Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-26

Millions Banded together for Pur-
poses OF Murder or Politics.
No. A.. r,ndon fnedar

M1IlIOnO banoC0 VO8StnGE YOE k~uEo
poses of Murder or Politics.
From the London teader
Events have recently been happening In
China Of which much would have been
heard in this coantrysbu for the concentra-
ton Of the national mind upon the war in
South Africa. There. is another big insur-
rection on foot. and a cable message told US
a day or two ago thaeit is assuming alarm
ing proportions. The secret societies, as
usual. are behind the movement, and this
time 1t is the boxers who have been most
active. They came into collision with the
imperial troops at Yen-chiu and gave a
good account of themselves. The action Is
said to have been indecisive-which prob
ably means that the Imperial troops were
defeated. Prior to this they had been MAX
ing themselves terror throughout the
province of Chill. and, to say nothing of
murderous outrages on lot Of native Chris
tians. had assassinated an English mission
airy named Brooks.
The boxers" known also as the big
Sword Society form only one of many in
situations with which the Chinese empire is
honeycombed. They are all actuated by
the motives underlying their motto of
China for the Chinese The boxers made
a great parade of their loyalty to the
throne, and pretended that 1t was only the
Fan Kwei-the foreign devils-whom they
wished to drive out. But the empress dow
ager knows better. and when she found that
the governor of Shantung (where they first
broke out was encouraging them that mas
terful woman promptly superseded him.
Last years experience with the Black
Flags" was doubtless not forgotten. This
society is made up principally of the pirates
and other wilder spirits who infest the coast
from Annoy down to Hainan. They are the
men who organized the three great rebel
lions which broke out simultaneously at
Macao, Annoy and Shanghai. just before the
Tapping affair. and they. aided by the "Ko-
Loo INF ND no f1 nn stnicr Of fhn lilo
ious imposter who called himself the "heav-
emily king were mainly responsible for
that outbreak. They have fomented trouble
on several occasions since then, and they
are by long way the most inveterate enc
mics whom the reigning Manchu family has
to fear. The Black Flags, it may be
marked. are the hardest. as well the
bravest. of all the people who make up the
nation.
Another great Chinese society-more i'm
portant from its widespread distribution
than the Black Flags. and actuated by the
same motives that known as the Koloa
Hui. The authorities made an attempt last
year to squelch this organization. but. of
course. they did not succeed. though they
contrived to capture one of the leaders,
whom they executed with much circum-
stance of brutality. The membership roll
runs well into the millions and it has its
secret meetings in every city of China. Its
members must commit murder at the COM
mand of the order. They are Initiated by
the drinking of hot wine mixed with the
smoking blood of a cock, killed at the time.
The society counts among it's members
large number of army officials and the
great viceroy of Marking, who died not
long ago for time an active member.
The recent troubles in the Shantung prov
ince were backed up by the Koloa Hui.
The oldest society in China is the Triad
Society. known also the Sam Hop Hui
1t has its lodges. and there are flags BAN
ners and umbrellas connected with it. 1t
holds regular meetings. and it forces influ-
enttai individuals to Join its organization If
they are not amenable to persuasion. 1t has
the power of life and death over its men,
bers. who have their own signs and pass
words. You can TELL, it is said. whether
man belongs to the order by the way he
the Tartars," and one branch of the society
dates back to 1864 A. D.. or twenty years
after the conquest They have been work
ing to overthrow the government ever since,
and one day they may succeed