The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-02
Russia and the "BoxerS.'

This secret society. II it may he so called.
mas existed for about hundred years and
Is composed OF tradesmen who have been
ruined by :he extOrtion OF local magistrates
There is nothing whatever In the original
society which indicates any iII-feeling to-
ward Christians or foreigners as. indeed.
there could not be. since both were exceed.
ingly rare in North China a century ago.
u Is quite true that. since the building OF
railways commenced. the people In the in.
terror were more or less agitatei on account
OF the Feng Shut or air and water SUPER
stftion. which dominates all classes espe-
ciaily that of the litteEati who collectiyev
building had proceeded with little or no ,ii.l
turbance. when suddenly. and without ard
apparent cause. the Boxer society appeared
IL spread with an unprecedented rap.ditM
and from the apathy, If not favorable conf
sideration, which IL received from the aII4
thorities the conclusion was derived that fha,
movement was connived at by the Dovage8l
Empress But. since the Russian MiniSte "a
the Chinese Government. ugly whispers eli
culated at Pekin that these disturbances. ~
Soincldences were strangely fortunate q
Russta's plans. At any rate, they ruin&
all of Jaran's prospects of being intrustK
with the reorganization of army and ma Is
and of advising the Empress upon the T.
modelling OF the government.
Once assured of the cOnniyance OF the
Government, 1t is but natural that the'
movement should exceed the control of its
instigators. Hence. a merry carnival Of
arson and murder was inaugurated; when
sufferers These men had. TO some extent
enjoyed immunity from magisterial extor-
ton. owing to the watChfuinesS ana pro-
lection afforded by the missionaries. and
had thus Incurred the JEALOUSY and ill-wiu
of those whom that same rapacity had
ruined. II IL not probable that the move
ment intended to go beyond This. al
though the purpose was to bring .uCh pres
sure to bear upon the DowaSer Empress
that she, openly declaring the offersive-de-
fensive alliance with Russia. should invoke
the aid Of that Power 70 suppress the dis
tUrbance. For that purpose ico men were
held In readiness at Port Arthur. II there
troops could be landed without overw helm
ing opposition Russia had beaten Japan
effectively without the loss of a single man,
since in possession of the Taku forts no
troops could he landed at any reasonable
pOin, in the Gulf of Pei-ChihU without be-
Ing In danger Of having their rommJnica-
ton destroyed by Russia's fleet NJ Port
mouth of the Pei-Ho River rendered land
ing impossible when the forts are held by
trained and disciplined troops
To what extent Russia has been bafned
by the energetic and thus far unanimous
action Of the different treaty Powers will
furious at the success of Russia's diplomacy
needs no explanation. She threatens to
throw two men into China for every man
Russia lands. There Is no doubt that she
has the men and the means to- transport
them: nor is there any doubt as to the SUI
periority and efficacy Of her fleet. The main
question il TO who shall SECURE. ,oSses-
si0r of the Taku forts: even the ,ccuDation
of Picking is Of minor consideration There
is no question that Russia would have
possession of the necessary fat -bottomed
boats. The absence Ct these means of trans
portation may change the course of events.
r. Van Bergen In Leslie's Weekly.