The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-27
BIBLE ACT. WRITES
DR.. Hykes of Shanghai Strongly
Defends John Goodnow.
PRESIDENT NoRTHRoP COMMENTS
Bigelow's Attack Surprised Hin MS
He Thoroughly Relieves In
GOOdnOw.

Minneapolis bearing upon the Bigelow-
Goodnow controversy. The letter was
written by Rev. John R., Hykes, D. D.,
society, and was addressed to Bishop
Joyce. DR.. Hykes has headquarters at
Shanghai, but travels much, and has
high regard for Mr.. Goodnow.
President Northrop of the university,
when he read DR.. Hykes' letter, this
morning, said: ..5g-
When Poultney Bigelow, in the midst of
lecture at the university, made his attack
upon John Goodnow, I was greatly surprised.
NO 1ntimation' Of any such purpose had been
given and I never for a moment thought
such thing possible The audience was
small, numbering less than a hundred. some
OF whom did not know to whom Mr.. Bigelow
referred and it seemed to me at the time
that the less said about it the better. AS
the matter has been extensively commented
upon and thus has been brought to general
attention, it is but fair that Mr.. Goodnow
should be heard in his own defense. I have;
received letter from the general secretary
of the Y. M. c. A. in Shanghai, speaking in
high terms of Mr.. Goodnow and his work
in China. This letter will be published in
the Alumni Weekly, next week. Mr.. Good
news own letter has been printed in F b e
anything more were needed it is supplied by
the letter to Bishop Joyce from Rev John
X. Hykes, D.. D., the agent of the American
Bible Society in Shanghai The standing of
the witnesses in Shanghai who so positively
contradict Mr.. Bigelow cannot be questioned.
1t seems certain, as I have always supposed,
that Mr.. Goodnow has discharged the duties
OF his office most honorably and that the
attack made upon him is wholly u1lwarranted.
=. DR.. Hykes' Letter. =. -.
DR.. SHykes' letter is as follows: " -
Shanghai, Feb. 22.-My Dear Bishop Joyce
was very much surprised to see in the
home papers which come by the last mail
some extracts from speech or lecture by
Poultney. Bigelow before the University Of
Minnesota, in which! he makes some very
damaging and unwarranted statements about
| our consul general, John Goodnow. I do not
think they ought to be allowed to pass un-
noticed. .... r.~ r. 49,
think it is safe to say that 1 know Mr..
Goodnow better than any other man in China
am thoroughly acquainted with his official
career here las a representative of our gov
eminent, and have no hesitation in saying
that no man has ever filled the post Of consul
general with more credit or given more gen
eral satisfaction to all classes Of his country
men than Mr.. Goodnow. - He has won hts
way to the esteem and respect of all who
fearful odds. .-7r~ -.. 5ss@= Il
There is absolutely no truth whatever in
the charge that he has compelled missionaries
to come from the interior to be married over
again in his presence in order, that he might
pocket the fees. / do not know of a single
case where missionary has come to Shang-
hal to be married unless it was his pleasure
to do 50; but l can give more than one case
| where Mr.: Goodnow has gone to other places
to witness the marriage of American mission
aries and at a considerable loss to his own
pocket. Mr.. Goodnow has always maintained
that marriages are legal if not solemnized in
the presence OF a 5eonsul, but he has advised
| that where it is possible consul be invited
| toshe present, in order that the marriage may
! be recorded in the consulate and a record of
| it forwarded to the department of state. But
1 have known him to suggest that in cases
where it was not convenient for the parties
| to go to a port where there was a consul,
that a certificate Of the marriage be sent him
| and he would record it in the consulate and
| forward it to the state department. The fee
for consular marriage certificate is gold 81,
and it is "oficial'' There is no fee for wit
Messing marriage. Ishould like Mr.. Bige-
low to give specific instances of the abuse he
alleges to have taken place In this connection
| 4; Assault Was UnprovOked. %. ~
r am perfectly familiar with all of the facts
w
Goodnow in the Shanghai Club by his prede-
cessor. It was entirely unprovoked and Mr..
| Goodnow won the respect and sympathy of. all
whose good opinion is worth having by his
| manly forbearance. 1t would have been a
very easy thing to have had an unseemly
thrawl, but Mr.. GoodnoW had too much self
| respect and he had too much regard for the
dignity of his position to lower, himself to the
level of his assailant. His self -restraint is
\ now heartily approved by all who know. any
| thing about the matter. - -*.~.'.. -. 3
We have had very able men to represent us
here at Shanghai, but I am safe in saying
that not one has done more for the interests
of his countrymen or stood higher in the
estimation of the Chinese, both official and
unofficial, than has Mr. Goodnow. He dis
played conspicuous ability in dealing with
the serious problems which confronted him
4 during the disturbances of 190O,~ and he is en-
| titled to as much, or more, credit than any
|sother man for bringing about the famous
ij'Yangtsi compact which restricted jhostili-
ties to the north, and consequently saved the
lives ct our missionaries in the southern
Itrrovnces. That he has the respect and conf
! dence of the high officials, know from wha
| was told personally by such men as
ITang, late viceroy of the Two KWangs, By
successive Shanghai taotais, by the late gov
ernor of Chekiang, by the present governor O.
lKiangsu. and by H. E. Liu Kwen Ii, ;viceroJ
months H. E. Lfu Kwen VI went out of his
1 way to express to the his appreciation OF Mr.
Goodnow's ability and his fairness in dealing
l with the Chinese. In consequence of this
| friendship upon the part Of the high officials
he has been able to get things done in the
interests of American trade and missionary
work which have amazed me e .. '.-s.st. :
/ - Esteemed by Missionaries.
AS you know, my work takes me to all the
i ports of China every year, and perhaps NJ
man has more extensive acquaintance among
the American missionaries than 7 have. Oul
Eoffice is headquarters for them when they
come to Shanghai, and am in a position t.
know what they think about our representa-
} tives; and say, without fear of contradiction
that The missionaries are, to man, Mr.
IGoodnow's stanch friends. He has Away:
I furthered their interests, and many Of then
, consult with him as a friend.
81 This attack on Mr.. Goodnow is without war
|rant in fact, and hope you will let DR.
Northrop. president Of the University OF Min
nesota see this letter. I ask you this because
Mr.. Bigelow had the poor taste to- make thi
}. rabid and unjustilable attack in Mr. Good
now's own town and before the uni versity O
which he is an honored graduate. Yours yer!
Esincerely, ..,3. John R. Hykes.
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