The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-06-13
THE SITUATION IN CHINA.
The REVOLT OF THE noxERs
An Anti Foreign Society Doing Muir
derous Work-Public Sentiment IL
With Them

fAh Hhti Hore'Rn SoClety bO1nS n M Ill
derous Work-Public Sentiment
With Them.
} The New York Sun says that tn
grave situation in which the Boxer
Of China have involved not only foreig
Interests In China, but also their Uw
country, Is the result Of the past eigh
months OF active hostility on their par
against missionaries and their converts
The Boxers began their raid in Octo
Der last and their movement has grows
till they seem to have SO: tho whole .
northeast China ahame.
The Boxers are avo"edly an anti
foreign society. Whether or not the
society exists in all the provinces 4
certainly covers u wide area, being
strongly organized in Human and Other
central provinces on the Yyngtse river
as well as In Shan-tung and Pechil
provinces in the northeast of China
proper. Ii the report Is true that q
force OF the Boxers OF Human are on
| their way north to re.enforce their
brethren in Pechili IL may be- said tina.
the anti.forelgn activity Of this society
now extends through China on a line
that is $50 miles long. AT any rate,
the scenes OF their numerous murd ers
and outrages within the past eight
months extends over territory that
measure $50 miles north and south,
| from southwestern Shan tung to the
| neighborhood OF Pekin. The width of
the territory in which the outrages
have been reported varies from about
10 miles In Shan tung to about ITO
miles In the latitude OF Tientsin In
Other words, rs near rs can be es-
tlmated from the reports US to the
localities whore the Boxers have mur.
uered native Christians and DESTROYED
their property or that Of she mission
stations, this series OF outcHges has
extended over an area OF about 30, 900
square miles and the area has been in
creasing very rapidly within the past
lew weeks.
The most recent report says that the
Boxers have killed eight Methodist
missionaries. No definite details with
regard to these alleged murders have
been received. II the report is true
they have departed from their policy,
which has been to let the missionaries
alone 10 be sure, small party of
Boxers In December last mui dered the
R.v. Sydney Brooks in Snau-tung; but
this crime appears to have been com.
mltteG without the approval OF the
leaders OF the movement. They re.
membered how promptly Germany
resented the murder Of missionaries a
little over two years ago and that her
wrath was appea5cd only when China
conceded to her valuable harhor and
great privileges in Shan tung. The
Boxers did not desire early in their
offensive operations to incense tue
powt4s 80 lar as to cause their direct
intervention for the restoration of
order, and 80 they nave waged their
war upon foreigners only by killing
native Christians and destroying mis-
sion property a. out-stations, while
stopping short OF shedding the blood
of white men. But the fire they have
kindled has spread very rapidly in the
past month, and they now seem en-
boldened to defy not only their own
government, but the Powers as well,
Hon. William l.. Scruggs, who was
In China for several years as consul
general of the United States, has fur
Iished the Atlanta Journal wish the
following explanation OF the causes
which led to the present outbreaks,
and it will be seen from what he says
that the trouble is serious and not
likely to stop short OF a revolutions
These socalled boxers" represent
what is undoubtedly the public senti-
ment Of the empire Of China. That Is
TO say, they represent the sentiment OF
the masses In all parts OF China
Despite all treaty regulations and pro-
LESSONS to the contrary the masses in
China are unalterably opposed to any-
thing like foreign influence in the
empire,
The Chinese claim to be chosen
people, just as much 80 as Aid the old
Hebrews. Their whole government
their civilization, their social system
are all predicated upon the one idea
that their government and their juris-
prudence are revelation from heaven.
Consequently, all missionary work in
China and all Industrial End COM
mercial enterprises by foreigners arc
looked upon by the masses as directed
to the overthrow OF their civilization
ard, consequently, OF their govern
mont. The Boxers" so-called, merely
represent that sentiment. The en-.
lightened rulers OF China, the best
men amongst them, do not share that
sentiment, but there is no government
that | know Of that Is more sensitive
to popular sentiment than China con-
seQuently, the empress dOwager and
the officials OF the Chinese govern
ment hesitate to antagoniZe what they
conceive to be the sentiment OF the
great masses OF the people.
tnlnK JnaJ Will explain the present
attitude Of the Chinese government.
They have no desire to treat foreigners
unfairly, but they realize that they
cannot reverse public sentiment all OF
u sudden. 1t is very important tnere-
fore, that foreigners in China realizing
| this fact, should be constantly on their
guard not to give unnecessary oifepse
to the opinions and prejudices OF tn.
| ignorant masses.
| was talking with the viceroy OF
| Nankin some years ago and explaining
to him how system of railroads
would facilitate the great interior
commerce Of the empire, how it would
increase the value of their lands and
their farm products and make China
q much more wealthy country than it
is. He readily assented to all said,
but added:
You must remember, sir, that the
civilization OF China is so very different
from that OF your country and of
Europe that the same conditions which
make your country greet one would
make ours one Of disorder and anarchy
As you see us here now, our laborers,
our artisans, our contractors, our agri.
culturists are all occupied. Every one
has something to do. Every one is
satisfied to work for small wages.
There are mover any labor strikes with
US. There are never any idlers seek