The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-13
SIDE OF THE CASE
OFFICIAL STATEMENT AS TO ORR
GIN or THE DISTURBANCES
BLAME LAID ON THE EUROPEANS

The Document Issued Before the Al
eye Massacre at British Legation.
The Lawless Acts, the Work OF
Rebei OF Pekfn and Shantung
Province Foreigners Begin Hostil-
titles by Attacking the Forts at Taku.
Insolence OF Foreign Guards Pro-
voked Chinese RabbIe.
Washington, July Il.-An imperial
decree dated the 3rd of the 9Th moon
was received by telegraph to-day by
Minister WI from the taotai OF Shang-
hal, transmitting on July LIST from the
the treasurer OF the Chin Ii province,
who received Ii by special courier on
June Goth from the board Of war. who.
in turn, received it from the privy
~lcouncil in Pekin. The decree is as fol-
lows:
The circumstances which led TO the
commencement of fighting between
Chinese and foreigners Were OF such a
lcompleX. confusing and unfortunate
character as 10 be entirely unexpected.
Our diplomatic representatives abroad.
lowing to their distance from the scene
lof action, have had no means OF know
ing the true state of affairs, and. &C
Icordingly cannot lay the views OF the
government before the ministers for
foreign affairs of the respective powers
to which thy are accredited. Now we
take this opportunity of going fully
into the matter for the information OF
Our representatives aforesaid.
ORIGIN OF THE BOXERS.
In the first place there arose in the
province of Chin Ii and Shantung a
kind Of rebelliouS subjects, who had
been in the habit of practicing boxing
and fencing in their respective viii
lagos, and, at the same time, cloth
ing their doingS with S~piritualistic and
strange rites.
The local authorities failed To take
due notice of them at the time. Ac-
I~cordingly the infection spread with
astonishing rapidity. Within the space
of a month it seemed to make its APP
lpearance everywhere, and finally,
Ieven reached the capital itself. Every
Ione locke on the movement as super
natural and strange and many Joined
it. Then there Were lawless and
Itreacherous persons who sounded the
cry of Down with Christianity
DISTURBANCES BEGUN.
About the middle of the 5th moon
these persons began to create disturb
ances without warming. Churches
were burned n converts were killed.
The whole city was in a ferment. A
situation was created, which could not
be brought under control. At first the
foreign powers requested that foreign
troops be allowed to enter the capital
for the protection of the legations
TIL imperial government, having in
view the comparative urgency of the
occasion granted the request as an ex-
Extraordinary mark of courtesy, beyond
the requirements of international in
tercourse. Over five hundred foreign
troops We're sent to Pkin. This shows
clearly how much care China exercised
in the maintenance of friendly rela-
lions with other countries. The lega.
lions at the capital never had much t.
do with the people, but from the time
foreign troops entered the city the
guards did moi devote themselves ex
IcluSively to the protection of their re
Ispective legations. They sometime,
fired their guns on top of the city wal
and sometimes patrolled the street:
Everywhere. There were repeated re
ports of persons being hit by stray bull
lets: Moreover they strolled abou
the city without restraint and even at
tempted to enter the Tung Hua gate
(the eastern gate of the palac,
grounds.) They only desisted wher
Iadmittance was positively forbidden
ION this account both the soldiers ant
the people were provoked to resent
ment and voiced their indignation witt
lone accord.
"Lawless persons took advantage o
the to do mischief, and be
lcame holder than ever in burning ant
killing Christian converts. The power:
lthereupon attempted to reinforce tn,
foreign troops, but the reinforcement
encountered resistance and defeat a
Tho n ,1c Of tho in1rrranfc on ~ mo,
and have mo- yet been able to proceed
ORGANIZED INSURPEcTION
THE insurgents of the two province,
tof Chin Lii and Shantung had by TIM
time effected a complete union, anI
Icould not be separated. The imperia
government was by no mean reluc
tant to issue orders for the entire sup
IpreSsion of this inSurgent element. blu
las the trouble was SO near at ham
there vas a great fear that due pro
lection might not be assured to tn
legationiSts if the anarchists SHOULD
be driven to extremities, thus bringini
on a national calamity. There ais.
was a fear that uprisings might Occur
in the provinces Of Chin Ii and Shan
tung at the same time, with the result
that both foreign missionaries am
IChinese converts in the two province:
might fall victims to popular fury. J
was, therefore, absolutely necessary I
consider the matter from every poin
of view.
ASSASSINATION OF GERMAN MIN
ISTER.
AS a measure of precaution IL wa.
finally decided to reQuest the foreign
ministers TO retire temporarily to Tier
ITsin for safety. 1t was while the dis
l%cussion of this proposition was in prog
lreSS that rs German minister, Barof
won ketteler. was assassinated by &
l%riotous mob n morning, while on hi!
way to the Tsung Ii Yamen- On tn,
previous day the German minister haC
written a letter appointing a time fol
lcalhng at the Tsung Ii Yamen, bot the
Yamen, fearing he might be molesteC
lon the way, did not consent to the ap-
lpointment as suggested by the minis
ter.
Since this occurrence the anarchist:
assumed a more bold and threatening
latitude and consequently il was moi
ldeemed wise to carry out the project
lof sending the diplomatic corps to Tier
iT-.- 49, z-z1 -