and many thousand Catho-
Ollie perished. the victims of unspeak.
able cruelty. Their action in seeking
redress for their wrongs is easily
construed by the Chinese as desire
to obtain revenge. Strenuous efforts
are needed on both sides to restore
harmony with justice.
| The following estimate of the fruit
crop, by c. S. Boyd, appears In the
current issue OF the Aztec Index, and
will be of interest to Herald readers
Aztec. N NJ. July lo.-Editor In
dex: A conservative estimate of tho
fruit crop of San Juan county for the
year 1901 is as follows:
Grapes OF all kinds. very large crop;
peaches and pears. good full crop;
plums, also heavy crop apricots good
yield: small fruits OF all kinds. full
yield.
have visited over 80 apple or
cnards in the La Plata and Animas val
leys in the last. ten days and find Tho
following yields likely: Missouri
Pippin and Winesap, over one.hal
crop; Geniton. Rome Beauty. Grimes
Golden. over one-fourth crop; othe
scattering varieties. about one-sixtl
crop.