The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-25

, The situation in China is at present
che topic of greatest interest at the
headquarters of the foreign missionary
societies and boards, and while most of
the officials of these organizations are
hopeful, there is nevertheless marked
anxiety, althotit not not felt so much
will be, it is believed, amply protected
in case of trouble, as for the missionary
cause itself. The preparations being
openly made by the United States gov
eminent for possible trouble in China,
have increased the tension felt in mis-
sionary circles, and any information
that can throw light on the situation
is eagerly sought.
There is much interest therefore in a
letter which has just reached the office
of the Presbyterian Foreign Mission
Board from Rev. DR.. H. V. Noyes, one
of the veterans among the American
missionaries in China. DR.. Noyes is
located at Canton, and begins by say
ing that the boycott against things
American had even extended apprecia-
bly, to the hospital maintained In Can
ton by the Presbyterian board. This
hospital treated, including out patients,
upward of thirty thousand people last
year. DR.. Noyes says, in part:
'tNot long since heard DR.. Todd re-
mark that owing to this movement the
numbers in the hospital had fallen off.
the calls in homes. The well-to-do
clans. Of course this falling off is in
o. I'D
more Chinese practitioners than there
used to be. Besides this the French
have established large hospital in
the city. In spite of these facts DR..
Todd believes the boycott most to
blame. The boycott is getting to be
more of a menace than some Of us at
first thought. There has been more in
terest aroused since that fanatic up in
Shanghai committed suicide than there
was before.
eve have been led to feel more re-
Gently that the Chinese are more in
earnest than they were supposed to be-,
and that their staying power will be a
surprise to the United States. We fear
these Chinese, intoxicated by their
power if they succeed in frightening
America, will be led to extremes. Since
Japan g success western prestige has
dropped a great deal. The riot up in
Shanghai that grew out Of a dispute
between the Chinese and British repre-
sentatives in the mixed court there
seems to show this. Now that it seems
as tho the Chinese have practically
gained their point something else may
arise.
"Personally I am glad to see the
Chinese waking up and telling people
to keep off their toes, but I fear they
will carry things too far, too rapidly
and cause lot Of needless trouble, I'M
less it is true that when a people
change there must great deal Of sui
fering before it is possible. To offset
this there are q great many sensible
men in China and we hope they car
gain and keep the upper hand. The
other day Mr.. Boggs saw a large con
signment Of American oil on it's way uH
into the interior. Probably the boycott
will not be absolutely everywhere, but
It will be bothersome.
cat present the Chinese in the in
terror are somewhat aroused by TIT
high handed action of the officials, who
in establishing schoolsof western learn
ing, have seized temples and burned
idols From our standpoint the objec
tionable feature of this is that we mis-
sionaries are blamed by the villagers
who think we compel the officials t.
do such things. This, of course, make
It necessary to watch things care
fully.'
There are about twelve hundred
American Observation-Disclosures and wome1
in China.