402 CHINESE LITERATURE
that all Western foreigners might be sent to Macao, to wait until an opportunity should present itself of send- ing them back to their own countries. However, the Viceroy of Kuangtung, out of mistaken kindness, memo- rialised the Throne that such of the barbarians as were old or sick and unwilling to go away might be per- mitted to remain in the Roman Catholic establishment at Canton, on the condition that if they proselytised, spread their creed, or chaunted their sacred books, they were at once to be punished and sent away. The scheme was an excellent one, but what were the results of it ? At present more than 10,000 men have joined the Catholic chapel at Canton, and there is also a department for women, where they have similarly got together about 2000. This is a great insult to China, and seriously injures our national traditions, enough to make every man of feeling grind his teeth with rage. The case by no means admits of ' teaching before punishing.'
" Now these traders come this immense distance with the object of making money. What then is their idea in paying away vast sums in order to attract people to their faith ? Thousands upon thousands they get to join them, not being satisfied until they have bought up the whole province. Is it possible to shut one's eyes and stop one's ears, pretending to know nothing about it and making no inquiries whatever ? There is an . old saying among the people ' Take things in time. A little stream, if not stopped, may become a great river.' How much more precaution is needed, then, when there is a general inundation and men's hearts are restless and disturbed ? In Canton the converts to Catholicism are very numerous ; those in Macao are in an inexpugnable
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