The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-09

with the present state Of the country.
Ine situation In the North Is unchanged,
/ except FOR the worse. The recent punish
ment Of the murderers OF Mr.. Brooks
tion, one by imprisonment for life, and
several others, more or less implicated,
4 by Punishment, imprisonment AMI beat
/ ing-has had apparently no effect IN sub
DUNG the spirits Of the Boxers. Late In
formation from LIN Ching and vicinity
Is TO the effect that rioting has again
broken out. The Boxers saying that they
now want not money, but lives; and all
over Chilli and Shantung recruiting and
drilling is carried on with renewed
yigCr The report that thousands Of the
imperial troops are uniting with the Box
ers, particularly those under Prince
Iuan, adds q new and serious phase to
the matter. What the real object of the
III He Chuan, Is a whole, may be-what
the final outcome VIII ba-cannOt be
stated. In some sections comparative "
few the movement is wholly directed
against Roman Catholics, prOtestants be-
ing distinguished and undisturbed; in
other sections it is anti Christian; while
IN most sections 1t is anti-foreign, Affect
ing missionaries, native Christians, and
foreigners generally. The Boxers have
been led TO believe that they were carry
ing out the viii of the throne, and all
edIcts and pr0clamatiOns contrary TO
their motives have been tax en- as custom
over the eyes, of foreigners.
AS the VI He Chuan now stands It is
fearless and dependent-strong enough,
or scattered enough, to defy the imperial
troops (of whom many are In It's ranks)
if necessary, ana self-c0nndent enough TO
believe in its power to clear the borders
of China of foreigners and foreign 1nuu-
ence. There IS unrest on every hand the
peaceful natives having more TO fear than
the foreign residents. Honest men who
cannot but be acquainted with the plans
and projects of the Boxers are silenced
from fear of Them and thus their real
plans and movements are hidden in mys-
terry and no one can say whether the or
ganization viii gradually die out (Which
is very d0ubtfuD, or result In general
uprising or ia open rebellion. We hope
for the best but indications point to
grave results Bat it is not alone the vi
He Chuan, or Boxer Society, that causes
q grave situation and threatens rebellion
and bloodshed. The central government,
following out the mistaken policy OF the
Empress Dowaqer, after the practical de-
thronement of the Emperor Kuang Hsu.
has brought the nation TO the verge of
ruin, and is itself In such a condition
that the next year, 1t would seem, must
bring about some great and oyerWhelm-
ing change.
The Fl He Chuan presents but one
feature of a vast complication 1t IS but
one mesh in the net of ruin that Is draw
ing closer and closer. The friends OF pro-
uress are silent and concealed. ana the
officials present a bitter front to the for
eigner, because in SO doing rests their
own safety Foreign newspapers in the
ports and native newspapers under for
eign control are forbidden TO the Chinese
and reading them is made a crime, yet
it is a sign that there exists an under
current Of progress that two native news
papers, both in the foreign concession Of
troll, have larger circulations than ever
before, and they are very outspoken on
forbidden subjects, throwing light on the
worst acts of the officials and criticislng