Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-27
A "BoxERssI PROCLAMATION.

Document TeIls What the Rebels In
China Think Their Grievances Are.
From the London Times.
Our Shanghai correspondent, writing on
June q, sends US. the following translation
of a proclamation is ID by Boxers near
Tien Tsn, of which he had just received
q copy from the north:
"The Chinese empire has ever been cele-
brated for its sacred teachings. which ex-
pound the DEGREES of heaven, and inculcate
the duties of mankind. The civiizng in
fuence of thesef principles spread in the
days gone by like ornament over river
and hill. T. But all this has been changed,
and in a way that can be explained For
the past Ave or six generations bad Off
Gals have been in power, bureaus have
been opened for the sale of offices, and
only those who had money to purchase
their positions have been allowed to hold
any place in the government.
The examination Of scholars has become
useless, and members of the Hanlin Col
lege and high7class- graduates remain in
obscurity at home. An official position can
only be obtained at the price of, so much
silver. The emperor coyets the riches of
his ministers, while these again extort from
the lower ranks of the mandarinate
The lower mandarins in turn, by the ne
cessity of their positions, must extort from
the people The whole population is sunk
in wretchedness and all the officials live
The condition of the yamens is unspeak-
able. In every market and in every guild
no business can be done unless brides are
first given. The officials must be bribed
and all manner of exactions are made
The, ignorant and helpless people stand
alone. The officials are full OF cunning, and
all their acts offend the three principles of
virtue. Having cast aside all the natural
principles of right and wrong, they pursue
their unbridled course, unchecked by rule
san al TO. io
their object Right has disappeared
from the world There is naught but quar-
reling and extortien on all hands. Law
suits innumerable. In the yamens it
is useless to have clear case-unless you
bribe you will lose the day. There is none
to whom the agsrieved can appeal
The simple multitudes are killed with
oppression, and their cry goes up to heaven
Itself and is heard by God. Although sptr-
itual beings and sages had been sent down
to teach right principles, to issue good
alas! have needed. y, no is there that I'M
derstand? The evil go on their course
rejoicing, while ther spiritual powers are
conscious that their teaching has been in
vain.
Now in anger the heavenly powers are
sending down multitudes of spirits to de-
scend to the earth to search the hearts
of ALL both high and low.
The emperor himself, the chief offender
has had his succession cut off, and is child
less The whole administra ton both civil
and military, is in an indescribable condi-
ton Widows and orphan children cry in
vain while the official closes his eyes to
their misery. .r-s
Greater calamities still have overtaken
the empire Foreign devils have come with
their doctrine of Christianity. Converts
of the Roman Catholic and Protestant
faiths have become numerous These
churches are devoid of human principles
and full of cunning. They have attracted
the greedy and avaricious as converts to
sion and c5fruptfpn until even the good od Of
ficials have becUhie converts of foreign
wealth, and have become the foreigners
servants.
''Telegraphs and railways have been es
tablished. foreign cannon and rifles manu-
featured. railway engines and electric
lamps the foreign devils delight in. Though
they ride I'M sedan chairs unbefitting their
rank. China still Regards them as barbara
ans of whom heaven ~disapproves, and it
is for theirf destruction that spirits and
first of these powers is the red lantern
the symbol of the I-ho-chuan, the limited
Fist Byh means of this the foreigners
shall be eKtermihated. their homes shall
be burned, and the temples restored For
eign goods sand property of every descrip-
! ton shall be destroyed Heaven is deter
mined and "a cie&n sweep shall be made.
All this shah be accomplished within three
years, and the wicked cannot escape the
net of obstruction.
THE secret mysteries are not lightly to
be disclosed and the days of peace are vet
unknown. The Yen Mao year must come
| before the time of long life returns,
Our song is ended. Let this NOT he re
| garded as an idle curse"
Our correspondent remarks that while
the first part OF this document seems to he
| a genuine expression in a popular form of
the widespread sdisaffection which the mis-
government Of the ruling classes has ex-
cited among the masses, the second mart
is evidently an inspired" addition in
tended to defect the popular discontent
from, the nlandarins on to the foreign
devils" The proclamation as whoIa
| may thus be regarded as typical instance
| Of the way In which the empress dowager
and her reactionary supporters have sue
| a movement originally directed against the
existing eegime.