Copying the West

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · May 14, 1908

THE people of the far East do not require missionaries in order to teach them some of the ways of the Western world. This is emphasized by the present boycott in China against the Japanese, as an expression of public opinion concerning the government's action in paying an indemnity, and making an apology for the seizure of the Japanese steamer “Tatsu-Maru.” One view of the present situation is given in these words:—

Thousands of Chinese signed an agreement not to buy Japanese goods. About a hundred and sixty dealers in Japanese goods in Canton alone voluntarily signed an agreement not to sell such goods, and the merchants in Canton, Hongkong, and elsewhere notified their correspondents not to ship in Japanese bottoms. In Wuchau a Japanese coal ship was unable to unload because the coolies refused to handle her cargo. Even the women have been taking a hand, several meetings have been held by them, with the resultant pledge not to purchase anything Japanese.

Human nature is much the same the world over, and retaliatory measures are as gratifying to the nations who do not know the gospel as to those nations which claim to be Christian; but this method of dealing with an injury either real or supposed, contradicts the teaching of him who said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”