The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-06-14

Of this sort, the British and other for
eigners here have been very well con
tent with the situation prior to Judg,
Wilfey's advent. The disgrace anC
legal responsibility were borne by
America, so from their standpoint tn,
matter was quite satisfactory. AS one
vexed Englishman said to me: REALLY
this Judge Wiley is making a deuce of
bother for the rest of us. He is doing
good thing for America, of course
but think of the trouble that is bound
to come to other nationalities IL they
have to handle this thing" In word,
the nations were quite willing to let
America bear the blame for all their
misbe havior.
| Against this infamy missionaries have
for years protested and labored in vain.
Shanghai, like all other treaty ports
in China, is an international extrater-
ritorial settlement. Each resident is
under no law except that of his own
tOulllN
The very fact of American laxity has
caused disreputable characters, even of
other nationalities, to seek the protec-
ton of that flag for their evil doing.
SAD STATISTICS.
A few of the official figures from the
settlement records may be enlightening
N thiG ha
bered, these are not statistics of the
native city, but of the foreign settle
ments. over which the Chinese have no
control whatever. The modifying
spectacle has more than once been
presented in Shanghai of heather Of
ficials vainly pleading with the repre-
sentatives Of Christian nations to close
out or restrict certain forms of evil,
notably opium resorts, gambling
houses and brothels, for the sake of the
thousands of Chinese who are being
ruined therein. Shanghai's foreign pop
ulation is 14,000, of whom HOO are
Americans. The British dominate. al
though they are somewhat out-num-
bered by the Japanese. French, Port
uguese and Germans come next in or
der of importance.
In licensed existence within the set
tlement were at the time of the issu-
ance of the recent municipal statistics
21,0OO opium houses and shops, paying
revenue of Sos, 0OO-or one such resort
for every score of the 452,70O Chinese
residents who live here under the white
mans law.
THE PACE THAT KILLS.
No census can tell the worst of
Shanghafs shame. The evil that sur
passes the widespread gambling and
drinking is the maintenance of Chinese
women by white men. 1t is freely
asserted that all the unmarried for
eigners in the East follow this prac-
tise. OF course, this sweeping state
ment is untrue, and the wholesale gen.
eralization upon Shanghais wickedress
INDUCED in by missionaries here and
by missionary authorities and supper
tiers at home is more than uncharitable
it is cruel and false. This city holds
many upright, clean lived, honorable
men of spotless character; the fact
that they are in a minority does not
justify their being so Unfortunately
libeled. The gross and scandalous
charges which ignorant or evil disposed
persons make concerning missionaries
are not a whit worse than the general
animadversions of some missionaries
upon all foreigners engaged in secular
pursuits in the Orient.
The best statement of the situation Is |
bad enough. Careful inquiry among |
and informed persons ELI |
cts the opinion that probably the lar
ger number of unmarried foreigners in
Shanghai maintain native women. The |
Eurasian offspring who are the fruit of |
these and more honorable unions are |
one of the tragic characteristics of this |
city.
Right here arises a perplexity for |
the missionary. Shall he receive into
mis- home and give his social approval
TO young men who are known thus to
nave contravened fundamental An
slo-Saxon conception of decency? Shall
I'll the accepted traditions of respect
ible society be abandoned in order to
Win the approval of these young men
lway from home? Ordinarily the mis-
'ionaries decide in the negative. Thus
here is a gulf fixed between the two
classes of white men in Asia, and so
mutual criticism Is begotten In the
ociety which has dominated Shanghai
he missionary, whatever his standing
Il home or his personal qualities, has
,een persona non grata." Whether
his state of affairs will alter with the
Iewly changed conditions remains to
,e seen.
WHEN REFORM STRUCK SHANG-
Hal.
one further explanatory point should
re noted before describing Judge Will
ey's sensational reforms. Gambling
las always been "A Shanghai vice
During race week. In spring and fall
t has been rampant. All kinds OF
have been open and unasham
d. There Is nothing In the Western
World 10 which this can be likened,
foreign gentlemen foreign rlffraff.
'hlnese gentlemen. Chinese riffraff mot
0 mention women Of any nationality,
net IN a gamblers democracy about
he tables Of chance and misehanee,
lack Of the worst Of these fleeing
chemes were Americans,
Last spring an antl-gambllng cruz
AIDE was skilfully conducted, Robert :
J, Lewis, the Young Mems Christian
.ssoeiatlon secretary, being one of the
rhine workers In "A. Without going .