September 23, 1901.]
EUROPEANS IN FORMOSA.
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS.
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Tainan, Formosa, 28th August, 190'. SIR,-On recently returning from a six months' sojourn in the Cheang-hoa() region, I came to know that there had ben some writing to the newspapers about the Japanese treatment of foreigners in Formosa, and, as my residence here began thirty years ago, I hope it will not be considered unseemly for me to ask your kind insertion of a few words on the subject.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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quote a few words from public utterances of two of my colleagues. Mr. Barclay has been associated with us here for twenty-six years, and what he says shows also how the foolish suicidal conduct of the natives of Formosa greatly hampered th Japanese in dealing wi h a problem which, under any circumstances, was one of enormous difficulty. He writes as follows:
About five years ago, at the close of the war between China and Japan, the island of Formosa was given over by treaty to the victors. The people of the island bitterly resented this action; and when, by order of the Emperor, all the mandarins left, they set up a republic of their own, and prepared to resist by force the coming of the Japanese. These latter sent at once a military force to the north end of the island, of which they took immediate possession. They then marched southward, fighting the people step by step, till at last their armies converged on Tinanfu. A day was already fixed for the bombardment of the city, which would certainly have resulted in great loss of life. But just at his moment the Moreover, while th› Mission staff at Tainan leaders of the movement fled, leaving the peo- numbers fourteen adults when all together-ple helpless, There were then three members sixteen including the two just referred to--
of our Mission in Tainanfu, and we were able their official and commercial fellow residents so to mediate between the two parties that the number collectively only about five. Nor is the city was peacably occupied without loss of life smallness of the latter class owing to oppressive on either side. It was fortunate for our measures being directed against them by our Mission that we were able so to act, as it gained new rulers; because "the man in the street
ns the gratitude of both sides. knows that South Formosa business houses and those connected with them were steadily decreasing during many years before the island was ceded to Japan.
It may help to a better understanding of things to note that the foreign community in Formosa is mostly to be found in the two northern Ports of Tamsu; ✯✯ and Toatutia the other being located at Tainan in the south, with the exception of two missonaries whose stations lie about eighty miles to the north of this.
With regard to the foreign community in the north, I am not myself aware that public complaints have ever come from it about any. thing like petty persecution on the part of the Japanese. On the contrary, residents there seem to feel fairly content with their surround. ings; at least, that was the impression produced en my mind when admitted to their kind bospitality on the occasion of my three visits within the past twelve months. I hope, too, it will not appear officious of me to add that last January they were much pleased at the Governor-General's recent gift of five hundred yen to their Photographic Club, and for his message that even the Emperor himself had graciously expressed an interest in its work.
and
Of cause, we English Presbyterian mis. sionaries in Formosa are better acquainted with what goes on further south; for thirty of our stations are scattered over Central Formosa, as far iuland as Paw-li-siat while we have forty-three more between Ka-gi and the Tang-kang river, be- sides four on the East Coast and three on the Pescadores. It need scarcely be added that our constant visitation of those stations brings us into direct contact with all classes of the people, and affords us exceptionally good opportunities for getting to know what is taking placa. A glimpse of this is seen in the fact that du ing my recent stay in Chang-hoa, I had to see t the registration of no fewer than - fourteen deeds of Church property, a trouble- some piece of work which could never have been put through had not the officials at the various District Offices acted in a most oblig. ing and helpful way.
In looking, then, at the charges which recent anonymous writers have been bringing against the Japanese for their treatment of foreigners in Formosa, I should like to single out for comment one complete crucial statement from "An Occasional Correspondent" to the Hong- kong China Mail of 22nd June. After attempting to establish a somewhat far-fetched connection between the Boxer programme in China and such incidents as the intemperate language of a certain newspaper here which the authorities suspended some weeks ago, this correspondent goes on to say-the italics being his own:- My object, however, is not to describe or protest against any specific display of anti-foreign feeling, as affecting any given individual or group of persons, but to attempt to show how, during the last three years, this feeling has been initiated, fostered, and inten- sified against all foreigners, and everything connected with them.”
Now, before offering any remarks of my own on the question thus raised, I should like to
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how the changed state of affairs affects Formosa The chief point of interest to us here is as to
as a mission field. And on this point I am glad to be able to speak. Both as regards the people and as regards the rulers, we stand in a betier position than in the old Chinese days.
When I went to Formosa twenty-five years ago, a common taunt against the missionaries was that we were there to take possession of the island. Now this has all changed. The people have no feeling of loyalty to their present rulers, they have no desire to main. tain the present state of affairs. On the contrary, the objection they make is that our country would not take possession of Formosa when the people all wished that we should. And not only are these prejudices
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removed, but, in contrast to the behaviour of the Japanese, the people have come to ap- preciate the kind disposition of the missionaries, In many cases they are disposed to welcoms rather than to resent the entrance of Christianity into their villages.
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They are a great improvement on the Chinese So also in connection with our new rusers.
mandarins. The latter were, no doubt, re- quired by law to tolerate Christianity, but they wers ready to use underhand methods to hinder its successful propagation. The Japanese of ficials, on the other hand, even when not themselves Christians, know quite well that Christianity, as compared especially with Chinese heathenisu, tends in the direction of civilisa tion, good order, and enlightenment-the very objects which they are there to promote. is this to them only a matter of theory. They have seen it exemplified in what they found Formosa. When they took over the island there were in all between 3,0 0 and 4,000 communicants (ie., Church members) in it, boside a much larger number of adherents.
Nor
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the whole a correct one seems to be proved by the recent history of our Mission. Before the Japanese occupation, the number of adult baptisms was about one hundred or more annually. Three years ago the number amounted to 156. Two years ago the number rose to 241. Last year the number was over 360. During these three years the number of places for worship and of hearers and adherents also greatly increased. So that in South Formosa the field for missionary labour is at present very hopeful "—Ecumenical Missionary Conference, New York, 1900. Vol. I, p. 530.
The other testimony is from Dr. Anderson, for twenty-three years the respected medical man of our Mission; who, like Mr. Barolay, is a thoroughly trustworthy witness on the matters he writes about. He says when writing from Tainan last January :-
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centrated on the Boxer troubles in the north
Interest, here, as at home, is largely con
of China. Everything is quiet throughout our island, but there can be little doubt bat that, had we still been under mandarin rule, the case would have been very different.
hold of Formosa of late. They are beginning The Japanese appear to be getting a hotter
to understand the people, and their rule is more temperate than formerly. They are con- sequently less disliked by the natives generally. Besides, the immigration from Japan proper
predominates, and it is noticeable that there brings a better type of character than we had at first. The coarse coolie element no longer
be seen upon the streets than was the case a are fewer Japanese in a state of intoxication to
year or two ago. All this bodes well for the future peace of the island, and for the harmo- nious relations of the two peoples.
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· Some very decided benefits from the new rule are also apparent For one thing, heathen bigotry on the part of the Chinese is not so intense, and public persecution of Christianity at least is practically a thing of the past. I suppose we would be free, so far as any fear of opposition from the people is concerned, to erect places of worship anywhere thoroughout the island.
“The fong-shui superstition also received its death blow when Formosa changed hands; a proof which must have appealed powerfully to the natives was the piercing of the City wall lately for the railway between here and the South. In the old days, the idea of such a thing would have made Chinamen stand aghast in horror; now it is regarded, outwardly at least. as a matter of course. There is no doubt that the Chinese generally are better off since the transfer of the island. Labour is more remunerative, and produce of all kinds obtains higher prices."- The Monthly Messenger for March 1901, p. 73.
I hope I have not drawn too largely on the reader's patience by quoting these lengthened extracts. Some persons may think that much of what they contain is irrelevant here, but my point is this: that, if an extensive mission- inary work covering two-thirds of the Island, and administered to by three times as many foreigners as those belonging to the merchantile class, is not only tolerated, but even encouraged. and this by officials who could easily put obstacles in the way, then I say that the posi tion of An Occasional Correspondent" in his statement of 22nd June is untenable, and that he cannot himself bé” regarded as a reliable guide in forming public opinion on the matters
And the Japanese officials, Christian and non- Christian, bear testimony to the fact that wherever they found Christianity established and a Christian community existing, there the people were more honest, truthful, and law. abiding than their heathen neighbours. Some of these officials are themselves Christians and have become good friends and helpers. And those who are not themselves Christians, and might possibly regret to see Christianity making much progress among their fellow countrymen in Japan proper, feel less jealousy as to its spread amongst their Chinese fellow subjects. Especially, perhaps, have the results of the work carried on among the civilised sborigines of the island impressed them; it has been, even from a worldly point of view, the salvation of those tribes, giring to them a greater manliness and independence.
"Of course, there are other elements in the situation less favourable to our work, which would require to be taken into account in a complete, detailed view of the state of the case. But that the hopeful view taken above is on
now under discussion.
The puzzle to me is that this self-appointed spokesman on our behalf should exert himself so much in ransacking for materials to build up a case against the officials of Formoss, and especially against its chief civilian, Dr. Goto; and, while I have no desire to be uncharitable, it will not esuse much surprise for me to state that others besides myself would be sorry if this sort of thing should be accepted by culti rated Orientals as a sample of the way whịch English gentlemen usually not.
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Further, I venture to say that the prospect which An Occasional Correspondent" "has had placed before him of moving “temi-public bodies like the Chambers of Commerce and the China Association" that they may impress his views on the British Government, does not con- cern the Japanese very much; and for this reason,
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