Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-06
SPEAKING OF CHINA.

Rev 7. r. Headland a missionary In
China, and professor Of the Pekln uni
verslty. on his way east through San
Francisco recently spoke OF the Chin
csc situation, which Is causing a good
deal Of anxiety just now.
According 10 him, the empress dow
ager Is at the bottom Of the trouble. He
believes that bu for her dread OF the
foreign powers there would not be a
missionary in the entire country The
lower classes. Mr. Headland asserts
are encouraged to lawlessness by the
authorities, while the Chinese govern
ment processes to be unable TO sup
press the disturbances. Thus encour-
aged the bandits band together In al
legged secret societies and levy black
mail on their own countrymen.
one of these bands Is now known as
the Boxers" They employ knives,
clubs and rocks In their reformatory
work, and are well designated by the
name by which they are known. Allied
with them and stlll more dangerous
Is the Big Knife society whose name
explains itself. These men are armed
with a bolo or machete almost like a
sword and their favorite method Of ex-
ecution is by decaptatlon, They are re-
sponslble for the recent assassination Of
the American missionary Booth at
shantung wanton crime, for which
this government IS at the present mo-
ment demanding redress.
The present Empress Of China, ac-
cordlng to Mr Headand has an lnsat-
able desire for power. She deposed the
last emperor. Kuang Hsu, and had him
deported to a lonely Islands all because
he manifested some independence. The
emperor's adviser made his escape TO
Hongkong. where he established him
self as the head Of a revolutionary
party.
The nominal head Of the empire Ia
now a boy IS years old. He Is being
trained IN the school OF the empress. All
the teachers. the gentleman quoted
says. are Of the most conservative
character, and even should he live to
attain his majority China has little to
hope from his rule. Meanwhile the
dowager IL secure in power. Nothing
short OF a revolution can shift her, and
unless the growing strength Of the re-
form party forces her hand she Will
continue 70 govern China on the same
conservative and exclusive Hines hop
ing. by playing of one great power
against another. TO postpone indefinite
iy the threatened partition Of her en-
pire.
Mr.. Headland but confirms the I'm
preston existing about the conditions
Of the so-called celestial" empire. Cor
ruption relgns in high places, and the
people are divided There must be eth
er a reform In the right direction or
the old empire win cave In over the
present head Of the dynasty. The mis-
slonarles in China, probably are en-
couraging any movement for the in
auguratlon Of European rule. That
would mean much 10 them, IN the way
OF Influence. And some Of the foreign
governments are but too willing 70 lis
ten TO suggestions as regards China, II
was said some time ago that a mission
airy In Turkey was not worth cent,
while one In China was worth millions
Of dollars It seems so, when the anx-
iety for the safety OF Chinese mission
aries is considered.
At an events, Influences are at work,
which mean the dlslntegratlon Of one
Of the most ancient governments on
earth. and the creation Of Mongol
problem 20 be added 90 those already
perplexing the statesmen Of the world.