The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-08-14

Below will be found an account of
the recent disturbances in China and
their causes as set forth by Miss Rose
Sickler, formerly OF this county, who
is now doing missionary work at Nan
kin, China. The letter was written to
the Wyoming Democrat, Tunkhan-
mock.
Shanghai, China, May 81. 1891.
MEssRs EDITORS = You have doubt
less already received detailed reports
of the riots along the Yangtse river,
still few words from a Wyoming
county girl who "has been there and
knows all about it" may be of interest.
Anti-foreign riots in China are so
common as to lose much of there in
terest to the reading public. The great
majority of these however, are local
| affairs, excited by the natural antipathy
of the Chinaman to the foreigner, and
terminating in the destruction of lit
tie foreign property Ito be paid for by
the Chinese government and the loss
OF a few heads by the rioters.
Nankin, as the seat Of government
for three Provinces, has always been
singularly free from these outbreaks.
The fact that a disturbance has at
last broken out in Nankin, as well as
all the other river ports, is an index to
the distinctive character of the upris-
ing.
There exists. all over China. 4 very
powerful secret organization known as
the 60 Lace Huee.' This, as its
name indicates, was originally formed
as a society for the relief of the aged.
1t has, however. developed or degen-
Grated, as the case may be, into an as
sociation for tn: overthrow of the
Manchu dynasty and the existing form
of government. The members of this
society hope, by melting the people to
antl.foreign riots, to imbroil the Chi
nese government in difficulty with for
eign nations. They wisely calculate
that external troubles will facilitate
internal rebellion This seems to be
the most rational theory yet advanced
to account for the popular uprising all
over China 1t is the opinion held BY
Chinese scholars with whom have
conversed.
The plan is to infame the minds OF
the illiterate with stories of unheard of
crime which they say are perpetrated
by the foreigners. Their stock story
is that the foreigners entice little chill
dren to their premises. kill them and
take out their eyes to be used in max
ing medicines. As nine-tenths of the
Chinese are illiterate and ignorant.
and the entire population credulous
anu superstitious, this story gains al
most universal credence. ..
The motive of Christians in found
ing free schools and orphanages is
quite incomprehensible to the unre-
generate mind Of the heather Chnee,
and he confidently believes that Some
sinister design is at the bottom Of it.
This is the explanation. The children
are to be killed and their eyes used as
medicine.
Up to date disturbances have taken
place in Nyankin, Wohu, Nankin, and
Chinkiang. There are mutterings all
over the empire. AS resident of
Nankin, and one of the party Of refu-
gees, l feel particularly interested in
what took place in that city. s..4
We regret the temporary suspension
of our mission work, but believe that
God will overrule all for good. The
noble conduct of our native Christians
dnring these trying times is, in itself,
sufficient justification Of the canse of
missions.
We are still in Shanghai but hope
to return soon to our field of labor.
| lt.. Resp, ROSE SICKLER,