The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-04-29

can Protestautisnl, IN taxing siues
upon q political question wherein
its constituency is sharply divided
There il q feeling that the Fed
erzl council leaders have been bit
too guileless In taking at full face
value all the pleasant and polite
statements OF Japanese spokesman
At the time Of the twenty-one de-
nands upon China an eminent
American missionary from Picking
came to this country to invoke the
aid Of washington for the protec
ton Of China. He was chided by the
federal councils japanese expert
who assured him that no such de
mands had ever been made. u
have seen the original document
with my own eyes," said the mis-
s.onary from Picking. you are en-
tirely mistaken" retorted the mis-
sicnary from japan. for l have
been assured by the Japanese am
bassador himself that no such de-
mands have been made!"
Events showed who was right. The
China proponents seem to have the
ear OF the public at present. The
former unreasoning American adula'
ton of Japan has swung to equally
unreasoning suspicion. The tend
ency of human nature toward parti-
sanship has led the public and the
churches to adopt an anti-Japanese
attitude. Not only is the whole Jap,
snese propaganda In religious cir
Giles under suspicion. but the entire
case OF Japan Is being unfairly dis
credited. There is now vigorous
artiJapanese propaganda under way
ia this country, and the tendency
seems to be TO take sides with IL.
Speaking from the standpoint OF
the trend Of religious interest, II
appears that the large and intricate
and delicate oriental question is
becoming largely one OF partisan
ship for Japan. The deep suspicion
and fear and hospitality which the
Chinese people entertain toward
Japan at the present time is shared
BY the American missionaries In
China. As these outnumber the
missionaries in Japan, and include
some very strong and outspoken
men in their ranks. the number OF
addresses with an anti-Japanese
slant now being heard from mis-
sionary platforms. is large and po-
tent. n one dared classify Ameri-
can religious sentiment on the orr
entail question today. 1t would be to
say that, despite the powerful ad'
herents Of Japan in high places in
the church. the preponderance OF
opinion is friendly to China and un-
favorable to Japan.
II would have TO be added.
straightway. in all fairness. that
there ID also clear tendency TO
abandon the merely partisan attt
tude. and to seek all the facts. In q
sincere effort to deal justly with
China, Japan and America. These
SOLDERING times are leading church
men. whatever their predispositions.
to avoid melting prejudices and TO
promote peace and good viii all
around the horizon.
Little IL said about the specific
inclusion Of Hindus In the new i'm
migration laws. Yet there Ii little
doubt that the vigorous Young
India" party will resent this as dis
elimination, and win make their
sentiments felt by American mission
work In India.
Complications may arise for the
government over the use of the
word Hindu" Originally, It was
loosely used for all residents OF
India Technically. II means those
q the Aryan race-and 80 would
not include the Tamils and Telugus
and other Dravidian peoples OF
South India. Commonly, and In In
dia itself, the word Hindu" IL ap
Piled to those OF the Brahmanistic
faith. IN Standardization from Mo
hammedans and Christians.
The entire situation II but one
more illustration Of tho fact thai
the religious aspect Of any great Ia
sue 70 the most delicate and impor
tant. The oriental question II goinl
to put . severe strain upon the in
teliigsncs and fairness and courag<
Of the American churches.