19th May.
WE print this morning a letter from a correspondent. at Ningpo, which is not the only one we have received drawing attention to an T.uperial Decree, mentioned previously in these columns by one of our valued correspondents, which was issued at Peking on the 15th of March last, in which the political status which has been long claimed by Roman Catholic Bishops in the provinces, is officially recognised by the Throne. The issue of this decree is due, according to the Echo de Chine, to the efforts of the intelligent and energetic Minister of France, M. Pichon. Whether, acknowledging as it does the imperim in imperia which the Roman Catholic Church has always endeavoured to set up in China, it is altogether a wise decree, is another question; but as China is now going into the melting-pot to be re-cast, it is, after all, only a temporary arrangement. A full translation of the decree, taken from the authorised French version published in the Echo de Chine of the 10th ultimo, will be found in another column. Of course, underthemost-favoured nation clause, this decree applies equally to Protestant missionaries, and we hear from the interior, that communications have been addressed to Protestant missions acquainting them with their new privileges. It is a very decided advance to see the Throne at Bishops with Vieetoys and Governors, Peking recognising the equality of
Archdeacons with Provincial Treasurers, Judges, and Taotais, and what one correspondent, himself an English missionary, calls "common or garden missionaries" with prefects, subprefects, and district magistrates: and authorising them to negotiate directly with these officials in cases of trouble. It is, our correspondent adds, "a Roman Catholic movement, of which we Protestants are specially (Imperially) permitted to share the profit. On the whole it is a good step fraught with unlimited political and to show the weight it carries we dangers. It will give the Roman Catholic Church greater influence; than the Protestant Churches, for the former_is absolutely unscrupulous where Mother Church is concerned but Mugna est veritas et prevaledit in the long run, and time will show "what is Truth."
China is a land of surprises, and it! is a surprise to find the Empress Dowager and her advisers agreeing to the issue of such a decree as this. The object, no doubt, is to relieve Peking from, and throw on shoulders of the provincial authori the settlement of the missionary disputes and troubles which occupy so much and so constantly the Diplomatic Body and the Tsungli Yamen. How far the provincial authorities will: approve of the decree in practice remains to be seen. They have often chafed in the past at the claims to! official rank and dignity made by the representatives of the Roman catholic Church; it will be interesting to see how they will tolerate being made to recognise these d as confirmed by the Throne. the decree will cause more friction than it will allay, unless it is applied with the greatest suavity and forbearance, seems almost certain.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.