Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-29
Conditions in China Described by One
Familiar With Them.
BREADTH OF THE BOXER MOVEMENT
DupIicity Practiced by the Rulers
of the People.
NEW FACTS ECITED

DIR. c. F. Johnson, who has been In
: charge of the medical work under the aus
pices of the Presbyterian board of foreign
missions at Schowfu, China, for the past
ten years, has recently written an interest
/. ing letter to his brother Mr. H. NJ John
son of this city During the recent trou-
bles DIR. Johnson's life was several times
in jeopardy and he had narrow escapes.
In the course of his epistle DIR. Johnson.
among other things wrote as follows:
'Out of all this conflict and chaos a few
points prominent. There is no doubt
that this is the strongest anti-foreign
movement that has arisen in the east since
the great Sepoy rebellion in India Even in
those provinces that have been held in
check by the viceroys who have not taken
an active part in the movement there is
strong anti-foreign feeling among the peo-
pie. The moyement has spread like a fire
| over all north China, especially in Man
churia and the provinces of Chilli, Shansi,
Shensi, Honan and Shantung. In these
provinces, speaking now only of the Prot
estant missionary work, there were living
! at the time of this outbreak between 800
and 600 foreigners-men, women and chill
dren. large majority Of these lived in
the interior, some of them far five or
six weeks travel from the coast. OF this
number not one is now living in the in
terror. All who are alive are scattered
along the coast in the port cities or over in
Japan.
ut is too early yet to estimate the num-
Der who have lost their lives but it seems
to be certain that the number will far ex-
coed 100. Some may still be in hiding in
the far interior places, but L am not sure
that death would not be preferable to many
months of such d life. These people have
lived in these various interior places for
years, many of them ten fifteen and TWEEN
ty years. i'm comparative peace. Local riots
and disturbances there have been, to be
sure, some of them serious enough to
cause those who lived in the places to tenn
porarily go for protection to the 'yamen
There is no exact translation for yamen 1t
combines the court house, Jail and residence
of the official and his clerks all in one 1t
is also loafing place for scores of toughs,
who always ready for mischief
Nothing, however has occurred serious
enough to drive them from their field until
this Boxer uprising began last spring.
Three months-June, July and August-were
enough to- drive all those living to the coast
This shows how Widespread the movement
is and how large a!proportion of the peo-
pie it dominates, for although the foreign
ers had many friends among the people
yet they were too few to carry any inf1u-
ence. 49,
Had Government Support.
Another well-estabIfshed fact is that the
Boxers have had the support and Coop
keration of the government from the very
first While similar societies have existed
here for many years, the Great Sword So
few years ago and for the purpose of mu-
tual protection against robbers and out
p laws. 1t Increased Very rapidly in num-
bers and began, to take active steps against
Roman Catholic Christians, whom it ac-
cused of using The power of the foreign
priest to Cypress people by carrying unjust
law suits through the coiIrts.s - - -L.I
III "A few conspicuous acts of violence
drought about an inEestga ii en,ii which re-
g suited in the, partial suppression of this
society, but also of the organization of an
H. r. i,
eous Harmony Fists cBoxers). This society
Is not only anti Roman Catholic. but is
anti everything foreign. For about two
years the society, sometimes called Great
Swords, sometimes Boxers has been stead
lily growing. adding to itself numbers and
influence, and all the time with the full
knowledge and consent of the government
as represented by the empress dowager and
her advisers There was also d liberal or
reform party at court, which was honest
in its efforts to bring about certain re-
forms. keep faith with the foreign powers
and protect foreigners in China. At times
the influence of these men would be strong
enough to have more less stringent
edicts issued against the Boxers. TheSe,
however. would be followed by Others pub
lie. or, more usually, secret completely an
nuling any effect which they might have
had. .H--
IL The old empire SIS finally determined on
| causing the Emperor Kwang Hsu to abdi-
cate in favor of youth, Pu Chin, son OF
Prince TWAIN who had been placed at the
y
early in the history, before the Boxer
movement was far advanced. This brought
in such strong protests from various off,
Gals in the south that she gave it up, al
) though very unwiIlingly and contented her
self with appointing this boy as the sue
cesSor of Kwang Hsu. Prince TWAIN, his
father. was at that time the secret chief
. of the Boxers and the head Of the tsung
Ii yamen, which conducts all the foreign at
, fairs of the government. He and Jung Lu
, We're also the most confidential advisers or
tp.a n In Glifn n
, the ministers chung to the delusion that the
government was trying to suppress the
; Boxers. The one grand mistake would
seem to have been that of treating with
, China as with a civilized nation. and the
government one that could be dealt
: with as the governments of civilized ma
. | lions be dealt with.
; China's Diplomatic Duplicity.
; I'm the great game of diplomacy China
. has duped and overreached every nation
; except Russia That government has won
; out because she played the same game
. as her opponent Ii Hung Chang de-
ceived all the other powers, but he sold out
. to Russia. r. Russia has slowly. quietly, but
, surely, extended her influence through
; Manchuria and Chilli until now she is
ready to take advantage of this upheaval.
and 1t seems almost certain that all OF
North China will pass under Russian con-
troll. That this Is what she means by her
withdrawal policy there can be but little
, doubt. Let lis hope that Great Britain is free
enough from her, South African troubles
now to show firm hand here in the east.
Chinese officials simply Hlaugh at the idea of
England really d1eing, ANYTHING. Last win
ter, when Mr.. BFookssof the, Anglican Mis-
sion was murdeBsds hYa the Boxers in this
province, Mr.. Campbell. British consul,
was sent herestU conduct the case and Sc
cure the punishment 81 the murderers. He
succeeded finally In having three men exc
4 cuted. These men wsXe merely the fnstru-
ments who did the killing. Mr.. Campbell
' recognized this and 'opery strongly urged
J upon the British minister the necessity of
/ Furnishing the officials who were the real
4 murderers, especially the man Yu Hsien,
who was goverrFreoffth the province during
r the time previous to and up to the time of
a the murder. and Who 9penly refused to act
e against the Boxers ard secretly even as
, sisted them "a IN
f "Yu Hsien waatdeposed from the office of
/ governor, and then what happened? He
r was called up toTTaoekisk given special au-
dience with tha,. emYtess dowager. COM
mended for his conduct, received present
e which was special mark Of fave and was