The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09
IDENTITY OF THE BOXERS
HONG TAT. Or REDHEADs, CHI
NEsE NAME FOR THE SOCIETY.
Their Part in the Tai-Ping Rebellion
and i'm the Present Complica-
tiOns-Russia.s Purpose.

good standing and repute, the Boxers.
who seem to have taken the initiative in
the present uprising against foreigners in
China, are no mere rebel horde of mush-
room growth. Their origin has been OBJ
scured by their appellation. AS matter
OF fact, theirs is an organization over two
hundred and fifty years old, and it has
little changed from its original purpose
the overthrow of the Manchurian govern
ment. The apparently irreconcilable facts
of alleged collision between the Empress
dowager, who is a Manchu, and the Boxers
in the struggle now going on in the en-
pire against the foreign powers, will later
be explained.
For ages there has existed in China a
class who, from childhood, practice boxing
and wrestling. pretty much as athletes do
in this country. only instead of doing so
for purposes of health. they do it for self
defense To be able skillfully to defend
ones self is not only a necessity, under
conditions which have always existed in
the country, but accomplishment as
we'll, which in late years has led to dis
plays of prowess somewhat analogous to
the prizefghting of our western civiliza-
ton to-day. From these exhibitions of its
champions, the whole organization received
its name from foreigners who witnessed
them, and who knew of no better name to
apply. The Boxers do not know them
selves by the name comparatively recently
bestowed upon them by the Caucasians,
hence the ignorance of the Chinese in this
country, generally, when you ask them
about the organization of their rebellious
compatriots. Ask them, however, If they
have heard of the Hong Tau. or Redheads.
and the educated ones will at once know,
and tell you all about the Boxers.
REBELLION QUELLED BY MONKS.
About two hundred and fifty years ago,
soon after the change from the Ming to
the Using dynasty, rebellion broke out.
The government soldiers found their eff
forts to quell it unavailing. so rapidly did
1t spread. At this time there existed in
the mountains in northern China noted
religious order of monks, who never wore
long queues. Their monastery was i'm
pregnable, although no one ever ,Inolested
them, as they were looked upon as peace
full, pious and learned men. The oommu-
nifty, comprising only five in all. offered
their services to put down the rebels. and
the government gladly accepted. They led
the army and the rebels were soon de-
feated.
Inc government, following It's eStdDllSneQ
custom, then set out to reward it's bene~
factors for their services, but much TO it's
surprise, the monks refused all offers of
office. lands and money. THE knowledge
that We have done our country good is our
reward" they said. lrand we want nothing
but to be allowed to pursue our peaceful
life again. These pious men rose in high
favor with the government, SO high as to
engender the jealousy of the old generals
Strange to relate, the monks rose equally
in favor among the people they had con-
quered. Observing this, the generals
schemed to get rid of them. In petition
to the government to remove" which
might mean imprison destroy, the
monks, the generals contended that these
five men We're stronger than the army,
than the government itself. and were dan
gerous to the country in case of a general
uprising. So great was the pressure
brought to bear upon the reigning Manchu
dynasty, and 1t was urged SO strongly that
the monks were planning for its overthrow,
that three OF the five were killed in an
attack made upon them. Their death in
censed the erstwhile rebels and led them TO
revolt against what they considered the
unjust, ungrateful and impious action of
the government which turned around and
slew those who saved it. The former rebels
formed societies everywhere with one
avowed intention-to overthrow the Using
or Manchu dynasty. These organizations
sprang UP all over the country. Their
members, If caught were beheaded, with
out trial, but they f1ourished in secret, and
increased. For long period they remained
quiescent, but the vow to destroy the Man.
chu dynasty was handed down from ia
Their TO son, TO be practically accomplished
when opportunity offered
The society came into public view again
about fifty years ago, when Hung Siutsuen.
a religious fanatic, melted an uprising
which developed into the famous Tai Ping
rebellion. The old anti-Manchu society,
which for years had apparently lain dor
mant. awoke at his call and combined
forces with him. These united societies
became known as the 'Redheads," and
subsequently as Boxers at least to the
foreigners resident in the Chinese empire.
THE RISE OF LII HUNG CHANG.
How formidable power the Redheads
became was demonstrated when they had
captured nearly half of the provinces of
the empire. They were stronger than the
government, and it was only after the Wig
orous and brilliant campaign of Chinese
Gordon that these provinces were restored
to the Manchu dynasty. 1t was this cam
paign which brought forward. developed
and made famous Lii Hung Chang, now
the Doyen of the viceroys, who has upon
his aged shoulders the task of mediating
between his government and the aggrieved
nations for the destruction of whose repre-
sentatives 1t must render an accounting
The people of China, noticeably since the
with the Tartar government. The Tartars
look upon the Chinese proper as do the
Russians upon the Jews. The rulers OF
China have always come from Tartary
never from the south, and the favoritisn
shown for Tartars has always been as
thorns in the side to the pure Chinese. The
latter must contribute TO the support OF
every male Tartar child, and the taxes i'm.
posed press them hard and embitter feel.
ings already injured in many other ways
Why the Boxers" who have always beer
against the Mancnus, should now be aideC
by the imperial troops, be led by Tuan, &
| Manchu prince, and be secretly aided by
| the Empress dowager. is believed il
| many quarters, is explicable only by the
| fact that the Boxers have lost some OF
| their enmity towards the Manchus and are
making common cause with the latter in ar
| effort 10 drive the foreigners, or whit,
! devils" out of the empire.
| The opinion of the intelligent Chinese il
| Greater New York as to the motive ac
| tuating the present outbreak IS interesting
| There are about 10000 Canton Chinese il
| Greater New York. With the masses o.
| these Guy Maine comes in daily contac
| and knows. therefore. their feelings on IN,
| present situation in China. Mr.. Main,
| (the phonetic spelling of the Chinese name
| is superintendent of the Chinese Guild o.
New York, an organization which aims 4
| protect and advance the Chinese of thi
| city He is an American citizen and hai
! embraced Christianity He was i'm Chin;
| during it's war with Japan, the guest of hi
| brother-in-law, DR.. Mark, who is physician
| and confidential secretary TO Ii Hun.
/ Chang. Mr.. Maine was the official interpre
| ter for the Chinese government when tn
constitutionality of the Geary act was be
| ing tested and forwarded his reports di
/ rectly 10 Ii Hung Chang for the Empress
/ during the sessions before the Washington
! authorities sent theirs. II is remarkable
| with what unanimity the local Cantones
4 baiiave that Russia Is the bottom Of a