Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-25
THE BOXERS OF CHINA.
Professor of the PelSin University
DiscOurses on the Organization.

Professor of the Pel<in Univer.ity
Dfscourses on the Organization.
Isaac Taylor Headlsnd In Harper's Weekly.
The present condition of affairs in China
is the logical outcome of conditions which
began more than a year ago. The provinces
of Shantung and Honan have always been
the center not only of learning and of great
men (Confuc;us and Mencius having been
born there) but also of secret societies, and
consequently of such uprsings as that
which is at present disturbing China and
especially Pekin.
The society called Boxers originated
many years ago and is of twofold per-
haps a manifold character. 1t is partly
| athletic and partly moral and religious. As
an athletic association it goes under the
name of the Big Knife Society Cra Tao
Hub, and as a moral or religious society
under the name of Righteousness and Peace
Fist. 1t Is organized for the most part in
the rural and village districts. and. it is
said by the officials, is for the mutual help
and protection of the country people-help
in times of famine. and protection from
their enemies, and in case of necessity
against oppression of avaricious officials.
During the governorshfp of Yu Hsien there
was constant trouble arising from thieves
and robbers who were made such by the
the Yellow river. This society was organ
lied in it's present form with the consent
and protection of the governor, and, it is
said, with his own a member. The
governor gave the members swords and
constituted them sort Of rural police, who
were to protect the people against the fam
inc brtgands
About three years ago the Roman Catho-
lie priests, through the influence of the
French minister, were given official rank
corresponding to that of the various Chi
nese officials-viceroy. governor. taotai, etc.
and 1t was made obligatory upon the
Chinese official. when appointed to new
or leaving an old post. to call upon send
his card to the bishop or priest. while at
the same time 1t put into the hands of the
clergy no small power when they met an
official, especially in cases Of litigation
The Roman Catholic Christians were
often oppressed by non-Christian members
of their community. and as a result the
church appointed two Of her priests to at
tend to no other duties except the tnyesti-
cation Of evidence in cases of litigation,
and the conduct of such cases they
thought unjust before the official. The fact
that they had official rank and the other
very important fact that they were foreign
ers both added to their power, and they
were thus able to meet the official not only
on his own ground, but with the additional
power of understanding foreign law. The
Christians were therefore enabled to OBJ
tain justice.
About one year ago the Society of Box
ers transformed themselves from keepers
of the peace to a band of marauders, rob-
bling, numbering. pillaging and looting all
the Christian villages in Shantung. They
made no distinction between Catholics and
Protestants. When they came to a village
they sought out the Christians and made it
their first business to discover whether
they had property or not. Where one had
property and was influential they at first
contented themselves with compelling the
man to buy them off-that is, promising him
protection In case he gave a certain amount
of silver, which In some cases amounted
to one hundred, one hundred and fifty or
two hundred ounces. Where they were poor
they compelled them to give whatever they
had and In case of refusal they threatene
to tear their houses down. leaving them
shivering in the cold. The Roman Catholics
were armed against them, and their church.
es were turned into forts or arsenals. and
in one case, at least, regular pitched
battle occurred.
Under these conditions the officials were
applied to again and again by the mission
aries but they gave little encouragement
and no help. Among these applicants were
the friends of the Rev. Mr.. Brooks, who
was so brutally murdered on his way from
one mission station to another.
When this matter was brought to the at
tention of the British legation Mr.. Camp
bell was sent to investigate the waiter. He
understands and speaks the Chinese lam
guage perfectly and conducted his investi-
cation in a mastery way, not only discov-
ering the criminals, but bringing them to
punishment, and he insisted upon the pun
ishment being carried out in his presence
Nor did he rest satisfied with the punish
ment of the criminals but the village elders
were properly dealt with for failing to pro-
tect traveller while passing through their
villages.
Early last year Prince Tuan the father
of the heir apparent, and one of the most
warlike Of all the princes of the imperial
house. raised a corps of not less than 12..,oo
Manchus from twenty to thirty-five years of
age as special bodyguard of the empress
dowager. These he called the Glorified
Tigers Corps and it is reported on the
authority Of one of General Nieh's officers
that not less than one-third of this COM
pany Joined the ranks of the Boxers, and
established branch association in the sub
urbs of Pekn. This would readily account
for the proximity and strength of the Box
ers in the vicinity of Pekin at the present
time.
country. from all we can judge from tee-
grams. not because the conditions in China
are worse than they have been for the past
several months. but because of two rea-
sons: First, because the Boxers are nearer
Pekin than they were before: and, second.
and the more important of the two perhaps.
because the Times correspondent has
turned to Pekin and is now sending out his
sensational kilograms.
There is, we think, no reason to fear for
the safety of the foreigners in Pekin or in
any other part of China 1t is not the in
tentton of the Boxers to murder the for
eigners nor to destroy their property, else
they could have done so long before this.
The murder of Mr.. Brooks was a mistake
on the part OF those VINO committed It, and
did not receive the sanction of the body as
a whole. and it will not be duplicated I'M
less under peculiar and exceptional circum-
stances 1 myself was in Pekin during the
whole period of the Chinese-Japanese war,
and I know the sentiment of the officials
even the conservative ones, concerning the
protection of foreigners. Even the most
conservative officials understand the power
of foreign governments. the strength of
their warships, and the daring of their SOL
diers, and they do not wish to come In con-
tact with them at the present time. 1t Is
always true that they would rid themselves
of all foreigners if they were able to do so,
but they know they are not able. And this
is not any more true of one class than of
another. They look upon the business men
as cunning and avaricious. the government
officials powerful and domineering. and
the missionaries as harmless and trouble
would keep them all out they would do so.