Europe and elsewhere, by Mark Twain [pseud.] [with an appreciation by Brander Matthews and an introduction by Albert Bigelow Paine]

TO MY MISSIONARY CRITICS
Is there no way, then, to justify these thefts and
extortions and make them clean and fair and honorable? Yes, there is. It can be done; it has been
done; it continues to be done-by revising the Ten
Commandments and bringing them down to date:
for use in pagan lands. For example:
Thou shalt not steal-except when it is the-custom of the country.
This way out is recognized and approved by all
the best authorities, including the Board. I will cite
witnesses.
The newspaper cutting, above: "Dr. Ament declares
that all the collections which he made were approved
by the Chinese officials." The editor is satisfied.
Dr. Ament's cable to Dr. Smith: "All collections
received approval Chinese officials." Dr. Ament is
satisfied.
Letters from eight clergymen-all to the same effect:
Dr. Ament merely did as the Chinese do. So they
are satisfied.
Mr. Ward, of the "Independent."
The Rev. Dr. Washington Gladden.
I have mislaid the letters of these gentlemen and cannot quote their words, but they are of the satisfied.
The Rev. Dr. Smith, in his Open Letter, published
in the Tribune: "The whole procedure [Dr. Ament's]
is in accordance with a custom among the Chinese,
of holding a village responsible for wrongs suffered
in that village, and especially making the head man
of the village accountable for wrongs committed
there." Dr. Smith is satisfied. Which means that
the Board is satisfied.
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