Article 1. The Christians when they found an orphanage give no notice to the authorities, and appear to act with mystery: hhenee the suspicions and hatred of the people. In ceasing to receive children, the -evil rumours which are now in circulation would at the same'time disappear. If, however, there is a wish to continue this work, only the children of necessitous -Christians must be received, and then the authorities ought to be informed, who would note the day on which the child entered, the name of its parents, and the day on which it left. It would also be necessary that power should be given to strangers to adopt these children, and then good result would be arrived at. Lastly, when it is a question of non-Christi children, the high officials ought to give orders to the local authorities, who should select proper agents who could take all the measures which appeared suitable to them.
In China the laws which regulate orphanages are: that on the entrance and on the departure of the children note is made of the person who leaves them, or of the person who adopts them, of the declaration made to the authorities, and of the permission given to, the parents to visit their children, When they have become bigger, they may be adopted by some one having no children, or taken back by the parents themselves, and then, no matter in what religion they have been brought up, they return to the religion of their fathers. The child ought in everything also to be treated well. In exercising this work of charity, it becomes a most worthy work.
We have heard it said that in every country matters are conducted in this respect very nearly as in China, How does it happen that once arrived in our country foreigners no longer follow these customs They take no note of the family to which the child belongs, and they do not give notice to the authorities. "Once the child has entered the house other persons are not allowed to adopt it, nor are the parents permitted to take it back again, nor even visit it, All this nourishes suspicions and excites: the hatred of the people, and by degrees a case like that of Tientsin is arrived at. ° Although we have denied in a report all those rumours of the tearing out of eyes and hearts, the people, however, still preserve doubts on the subject, and even if we succeed in closing their lips we cannot drive away these doubts from their minds, It is this kind of uneasiness which gives rise to terrible events. It would be a good thing to abolish the foreign orphanages, and to transport them to Europe, where they could practise their charity at their ense: it would then belong to the Chinese to come to the aid of these children. Besides, in every province we have numerous orphanages, and yet the foreigners wish to lend us at any price an assistance of which we have not the slightest need. It is certainly with good intentions they thus act; but it is not the less true that their conduct produces suspicion and excites anger. It would be far preferable if each one exercised his charity in his own country, and then no lamentable event could arise.
Article 2. Women ought no longer to enter the churches, nor should Sisters of Charity live in China to teach religion. This measure will only render the Christians more respectable, and will result in silencing evil rumours.
Tu China a good reputation and modesty are most important matters: men and women are not even allowed to shake hands, nor to live together: there ought to be a kind of line of separation which cannot be overstepped.. Aver the Treaty full liberty was given to the Christians, and then men and women went together to church: hence rumours among the public. There are some places even where men and women are together not only at church, but also in the Interior of the house. The public looking. at this in_a light manner harbours susi belong to their n, The foreign mis-cions, and thinks that things contrary to propriety take place. ati ey give an asylum to Slonasies do tot fly wademtand the situ-Article 3. The missionaries residing in Christians who are guilty of crimes and re-China must conform to the laws and cus-, fuse to deliver them up to justice, but they toms of China. They are not permitted to also consent to protect unjustly those who place themselves in a kind of exceptional have only become converts because they independence, to show themselves recal-have committed some crime. In the procitrant to the authority of the Government vinces the missionaries make themselves and of the officials, to attribute to them-the advocates before the local authorities of selves powers which do not belong to them, the Christians who have suits. Witness to injure the reputation of men, to oppress that Christian woman of Szechuen who ex-the people, to asperse the doctrine of Con-acted from her tenants payments of a nafucius, by which they give ground for the ture which were not due to her, and ulti-suspicions, the resentments and the indig-mately committed a murder. A French nation of the masses. The missionaries bishop took upon himself to address a des-must submit themselves, like everybody, patch to the authorities in order to plead for to the authority of the local officials; and this woman and procured her acquittal. This the Christian Chinese must, in every case, deed aroused animosities among the people be treated according to the common law: of Szechuen, which have lasted to this day. with the exception of the expenses of thea-In Kweichow, Christians who go to law trical solemnities and of the worship of style themselves Christians in the " charge local protecting divinities from which they sheet" ('acre d'accusation") with the are dispensed from contributing to, the sole view of gaining their cause. This Christians cannot escape the requisitions is a well-known abuse. It happens also and forced labour, and are constrained to that two families being united by matrimoaccept, like everybody else, the charges nial ties, one is converted to Christianity, imposed by the local ministration. With stronger reason they cannot refuse to pay, then compels the other who is not con verted to break off the alliance. Among in their integrity, the land taxes and the rents, nor can the missionaries advise them people of the same blood one has sem fathers and elder brothers, after having and support them in infringing the common been converted, lay an accusation for non-law. Cases for litigation between Chris! fulfilment of family duties against their ans and non-Christians are under the equi children and younger brothers, for the table jurisdiction of the authorities, and sole reason that these latter had refused to cannot be left to the patronage of the mis-converted. These acts are encouraged sionaries. The Intter cannot keep away by the missionaries. Are not such prac-from the Courts, Christians, prosecutors or tices of a nature to excite to the Inghest defendants, which, in a trial, leads to de-degree the popular indignation lays and prejudices the parties interested.
Article 4. Chinese and foreigners living In the case in which missionaries allow together ought to be governed by the same themselves to be mixed up in affairs be-laws. For example, if aman kills another, yond their province, the local authorities he ought to be punished, if a Chinaman, ought to send their verbal or written com-according to the Chinese law; if he is a munications to the high provincial func-foreigner, according to the law of his coun: tionaries, who will refer them in their turn try. In thus acting, order will reign; it to the Tsung-li Yamen, in order that a de-matters little the manner in which the Chicision may be eventually taken as to the nese or the foreigners treat the case: a repatriation of these same missionaries. In punishment is all that is necessary. But the case where Christians in suits respect-that punishment once inflicted, they must ing matrimonial alliances or property in not come and claim indemnities, and above Jand plume themselves upon their position all they must not seek the soi-distant abettor of -Christians to invoke the intervention of of the crime to exact from him a certain the missionaries, they will be severely pun-sum. Tt belongs to the local authorities to ished by the authorities. adjudicate on the differences which may China honours the religion of Confueiu arise between the Christians and the peo-that of Bondha and of Tao, as well as the doctrine of Lamas, is also professed there. ple. Ie it is a Pagan, who has' committed wrongs against a Christian, he ought to be Therefore it is contrary to usage that the punished more or less severely, according latter, although they may not be Chinese, to the gravity of the fault; similarly, if it should ignore the decisions of the Chinese is a question of a Christian accused by a authorities, by approving or blaming them.
Pagan, the official ought to adjudicate We hear it said that the missionaries in with themest perfect justice, and the great-foreign countries are subject to the legislaest impartiality. tion of the country in which they live, and Ifa Christian conducts himself altogether that they are forbidden tomake themselves contrary to the laws, the local authority independent, to contravene the law, to takes evidence; and if some one accuses usurp authority, to attack the character this Christian, the latter is seized, and people, or to prejudice them, or to arouse judged. But the missionaries must not the suspicion and the resentment of the then come forward to defend him, and to people. Similarly the" missionaries, who exculpate him. If the case arises of a misteach their religion in China, ought to subsionary preventing a Christian giving himmit themselves to the authority of the ma-self up to the commands of the authority, gistrate of this country; nevertheless they the Christian alone ought not to be pus: are vauntingly independent and do not reished, but also the missionary, or at least cognize the authority of the officials. Do he ought to be sent back to his own coun-they not thus place themselves without the try. pale of the law? The Christians in China remain Chinese subjects, and are only the more constrained to remain faithful to their duties. In no case can a difference be established between them and the rest of the nation. The Christians in the towns and in the country ought to live in good har-many with their fellow-countrymen. Yet, in matters affecting the public, when popular subscriptions are opened or forced Jabour required, they put forward their tion as Christians to escape these bur-lens. They themselves create an exception (in their favour). How avoid that the rest of the nation accept this exception (against them)? Yet more, they refuse the taxes and forced labour, they intimidate the of-Hficials, they oppress those who do not Chih a missionary, MI. Mabileaw, was killed In the sixth year of the reign of Tung
in the Szochued" The murderer, named Jan Lao-won, was arrested, and condemned to death. But besides that, M. Mihiéres accused a man who formed part of the class of literates ('' lettres") of having been the instigator of that murder, in order to exact from him an indemnity of 80,000 taels.
The individuals who commit disorders ordi belong to the lowest class he people. When "they are. guilty of some Grime, they are seized and punished; but accusations: ought not to be brought against the Literates (*lettrés"), to exact from them large indemnities. Such conduct excites hatred.
Ta the eight year of the reign of Tung
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.