The following letter has been sent us for publication by the Secretary of the Canton Missionary Conferene: To tHe Cantos Msstosary ConrereNce, Brethren:—Your committee, appointed to prepare a paper setting forth the views of the Conference on the subjects "f ' Indemnities," ' Missionary Interference," ete., with reference also to certain statements contained in despatches from Acting Viceroy Tak to Consul McWade, has carefully considered the subjects referred to and now reports as follows 1.—We accept fully the statement of acting Viceroy Tak in his dispatch that "the native Christians are Chinese subjects." The missionary constantly impresses upon the converts that uniting with a Church does not make them avy the less amenable to the laws of China. What we insist upon is that converts shall be treated as Chinese subjects. The Acting Viceroy may not be aware of the fact that converts are not so treated by the local magistrates. They are frequently referred fo in open court as aliens and as those who have forfeited all right to justice before the laws. In several in-Stances local magistrates have requested converts to take their cases to the Consuls as the proper persons to whom their cases Id be presented. Again, it not infrequently happens that Christians are compelled to pay exorbitant sums of money inefore they can get their cues before the strafes; and after the case is admitted anieudl and unnecessary delay occurs in the settlement of cases in which Christians are concern d.
So long as the Christians are not treated other Chinese subjects but are sui jected to disabilities and are refused the same protection of luw which is given other Cuinese subjects, the officials cannot complain of missionary inte: ference. In most ins time-s it is only through the missionary that the converts can secure the rights which the tr-aties grant them, Thereiore we do claim that:
2.—In accordance with the 2. treaties nfule by the Chinese government with other vations, those who quietly profess and teach this doctrine (Christian doctrine) shall not be harassed or per-secured on account of their faith." And that "any person whether citizen of the United States or other country, oF Chinese convert, who according to these tenets peaceably teaches and practises the principles "f Christianity, shall in no case We would point out that if it was proper for foreign governments to mal the above a part of their treaty with Chins, it is right and a matter of simple justice to the Chinese, who accepted Christianity while this treaty was in force, to claim that its provisions shall be carried out.
4, Failure to insist upon the observance of this part of the treaty is an encouragement to the Chinese government to disregard every other obligation of the treaties they have made with foreign governments.
The Viceroy's dispatches plainly imply that the recent troubles were caused. solely by "children and ruffians," that "lawless people circulating groundless rumours made trouble in all districts. by plundering or looting." This is. plainly attempt to shift the responsibility for the trouble from those who were guilty and place it upon irresponsible parties. It is well known that in almost every inatanco where trouble occurred, one or more wea thy snd influential person was the instigator of the trouble and that children and ruffians" were but acting under the directions of others.
6. The Viceroy's dispatch also states that; "Hereafter missionary casco will not be arranged according to the mode of the arrangement made in the present year." We wish the Viceroy to understand that we do not seek to establish precedents in tlement of cases. The treaty atill The observance of its proviso maintain thet the indemnities paid during the past months were not excessive, but clearly within the provisions of the treaty and the laws of China.
7.—In conclusion we wish to state that what the missioudty wants is order and not indemnities. The surest way to order is to accord to converts the justice that is accorded to other Chinese Subjects. If local magistrates (and gentry) continue to treat Christians with contempt, allow their underlings to oppress them, and cause unnecessary delay in the aettlement of disputes, it is hardly possible that "'missionary interference" will speedily cease, Therefore we desire to point out to the Viceroy that the radical cure for all trouble between Christians and non-Christians is a change of attitude on the part of local officials (and gentry) towards the Christians, Let the local magistrates treat. the Christians fairly and justly and much of the trouble of the past will not be repeated.
(Signed) Axprew Brarmiz, Secretary of Committee, Canton, 27th March, 1901,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.