Life — May 29, 1902 — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IP THINGS MAD BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT. The Other Side. PEAKING of mis- sionaries, here's something from The Whim: We are anxious to exclude Anarchists from this country for a variety of reasons. Chiefly, because they do not respect our cus- toms, laws, institutions and religion. Now, will you please tell me whether our missionaries respect the cus- toms, laws, institutions and religions of the countries which they select as the fields of their proselytizing activ- ity? You don't think so? Neither dol. In fact, I know they do not. From the Chinese standpoint then, let us say, our mis- sionaries are as great a nuisance as are Anarchists from our point of view. The Chinese object to missionaries for the very reasons which have caused our objection to Anarchists. For which nobody who is familiar with the recent upheavals in China will blame them. Christian missionaries have been the cause, direct or indi- rect, of all the woes which have lately been suffered by the poor Celestials. ‘The latter have been maltreated, plundered and slaugh- tered in the name of Jesus. They have been despoiled of large areas of their country and have been compelled to pay huge in- dennnities to their persecutors. Look where we will, a sorrowfuller sight than the Chinese nation is nowhere visible, excepting, perhaps, in distant Africa, where a so-called Christian people is working a cruel wrong upon a hand- ful of Christian men and women. I do not wonder that the missionary inspires the Celestials with the same loathing which we feel towards the fire-eating variety of Anarchists. Also, I see no reason why China should not close her doors against acknowledged proselytizers. How gladly China would do this if she could. But she can’t. Unfortunately for herself and fortunately for the missionary, ber hands are tied. The Holy Christian Church and the Mailed Fist still rule the world! Anecdotal. NO& was Louis XVI., howbeit young, devoid of an anecdotal side. “A mob without!” exclaimed the Court Chamberlain, one day. “ Without what?” asked the amiable monarch, “ Sans culottes, sire!"’ faltered the obsequious official, blushing with great violence. TH purpose of the Army bill being avowedly to fit us to wage war more effectively, its recourses are no less than trifling. Of course the creation of a staff will avail nothing sub- stantial, What is demanded is legislation looking to the modifica- tion of certain of our ideals, originally inculcated, it is said, by one Jesus of Nazareth, a personage of historical importance, but unfortunately unstrenuous and un-Ameri- can. Our proneness to falter when it comes to killing and burning and making howling wildernesses is what unfits us for war, rather than oar lack of a general staff. comicbooks.com