Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-19
ottumwa ohinaman Talks of the
Celestial Society.
BOXERS ARE NOT NEAR pEKINC.
Z. B. Yuen, Laundryman, Says That
There Is Not Single Member of
the Boxer Society in the Vicinity Of
Picking.

there is not single Boxer in the vi
clnity OF Peking The Boxers, he says,
are located in southwestern China,
and in reality have refused to join the
forces in northern China which are
now engaged against the allied pow
ers. Mr.. Yuen does not, however, con-
tradict the statement that the Boxers
in southwestern China are now waging
war against the foreigners and Chris
tfan Chinese, but he says that it Is
out of jealous spirit that Lung Ye,
the leader of the Boxers, has refused
to join the imperial army in the
north which is being led by Prince
Tuan. Furthermore, Lung Ye, who
has been for number of years wag-
ing war against the Chinese govern
ment, declares that he will fight his
battles alone, and says he will event
ually continue his aggressive warfare
and ultimately gain the throne of
China.
Mr.. Yuen says the imperialist sol
diers, by their action in the present
war, have been termed Boxers be-
cause their methods are similar to
those of the rebels in the southwest
ern portion of the country, where they
have held power for a number of
years. The Boxers proper, Mr.. Yuen
says, do not wear queues like their
brother celestias, but permit their
hair to grow down over their should
ers in struggling ringlets.
The depredations which have been
committed in the vicinity of Hong
Kong, Mr.. Yuen lays at the doors of
the original Boxers, and the Ottumwa
celestial assured the reporter that
Lung Ye had no special spite against
the foreigners in that country. He
was merely pursuing policy which
had long been his course. Lung Ye.
for number of years has collected
all the taxes in his part of the coun.
try, and whenever an opportunity pre-
sented itself he forced into subjuga-
ton an additional state. The forces
in the subjugated territory were sent
into Lung Yes district and fresh
Boxer troops were sent into the newly
acquired territory. Thus the Boxers
have been gaining ground in China,
and have been fulfilling what they
have predicted, that they will eventu-
ally accede to the throne.
The imperialist army in northern
China have been in command of
Prince Tuan, a brother of the real en-
peror of the nation. His brother,
whom it is known is mentally untitled
for the duties of emperor, is merely
chief ruler in name only. The moth
er of the emperor and Prince Tuan,
who is governor general of the army,
is the leading spirit of the throne.
She, it is said, is opposed to the policy
which is causing the present trouble,
but is powerless to prevent it.
Mr.. Yuen explained that the gov
ernor general of the army, after fail
ing to secure the aid of the Boxers in
his campaign in the north, decided to
undertake the matter himself. The
Chinese government, Mr.. Yuen ex-
planned, is powerless to prevent him
as long as the army follows its leader.
Mr. Yuen further stated that in his
opinion the foreign powers did not full
ly understand the situation in China,
else they would have retired instead
of taking an aggressive stand. He
assured the reporter that IL the Chin
ese government was able to protect
the foreigners in China, she would do
| it. But as the matter stands at pres
ent, the army is under the control of
the governor general, who believes in
the determination of all missionaries
and Christian Chinese. This As iden-
tically the same policy that the Boxers
are pursuing in the Southwestern por-
ton of the country, only the latter are
exterminating all who oppose them.
Mr.. Yuen is % years old, and ten
years of his life has been spent in the
United States. He has been a resi-
dent of Ottumwa for the past six
years, and being naturally an intelli-
gent man, has acquired fair educa-
ton. He reads English some and con-
verses fairly well. Mr.. Yuen said
while he has never taken out natural
ization papers, yet he is a firm friend
of the government Of the United
States, and referred with pride to the
action of the Chinese in the west in
offering their services to the United
States. 81
Mr.. Yuen's aged mother and other
relatives reside southwest of Hong
Kong, on the coast, and he frequently
receives Communications from them.
-------4----
THE PEOPLE OF CHINA.
Rev. D. "A. Murray Relates Personal
Observations Amonu Them