The age-herald., 1900-07-09
At That Time Boxers Were Mur-
 dering Christians.
MISSIONARIES ASKED FOR HELP
and Grave Fears Were Entertain ed by the Oficiais-Details
 of the Uprising GiveL

Washington, July S.-The last China mail to reach the state department brought the report of Minister Conger. perhaps the last that ever will come to hand. This bears date of Pekin, May H It is of the utmost importance, disclosing as it does full comprehension on the part of the foreign ministers in Pekin of the character and extent of the Boxer uprising. even though MT. Conger himself. by disposition optimis- - tic, found some reason to hope that the worst was over at that date.
 What MT. Conger has to say as to the attitude of the Chinese government toward the Boxer movement, as revealed in the formal interchange that took place be- tween himself and the Tsung-n- Yamen, is not only of peculiar interest now, but probably will have a significant bearing on the final reckoning that must be had be- tween the civilized nations and the Chi nese. MT. Conger makes 1t very clear through the publication of the French priests letter that at least one, and prob ably all of the European nations, having interest in Northern China, were acquaint- ed with the dangers of the situation at least two or three weeks before the actual outbreak in Pekin. The correspondence Is as follows:
 "Legation of the United States of America,
 "Pekin, China, May 21, 190O s'The Hon. John Hay, Secretary of State,
 Washington D. c.
 sir: I have the honor to confirm on the overleaf my cipher telegram of today.
 "In response to the request of the French minister, the dean called meeting of the diplomatic corps yesterday, and upon infor- nation furnished in letter from the Cath ollie bishop of Pekin and verbal reports by the other ministers, the situation was con- sidered so grave that the corps unanimous ly instructed the dean to present it to the Tsung-li-Yamen and demand immediate and effective measures, which he did today by the note copy of which Is enclosed:
 Letters Enclosed
 ''I also enclose copies of the bishops let ter, and one from Rev. MT. Killie, an Amer ican missionary, who lives in Pekin, but travels a circuit to the north and east.
 "On the 18th instant, during an extended personal interview with the Tsung-h-Ya- men, l called attention to the fact that notwithstanding constant warnings from this and other legations. the Boxers had continually increased and spread, until now they are boldly organizing inside the wall of Pekin, the existence of thousands being known in the villages around Pekin- Chris tian converts are being persecuted and threatened everywhere. many forced to re- cant their religious professions, and some have been compelled to abandon their chapels and come to Pekin for safety.
 ''I said: At a London mission near Chou Chow forty miles west of Pekin, two na- tive Christians have been killed. and their chapel destroyed. Near Pao Ting Flu, a Catholic village has been destroyed. and sixty-one Christians murdered, some of them being burned alive. The foreign gov ernments cannot longer sit idly and witness this persecution and murder. can only speak for my own government but 1t Is becoming very impatient over China's con- and still is the good friend of China. and only wishes it prosperity. but is now more than ever determined to sustain the treaty rights of all American citizens. and of the Christian converts and it will hold the Chinese government to the strictest respon- sibility for every treaty infraction fin this regard. It will do this. not only for the ben eft of its own citizens, but fin the interest Ol Oulnd nefScIs HnoSt BOFtTniuent IS now sadly threatened by these lawless organiza- tons At present fl is true they seem to have no capable leader. but should one arise and the populace become really in- famed. the overthrow of the present dy- nasty is most likely to follow. and possibly the destruction of the empire. etc, etc
 The Chinese Reply
 They replied that did not understand the many difficulties under which they la- bored. but they had succeeded in suppress ing the Boxers in the province of Shan Tung- and would do SO here.
 ''I told them saw no effective measures ,, whatever being put forth They replied that the movement had not half been look ed upon as serious. but that the throne was fully aware of the gravity of the situation. and that a recent confidential decree had been sent to the viceroy. the Pekin and neighboring officials. which would surely prove effective. suppress the Boxers and restore order. I told them that the most | alarming telesrams were being sent to the | newspapers Of Europe and America of the | existing state Of anarchy here. and that | the people of the world would be forced to believe that the government of China was | either abettins these murderous brigands, I ar that ft was too weak to suppress or