THE CHINESE QUESTION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Would not outbursts like that of last summer be best prevented in the future by conditions of peace which both humiliated the Chinese Government and tended to disillusion the Chinese masses respecting the character and aims of the missionaries and the results of the fighting during the last few months ? These objects might perhaps be achieved to some extent were the Powers to adopt the measures which the Chinese themselves have used with so much success, and to insist that edicts be issued and placarded throughout the country, setting forth the terms of peace, repudiating the charges made against missionaries and Christians, and insti- tuting penalties against those who circulate them. To see that such measures were fully carried out would be impos- sible ; something, however, might be achieved, especially in those districts which have taken a prominent part in the rising, and where there are Europeans and Christians to be protected. Some thirty years ago the anti-foreign feeling quieted down considerably in consequence of an edict which the Chinese Government was compelled by some of the Powers to issue, declaring Christianity to be a moral religion.—I am,
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