The Value of Missionaries.
As a rule the world does not set a very high value on missionaries while they are alive; but some of the “Christian nations” are beginning to regard dead missionaries as a good article in which to speculate. A little while ago a couple of German missionaries were killed in China. The Chinese Government expressed regret for the act of some of its misguided subjects, and offered to make reparation as far as possible. But the German Government made the incident a pretext for extraordinary demands. A cable despatch to the Chinese legation at Washington says that the matter has been adjusted. Kiao Chau Bay has been “leased” to Germany, together with thirty miles wide of territory around the bay. Two of the murderers are to be punished with death, and the others by imprisonment. Permission will be granted for the building of churches in the cities of Tsi Nung, Tsao Chow-Fu and Chu-Yeh, and dwelling-houses for the missionaries in the seven places in the districts of Tsao-Hien and Shan Hien will be erected, for which purpose a sum of 275,000 taels will be allowed. This amount is also to be taken as a compensation for the killing of the missionaries. The sanction of the throne to the above has been granted. This settlement of the difficulty may produce an awe of the power and vengeance of a “Christian nation,” but it will not be likely to inspire a very high regard for the Christian religion.