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THE MISSIONARY TROUBLES AND A PROPOSED CURE.
(Daily Press, 13th June.) We mentioned the other day that the Rev. TIMOTHY RICHARD had been invited by the Chinese officials at Peking to advise them how to deal with the missionary troubles in the northern provinces. He was requested in the first place to make such suggestions in connection with the difficulties which had occurred in Shansi, a province where he resided no less than ten years (1876- 1886) and with which he has an intimate acquairtance. The native papers in Shang- hai now publish a list of suggestious drawn up by Mr. RICHARD for the settlement of the Shansi troubles, and these, we t. ink, will be read with interest here. It is to be noted in the first place that he does not deal with the question of the murder of foreigners, which he says lies in the hands of the foreign representatives and the Chinese plenipotentiaries. The suggestions which he submits, and which have been appproved by LI HUNG-CHANG (who is reported to have been exceedingly pleased
at the moderation of Mr. RICHARD's views, exclaiming that never yet in China has there been such an enlightened and moderate gentleman as the Rev. TIMOTHY RICHARD has show himself to be, and that if his suggestions could be put into effect there would be DO more missionary troubles in the empire), are as follows:-
1. Very many converts were murdered in the various prefecture departments and district magistracies on account of which the perpetrators are by law guilty of death. But I know that these men were really directed by the officials, and were also evilly influenced by the Boxers, and I have not the heart therefore to ask for condign punishment for all concerned; but I am of the opinion that in every perfecture where there were murderous riots one of the leaders of them should be punished as a warning to others. Furthermore, if the Governor of Shansi coull issue earnest proclamations exhorting all sincerely to repent of their misdeeds, our missions will exercise leniency and ask for the pardon of the guilty leaders.
2. Although the gentry and people of Shansi who assisted in murderous attacks on converts are leniently dealt with, and no demands are made for the death penalty in their cases, they are not absolved from blame or can they decline responsibility" for the outrages. They must be punished by being made to indemnify the converts who lost their personal property and houses, as well as to take steps to pay for the support of orphans and widows.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[June 17, 1901. country, and therefore cannot return at ; such request should not be granted; for once to this country. But when more even the Chinese doctors know too well it is missionaries are sent out to China, aud if almost impossible to cure the many these should come to Shansi, the officials Chinese taken ill with plague in the with propriety and apologise to them for and poor alike, avoid coming under the and gentry shall be expected to treat them Colony, for the simple reason that they, rich what has happened.
doctor's care until the disease is so far result. It is impossible at any time to developed as to admit of but one inevitable prevent the Chinese surreptitiously leaving the Colony when sick, and if the granting growing feeling of resentment among the of the Viceroy's request will pacify the
and an unthankful responsibility from the Chinese and at the same time remove a heavy
manned medical department, it will be shoulders of our overworked and under- generally hoped the Government will see its way to acquiesce.
missionary complications and put matters 6. To bring about the ending of all on an enduring basis, Chinese officials must treat native converts exactly as they would partially and regarded with benevolence non-converts. All should be treated im-
breaks the law he should be dealt with on the part of the officials. If a convert strictly according to the law. convert act deservingly, he should be Should a promoted and rewarded and given the chance of becoming an official like any other person not a convert. managed in this way, no matter whether it is in China or in foreign countries, in the past or at the present day, there has never amongst the masses.
any breaking of peaceful relations not dealt with in the
If this question be suggested, it is to be feared that, much as manner above peaceful relations may be desired, it will be impossible.
been
If matters are
7. After this settlement is made, a list shall be kept of rioters' names, and if they do not repent and still persecute the Church, they must be punished according to law without hope of forgiveness
To these suggestions Mr. RICHARD adds the advice that no time should be lost in engaging at once foreign experts in railways, mines, the manufacture of steel, in agriculture and commerce, and appointing them either Chinese officials to set about opening up the as chief superintendents or colleagues of country, thereby bringing prosperity amongst the people and peace between foreigners and natives. In conclusion, he states that twenty years ago he made these suggestions to both LI HUNG-CHANG and CHANG CHIH. TUNG, but they were not then adopted; he them. trusts that it is not yet too late to adopt
require no comment. They are practical Mr. RICHARD's proposals really and just. The fifth clause claims from Shansi an indemnity of 500,000 taels, which may with advantage ba compared with the 7,000,000 claimed by the Roman Catholics in the same province, and the object to which the sum is to be devoted is clearly stated. Mr. RICHARD's proposals may be regarded as adequate to the situation, and require only that both parties, Christian and non- Christian, shall do their best to act up to them in order to furnish a more rational basis for missionary effort in China than has up to the present existed.
THE DEPARTURE OF SICK CHINESE FROM HONGKONG.
3. The province of Shansi to be fined the sum of Tls. 500,000, to be paid up in ten years in annual instalments of Tis.
(Daily Press, 13th June.) 50,000. This money is, however, not
We learn, on very good authority, that in intended for foreigners nor for native response to a petition from the leading converts; but it should be devoted to the Chinese in the Colony, a deputation of enlightenment of the people of Shansi, in influential Chinese at Canton has approached the shape of schools for the purpose the Viceroy of that city and asked him to of practical education, so that the officials, communicate with H.E. Si HENRY BLAKE, gentry, literati, commoners, and their with the object of allowing any Chinese who children may learn, and not suffer themselves may be sick, through any cause, to leave the to be evilly influenced by reason of their Colony for their homes in China. Hitherto, in ignorance: A well-educated foreign and response to unofficial requests, the Governor also a well-educated Chinese shall be select-of the Colony has been unable to do this, ed to superintend and direct this matter.
4. Monumental stones setting forth the truth of the Boxers' crimes shall be erected in every place where converts were killed.
There were five missionary societies of the Protestant faith in Shansi, the mem- bers of some of which were all massacred, whilst others have gone to their own
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FRENCH RAILWAY SCHEMES IN YUNNAN.
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(Daily Press, 14th June.) The announcement that the Governor- General of Indo-China has formed a company with a capital of seventy million "franes to construct and exploit a railway 'into Yunnan," telegraphed by Reuter, would, were the enterprise any other than French, excite in most minds a lively satisfaction. It is true that Yunnan is a very malarious country, that it is the most mountainous, difficult, and inaccessible of the Chinese provinces, and that it is scantily populated, the entir population being estimated at less than twelve millions in au area of 107,969 square miles. But none the less is it rich in minerals, the supplied the wants of the Celestial Empire, copper mines having for centuries mainly while the salt deposits are also of great value. Gold and silver are likewise known to exist, and jadestone is found in some districts. The soil is admirably adapted to the cultivation of the poppy, and a large quantity of opium is annually exported from the province. The famous Puerh tea is grown in the district valuable products, which are capable of known by that name, and there are other extensive development, were markets for them made accessible. There is no reason why France should not cherish, as a legiti- mate ambition, the desire and project to tap this province, and bring to its border a market for its varied products. Were this the aim of the French Government, we should heartily wish them all success; but when we have good reason to believe that the main iden company above referred to is not to open in forming the up trade and develop the resources of the country, but to spread French influence, enlarge the area of French colonies, and divert to French monopolists the trade and public works of another great country, then we find it difficult to accord our sympathy to French enterprise in this direction.
writers suffer acutely from earth-hunger, Unfortunately the French politicians and and to appease this malady they are ever- lastingly seeking to discover fresh countries, not for absorption, but merely for annexation on the Lap. Meantime the French people keep their thriftily saved money in the stocking,
estate. Now and again, it is true, they or cautiously invest it in Rentes or in real
get bitten by some wild-cat scheme like the Panama Canal project, which absorbed so many millions of
hard-earned money. but any
askance at enterprises in distant coun- a rule French investors look
tries, even if carried on under the aegis of the French Republic. Nor do French- men seek these new countries either for purposes of trade or settlement. With the 'exception of a very few merchants, a few
because Great Britain is a party to the Venice Convention, which forbids country dumping its sick and indigent into. foreign territory. China did not sign the Convention, which omission did not release Great Britain from its duty. Now, however, if the Chinese officially ask for the Conven- tion to be set aside, we see no reason why
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