Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-05
REFORM MOVEMENT
IN SHANGHAI, CHINA

To the Editor of The Star:
In YOUR very excellent issue of the 21st
instant / read with some pleasure the artlcie
by Mr. William T. Ellis upon the wonder
full work accomplished by Mr. Lebbeus H.
Whitley, Judge of the United states court
for China, in the reform movement that
has struck wide-open Shanghai Mr.. Ellis
starts out with the statement, what mis-
sionaries have been vainly trying to do Tor
fifty years, United States circuit judge &C
complishes in a month.
1t is not my purpose to disparage In the
least the great work done by Judge Whitley
He should have the hearty support ana just
praise of every moral law-loving citizen or
his own country as well as or those In
Shanghai. But does Mr.. Ellis, your esteemed
correspondent, mean to detract from the
great work done in the city Of Shanghai
by the Christian missionaries within the past
fifty years? Can he say that the sudden re-
suit brought about by Judge Wiley Is not
the moral development of the missionaries
slow and quiet work during the period re-
ferred to above? The picture that Mr.. Ellis
paints of the moral condition Of certain
parts Of Shanghai, up to short time ago,
is appalling Indeed, and to the shame OF
Americans he puts the blame upon them
for such conditions For fifty years., ne
writes, 1.-The abandoned women OF this cnief
port of the orient have been claiming the
protection of the Stars and Stripes NOW 1
respectfully ask. Is 1t not true here IN our
own country that the greatest hindrance In
the moral work of our great cities Is round
on the part OF many of our municipal om-
GERS? Are not conditions in our large cities
very much like conditions as referred 10
by Mr. Ellis in Shanghai? Things are chang
ing some along these lines In this country
81
ways greatly assisting the moral forces In
driving out open and fragrant evils. The
peopis are rising in this country against the
gambling dens. saloons and brothes. ana
our CITY officers are getting into line with
the mass Of people, and such evils are Fast
becoming objects of investigation and are
being driven out. Suppose we could have
such men Judge Whitley as mayors and
councilmen for our cities. How long would
these evils fiaunt themselves before the
moral upright influence of our cities? !
venture the statement that this splendid
Judge has succeeded In his great work In
Shanghai as much from the courageous con-
duct and united moral support OF the best
people IN that city as from any other source.
Who today In the whole Chinese empire
stands higher In the opinion of every we'll
informed moral native or foreigner than DIR.
r. II. Graves. the American missionary at
Canton? Suppose when he went out 10
China fifty years ago conditions could have
been such as we now find them at many
points in China, a great Judge representing
this great nation. willing to put himself al
the head OF the work, does MI. Ellis sup
pose that the development of the mission
work in China would have been as back
ward as 1t now Is? What have been the
greatest drawbacks to our mission work
not only In China. but everywhere else
The presence of the worst element Of soci
ETY.. Just as soon as the missionary has
gone to a heather country and by his mora
force and character has gotten a foothold
we find soon following him, and supporter
by our own government, and Endorsed az
citizens of our own nation, the rum seller
the gambler and the harlot, all admitted
into the heather country to live upon the
people by their immoral and hurtful prac
tees. These prohigates find among ths
poor, Ignorant heather a ready acceptance
Of their wares, and il does not take Ions
Cor suck evils as we notice at Shanghai Il
grow into awful proportions, and simpl,
because the depraved persons are permit
ted TO look to the Stars and Stripes for pro
lection. The missionarys hands are tied
ard his work must, of necessity, be slow
II our government would be as careful Il
send out such men as this high-minded AND