The Detroit times., 1915-04-10
Seek Protection In
Present Trouble
With Japan
OUR POSITION is
DELICATE ONE
Zeal of Missionaries
Brings Reprimand
From Bryan
BY the RELIGIOUS RAMelER

Whether q new era in democratic
diplomacy Is opening or not, GER
tainly the power OF a common inter
national Christian sentiment Is be-
ling Dramatically illustrated today
By the Chinese Christians and their
American friends.
Chinese Christians have sent .
letter Of appeal 10 the Christians Of
America. asking them 10 influence
the American government 10 protect
China from aggression In her pres
ent need. The Chinese members OF
the Washington Y. NJ. c. A. have
issued formal letter 10 President
Wilson 10 the same effect. Bishop
J. W. Bashford. Of the Methodist
church. has sailed from China for
America. bearing kindred appeal
Other Chinese missionaries already
In this country are at work yolcing
the call OF China to America. The
students In the American universi-
ties are issuing statements and ap-
peals through the newspapers.
This Is not the place TO 20 nj all
into the merits Of the cause between
China and Japan. A significant
phase OF the situation. that Is news
OF first quality. Is the fact that the
Chinese Christians have been awak-
ened TO something like national
patriotism by what they believe TO
be q menace 10 their nations exis-
tence. This means the rise OF q
new selfconscious and coheren;
body Of public opinion In the Chi
nese empire. nse
The lethargy OF the Chinese com
mon people and their indifference 10
public affairs has been historic.
Even so late as the htno-Japanese
war, In 1884. the great mass OF Chi.
tuVse were Indifferent NOW rnp
growth OF the Christian church Is al
least synchronized with the growth
OF spirit Of sensitive and militant
patriotism
No thoughtful person misses the
point Of the fact that these aroused
Chinese Christians turn for succor
lnstinctlvely TO America, the land
which has given them most Of their
missionaries and teachers. and
which they say Is the one nation
THAI has shown a distinctiyely
Christian spirit in seeking TO serve
the, welfare Of the Chinese people.
The .Missionaries' Part
All China is In a panic ~ the
present time. II sees visions OF the
loss of empire through the japanese
demands. The whole nation is in a
state OF fear and hysteria and
clamor. Not only the Christians.
but the offcials. have turned
stralghtway 10 the American mis-
sionaries for counsel and co-opera-
ton and comfort.
Many OF the missionaries have
written TO papers In the Chinese
treaty ports. as wei as in America.
esponsing The Chinese cause. and
calling upon the American govern
ment 70 exercise It's good ofices Wig
orously in behalf OF China. Not all
of these letters have been discreet.
and Secretary Bryan has vigorously
reprimanded the missionaries for
their participation IN international
politics.
The missionary boards are more
cautious than their representatives.
A. least one Of the men. at home on
furlough from the port Of Shantung.
which the Japanese have taken
over. has been addressing American
audiences, and his structures upon
Japan's course have earned him a
written reprimand from his board
This particular man has had his
house looted and his property de.
st-oyed by the invaders, and per.
faps he may be forgiven for appeal
ing warmly upon the subject. al
though his speeches are In behalf Il
the Chinese Christians.
Other missionaries are openly and
aFeEetiy seeking 40 serve ehtua II,
this her crisis. They say that the
traditional friendship Of China for
America is imperiled at the present
time. Most OF these men. however.
are working quietly. because they
realize the deiicacy OF situation
that involves three great nations.
The formal use Of the missionary
enterprise for national political pur.
poses is nothing new America has
steadfastly held aloof from Il. and
what missionaries have done for the
promotion OF American prestige has
been done In an entirely individual
and unauthorized fashion.
The European nations have not
always adopted this policy OF sepa-
ration OF statecraft from missionary
activities. Thus Il was the death
OF two German missionaries IN
shantung that led Germany to make
the demands upon China which gave
her the concessions that the Japan
csc have lately seized. France also
has always made an official matter