New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-16
DECLARES CORBIN PRONG
accusation of Missionaries Denied
by W0rker from China.

ANY one recently home from China and hear
ing the statement of General Corbin that MISSION
aries the cause of the present unrest IN emma
cannot help being astonshed," says the Kew. o
Harrington LitteH son Of the Rev. Il. Gardiner Lit
tell. of this city, Episcopal missionary JUST re-
turned from China after nearly eight years resi-
dence there. Mr.. Lttell gives five causes TOT the
present outbreaks in China. He says the charge
against the missionaries is preposterous. lie SAID
yesterday:
The first cause of the outbreak is the boycott
springng out of the unjust exclusion acts OF sne
on the part of those who have charge Oh he lnli
on the part of the Chinese TO obtain contro OF tne
enterprises which foreigners are now managing SO
and other profitable business undertakings. The
student class is agitating the people against for.
are dlspossessed of their privileges these enter
prises and the profits made from them will come
into the hands of the Chinese and will be to the
advantage Of the common people me ag glti5
TO be the true patriots Of China. who desire emma
The third reason. which must not be forgotten,
is the perfectly natural desire on the part OF Japan
huence of other nations in order that her own IN
what any other nation would do under the circum-
stances, and is not specially blameWorthy .,o MT
The fourth reason for the outbreak IS the nat
inrove themseIyes determination caused largely
bV contact with the superior Western forms of
civilization, causing dissatisfaction with the past
sponsibiity for themselves. take their place on
their own merits in the life of the world ana 10
improve and strengthen those things which are
weak and disntegrating in her past civilization IT
could hardly be expected that a country or heT
size and with the ignorance of her people could
make the change from her old civilization 70 the
new without disturbances. The very greatness or
the changes among such an ignorant people would
almost lead to expect that there must be a
good deal of and trouble. 1t is evident. too
that the movement has sprung In part from an
anti-dynastic feeling Another cause of unrest IS
the desire for less corrupt government, WIN
Chinese rather than Manchu officials, who shall
adOpt Western methods of government.
Such are of the evident reasons for the I'M
rest In China to-day, and 1t is a surprise that a
man of General Corbn's position should have
failed to see them and their Importance I'm
doubtedly there has been some cause or irritation
against French missionaries, who have used the
pOwer of their government in their work and IN
lawsuits, and whom France has used to further her
interests In China. At the demand of France
Roman Catholic bishops have been given by the
Chinese government high official rank, and with
their new authority has come the temptation 10
misuse their power; but even It is impossible IN
view of the facts already stated, to admit Tor a
moment the charge of General COrbin against mis-
sonaries. Careful study of the Chinese question
compels the conclusion that political and social
rather than directly religious conditions have
brought China TO its present state Of agitation ana
turmoil.