The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-20

SECRET SOCIETY IN CHINA - NAks
ING FnOGDLE ron DHNAsHY.


49, HE revolution now raxing IN
the districts Of Waitcnou and
TSiutchou. OF the Chinese
Ill province Of ChwanxkunGs -
IL the result Of n movemene
which has been growing for
a long time and which. as - almess
Invariably the case IN CHINA. was
started BY secret societies It's MAJ
object Is nothing less than the over
throw of the Manchu dynasty, which -
hated By the natives OF southern Snano
with particular Intensity. the history
of tnis movement dates far oach-to the
DAYS Of the occupation OF Tonktn by the
French in lS-S The leaders OF tina
movement were at that time. and sunea-
auently during the war with Japan
much IN evidence. particularly 80 after
the cession OF Formosa 10 Japan
II is well established fact that the
Chinese government employed secrcs
society known as the BLACK Flags.
against the French. as well as against
the Japanese. This society waged war
against the French for years with tho
connivance of the Chinese governmenes
and IL is the cause why Japan has never
yet come into actual possession OF For-
mosa In both cases the Black Fiago
were Joined by numerous Chinese adj
venturers who had no connection with
the secret organisation. but simply flock
ed to II with view to spotls.
The Black Flaxs have membership OF
pure Chinese extraction only and do not
admit Tarsars or even Manchu half~
breeds. They are locked on by the peo-
pie "a a kind OF league of patriots. or
ganized to protect the Independence Of
the people against the mandarins In the
first place. and ultimately against the
Manchu government In Peking.
The existence and influence OF theoo
revolutionary secret societies can be UNI
derstood only IL the organisation Of the
Chinese empire and the manner Of its
government are borne In mind There II.
| perhaps. no people on earth less governed
| and none enjoys a more absolute degree
| Of home rule In Internal Affairs than the
Chinese. The viceroys and mandarin0
are TO the people little more than the
delegates Of the emperor. In fact. they
occupy almost exactly tho same post
| lions a. during the middle ages did the
imperial commissaries In the otherwise
| independent states forming the German
| empire. The mandarin OF q Chinese dis
| tricf or province avoids. an q rule. TO TN
| terfere with the internal affairs and tho
| life OF the people. He looks upon the
latter almost as an independent ana
| foreign factor with whom he has 10
| reckon. and he Is content 30 long Al
| there Is no omen revolt against the Inn
pertal authority, and 30 long a. the con-
tributors TO the imperial government In
the shape OF certain revenues ara being
| paid.
Makes . Virtue 81 Neeesaity.
To fortify his position the mandarin In
variably plays a double game. He hates
| the secret societies and fears them know
| ing their anti-dynastic tendencies full
] well, But inasmuch as he s unable 10 do
away with these organizations. he seeks
TO use them In his own interest. and to
| weaken them in consequence Of this use.
| When the Sunon difference with England
arose recently. the viceroy fell back upon
the Black Flags, but at the same time he
| denounced them 10 tho English 40 tho
| originators OF the trouble. hoping by this
means he would be able TO destroy the
society itself. His hopes did not material-
lie. and when the opposition TO the
British occupation OF the territory tribu.
tary To Hongkong was broken. the Chi
/ nese revolutionists. who had been well
armed and equipped by the secret society.
withdrew into the Interior. and there they
raised the black nag OF rebellion against
| the viceroy.
/ Waitchou Is on the northeastern boun.
Diary OF the Sunon district. and Tsintchou
| is north of II, with the harbor Of Swatow
treaty port. The latest reports are 70
the effect that the rebels are marching
| northward to Join the rebels OF Kiangsi.
l ~.
not probable that the capital will b
| reached hy the rebels. because the viceroy
| OF KonRtong has taken the most effective
measures TO cut OF the Sunon rebels ana
prevent their union with the Kiangsl
| rebels.
situation II Serious.
That the situation Ia Shantung. the ter
| rftory tributary 10 the German port Of
Kisochou. is also serious ono 10 proved
by the letter Of a missionary. IN which =
/ copy of a pIacard distributed everywhere
| on tho coast II inclosed. This placard
| reads In translation:
Foreigners have come 10 Tsintchou to
| 'njure the people. The situation grows
| worse every day. The people are 10 b.
| forced to pay taxes. and the Germans are
| sent 10 extend their boundaries. What
| can be done against this evil, The whole
people are determined TO oppose foreign
| force. All those who live within the Ger
| man territory or beyond II are hereby eau.
toned not TO work for the foreigners nor
| 10 cell them grain or coal Whoever acts
against this warning win suffer DEATH
In this province the sect Of the Biz
knife has been organized and numbers
thousands Of members Agitation II ca1p
ried on openly. At the head Of this sOc1Dv
are twelve leaders and for each municipal
ity there Ia separate leader. around
whom tho rapidly growing numbers %
against all foreigners In general and the
Christian religion and Its missionaries =
the programme OF this sect. The homes
of the leaders marked with big red
flags bearing the insignia Of the 6unyu -
vigilance committee.
Early in April began the persecution ~
the Christians. and within q few weeks
fourteen villages had BEEN attacked BY
the Big Knife society and sixty chrisfiaU
families had been driven from their homes.
The Chinese authorities do nothing %
suppress the society beyond sending an In
yestieatfnz committee. whieN In received
and fefej by the leaders Of the secret So
ciety. As result the complaints Of the
missionaries arc declared to be unfoundeA.
The authorities. moreover. seem 10 Be uns
able 10 give the chrisfianlxed natives any
eYectiys protection, for the only military
is q SORT OF militia consisting Of native
farmers. many OF whom are members g
the Big Knife socsety.--Chicago Tribune.