Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-04-09

lied with the growth of spirit of sem
sitiveness and militant patriotism.
No thoughtful person misses the
point of the fact that these aroused
Chinese Christians turn for succor
instinctively to America, the land
which has given them most of their
missionaries and teachers, and which
they say is the one nation that has
shown a distinctiVely Christian spirit
in seeking to serve the welfare of tire
Chinese people.
The Missionaries Part
All China is in panic at the pres
ent time. 1t sees visions of the loss or
empire through the Japanese de-
mands. The whole nation is in state
of fear and hysteria and clamor. Not
only the Christians. but the officials
have turned straightway to the Amer
lean missionaries for counsel and CO.
operation and comfort.
Many of the missionaries have writ
ten to papers in the Chinese treaty
ports. as well as in America, espousing
the Chinese cause, and calling upon
the American Government to exercise
its good offices vigorously in behalf OF
China. Not all of these letters have
been discreet, and Secretary Bryan has
aries for their participation in inter-
national politics.
The missionary boards are more
cautious than their representatives.
At least one of the men, at home on
furlough from the port of Shantuns
which the Japanese have taken over.
has been addressing American audi
ences, and his restrictures upon
Japan's course have earned him a writ
ten reprimand from his board. This
particular man has had his house
looted and his property destroyed by
the invaders, and perhaps he may be
forgiven for appealing warmly upon
the subject, although his speeches are
in behalf of the Chinese Christians.
Other missionaries are openly and
avowedly seeking to serve China in
this her crisis. They say that the ira
ditional friendship of China for Amer
lea is imperiled at the present time
Most of these men. however, are work
ing quietly, because they realize the
delicacy of situation that involves
three great nations.
Using Missions For National
Propaganda
The formal use of the missionary
enterprise for national political pur-
poses is nothing new. America has
steadfastly held aloof from 1t, and
promotion of American prestige has
/ been done in an entirely individual
and unauthorized fashion
The European nations have not al
ways adopted this policy of separation
of statecraft from missionary activi1
ties. Thus it was the death of two
German missionaries in Shantung that
led Germany to make the demands
upon China which gave her the con-
cessions that the Japanese have lately
seized France also has always made
an official matter of her foreign mis-
sions.s Russia and Italy have done the
same.
From the first, Japan has been keen
to see the important part that the
missionaries may have in shaping pub
lie opinion, both at home and abroadr
recognized and decorated missionary
coined deputations of Americans in
terested in missions. and many of
he religious papers and peace organi-
cations have been heartily enlisted on
the side of Japan, because of the SYM
iectives, which they have gained
through the missionary contact. 1t
has been said that Japan could afford
sionaries working within her borders
because of the service that has been
rendered her in this country by the
missionaries and friends of missions
Japanese churchmen have been sent
| abroad, with government support, tc
represent Japan's case in the West