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among the American Indians. The London Times advises us to go in the spirit of patience, not to be in a hurry for results, not to attempt an elaborate government in all parts of the islands at once, but to hold the strategic centers. No wonder that the Filipinos have deep-rooted prejudices against all government when their only experience is that of dealing with "apathetic Spanish officials," "haughty and arrogant Spanish soldiers," "intolerant and greedy priests." The Filipinos in Manila already see the mistake which they have made in firing upon the American flag. They were misled by their advisers, who said that the American government intended to make them slaves. This ill advice finds its echo on our own shores. The President's special commission has offered home rule to the Philippines. If the rebel leaders had been imprisoned and a few distinguished lips in America had been sealed in silence we would not have the sad deluge of blood in these days.

The opportunity and responsibility of American Protestantism is to insist that we go in the spirit of unselfishness, not as Pizarro went to Peru, or as Cortez went to Mexico in search of gold, but as St. Paul went to the Gentiles, in search of souls. If we go in the Pauline spirit we shall be crowned with Pauline success. "To attempt to govern Cuba, Porto Rico, or the Philippines for our own betterment, to utilize them for our own trade, to exploit them for our own advantage, to restrict their traffic, determine their revenue, or regulate their navigation laws, not by considering what will enhance their wealth and conduce to their civilization, but by considering what will make them profitable to us, would be to repeat the crime of Spain after three centuries of misrule had proved it to be a blunder." "If there shall be any robbing of the Philippines in the future by any government representative, every preacher and Christian worker should protest loudly in the name of righteousness." The Philippines must not be looked upon as a plantation which America may work for all it is worth. If we go in a Christlike spirit the people will soon take knowledge of us and learn to love the truly Christian as thoroughly as they have learned to hate and despise those who have robbed them. With patience, wisdom, firmness, and justice as factors in the governmental policy of the Philippines, together with

good men to represent our civilization in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the archipelago, success may be anticipated. American Protestantism should see to it that such men as General Wood and Colonel Roosevelt should represent our nation in the islands. We need men who will take hold without greed, without cowardice, but with hopeful courage, to solve the problem of the East; men who will say with Roosevelt, "If any of those islands is not fit for self-government then we must govern it until it is fit." No human being can foretell just how much governing we will have to do. Even an Americanborn citizen is not allowed to share in governing until he is twenty-one years of age. One thing is certain. It would be international immorality to tear down one government without building up another in its place. To say that we are not able to do this is to play the baby act in a national comedy, and make ourselves the laughingstock of the world, and we ought to apologize to the human race for raising such a dust to no purpose.

The fact to be urged upon the attention of American Protestantism is that Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines present a field white unto the harvest for direct evangelism. The missionary secretaries of the Methodist Episcopal Church have reminded us that now is the time in this transitional period to give the million inhabitants of Porto Rico our Protestant Christianity. There is no longer an established State Church. The priests and monks do not receive their "sweldo," or wages from the government. It is well said that our own Church cannot do otherwise than go at once to Porto Rico with the Gospel, and thus do its part to give that people the best and highest ideals of Christian citizenship. The General Missionary Committee at its last session made a contingent appropriation of $5,000 to Porto Rico, and since then our Missionary Board has sent out an appeal for $20,000, in special contributions for opening work and providing accommodations at Ponce and San Juan. Should there not be a spontaneous outpouring of consecrated funds for the special purpose of doing God's work in America's latest great field of opportunity? Some of our wealthy citizens, especially in New York City, risked their lives in a war for humanity. Will

not the men of wealth invest their dollars in reaping the golden fruitage of victory? There is no more serious sin in the decalogue of transgression than the sin against oppor tunity. The rich young man turned away in sorrow from Christ because he had much possession. What shall be said of a rich and powerful nation-rich in history, rich in literature, rich in arts and science, rich in the heritage of evangelical religion-if it shall turn its back upon this great open door? We cannot expect the blessing of God upon ourselves unless we are willing to do his will in saving others. The Spanish Roman Catholic Church has been in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines for hundreds of years. Nevertheless, or consequently, illiteracy and barbarism prevail. Roman Catholics themselves acknowledge the fact. Their friendly criticism is more convincing than the opinion of enemies. Rev. Father Sherman has called the island of Porto Rico a Catholic country without religion. Mr. Foreman, a devout Catholic, has borne testimony against the integrity and character of the money-grabbing priests and friars whom he accuses of flagrantly announcing raffles from their pulpits. With few exceptions the friars are ignorant, brutish, and licentious.

The most serious problem in the future of the Philippines is to correct the abuses which natives and Spanish alike have had to suffer at the hands of those who represented the Church. It may be said in general that American Protestantism at work in these fields would goad Roman Catholicism to a higher standard. Let American Protestantism establish schools in the islands, and then Roman Catholic schools will spring up everywhere. Are we ready, are we equal to the responsibility, not only to preach the Gospel, but to live the Gospel in the islands of the sea? The great obstacle to the progress of missions in the Orient, and the nut which the wily heathen will most frequently ask the Christian preacher to crack, is the discrepancy which he discovers between the ideals of Christian teaching and the reality of Christian living. Heathen visitors to the World's Fair said, "Americans teach so and so in their published books, but they live thus and so." The time has come for us to take Christian civilization seriously. Better be hermits than missionaries who are false to 39-FIFTH SERIES, VOL. XV.

the truth of God.

But we are not to be hermits. We have
We stand in the eyes of the world,

come out of ourselves. and

By all ye will or whisper,

By all ye leave or do

The silent, sullen peoples

Shall weigh your God and you.

The supreme opportunity is upon us. We can do for the moral and spiritual health of Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines what General Wood has done for the physical sanitation of Santiago, changing it from a yellow fever pesthole into a healthful and habitable city.

"America is the evangelist of the world." England is said to have lost her manufacturing supremacy, probably never again to regain it. It has gone over to America, which, as Mr. Gladstone said, has passed the older nations "at a canter." We have more miles of railroad than all Europe, and almost double the European mileage of telegraph system. Josiah Strong says, "Such a country, with its resources fully developed, such a race, thrice fitted to prepare the way for the full coming of the kingdom, must, under God, control the world's future." Mrs. Jane Robinson has reminded us that politically the influence of the United States is constantly enlarging. It is but a little over a century since our wise fathers framed our Constitution, and yet Bancroft, the great historian, told us in one of his latest studies that there is not a written constitution in Europe that has not been framed since ours, and, to a greater or less extent, modeled upon it. To us have these countries looked for the form of government that is consistent with the largest possible civil liberty. Are not we the "heirs of all the ages in the foremost files of time?" Yes, if we are true to our heaven-appointed mission, and if in the fear of God, we enter the open door of our splendid opportunity. How shall it all be accomplished? The way to expel the darkness is to turn on the light. "The entrance of thy word giveth light."

John, P. Brushingham

ART. X.-KRISHNA AND CHRIST.

For the student of religions there can be no more interesting and important question than this: Is there any historical connection between the story of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu, the second person of the Hindu triad, and the life and teachings of Christ? And do the similarities found in their lives and teachings show that anything has been borrowed by one from the other?

That there are many striking and remarkable similarities and apparent agreements has been frequently pointed out by numerous oriental scholars. And these similarities undoubtedly have been found both in their lives and teachings. Among such resemblances noticeable in their lives are the following: The similarity in the sound of the names Krishna and Christ, the flight into Egypt from the wrath of Herod, and the flight to Gokhula from the wrath of Kansa; the massacre of the innocents by both Herod and Kansa; the miraculously born forerunners, John and Balarama; the songs of the angelic hosts and the worship of both Christ and Krishna by the shepherds; the prominence given to the childhood of both Christ and Krishna in St. Matthew's gospel and in the Vishnu Purána; the kinship of Christ and Krishna with kings; the assumption of divinity and the exhibition of miraculous powers by both Christ and Krishna. Weber, Lorinser, Wilson, Muir, Sir William Jones, and many others,* have pointed out at great length many such striking similarities in the respective sacred narratives.

Corresponding likenesses may be found among the doctrines and teachings of the two cults. Only to name a few of these, there may be noted the primary idea underlying both religions as that of a beneficent deity becoming incarnate in order to save the world (Prithwí, xóoμos) from oppression and to restore the practice of true religion; the personal assumption of divinity and of equality with the Supreme; the requirement of personal devotion and attachment on the part of the disciple; the emphasis placed upon the doctrine of devotion and faith

*For a summary vide Maurice, History of Hindústán, 11, 222, 223

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