The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-28
THE SITUATION
IN CHINA SERIOUS
Some Missionaries Are in
Immediate Danger.
D0WAGER RESPONSIBLE
She Used the Boxers For the Purpose of
Driving Out Foreigners.
DOWAGER RESPONSIBLE
EDUCATED CHINESE FAVOR MISSIONARIES
The Boxers Desire to Overthrow The Present
Reighning House, Which is of Tartar
0.gin and Set Up Chinese
0unacIu
Dynasty.


here last night at Edenton Street Meth
odist church DR.. Lamberth is one of the
worlds greatest missionaries, having, for
a number of years, been in actual mis-
sionary service in China Since. his re-
turn 20 this country, he has served as
missionary secretary of the Methodist
church, South. He is probably as famil-
lar with the situation in China as any
man in the United States. On being
questioned yesterday by News and OBJ
server reporter in regard to this mat
ter he said:
1.-The Boxers were not organized in the
beginning of the movement, but were
merely bands of local banditti, who made
their living by plundering and thieving.
But by gradual processes they grew
stronger, and were organized into secret
societies. There are great m1ny secret
societies in China. This society had for
it's object the overthrow of the present
dynasty, which is not Chinese at all but
Tartar and extremely distasteful to the
average Chinaman. They began then to
attack foreigners, not because they de-
sired to injure the foreigners especially,
but their hope was to involve the gov
eminent in war with some foreign power.
and then to take advantage of the en-
broglio to bring about the downfall OF
the reigning house.
"Iae Empress dowager, who is very
astute woman, then made use of this
Boxer movement. She is intensely anti
foreigner in her sentiment The reforms
set up by the foreigners are too sweeping
to suit her taste and she sees that un-
less the foreigners are driven out, they
will shortly control all the railroads, fac
tories and other improvements and so l
am sure that she has encouraged, indi
rectly at any rate, the Boxer movement.
| don't think she has declared war or
urged determination of foreigners, but
has worked upon the prejudice of the
people to drive the missionaries back
to the ports.
II don't think she would have attempted
even this much if she had not counted
on the support of some foreign power
probably Russia This has given rise to
the reports that Russia had emissaries
among them, and it is very likely true
that they are some way connected in the
affair, but are unable to quell the storm
they have helped to raise.
The situation is undeniably a serious
one. The Legation at Pekin are at the
mercy of the Chinese and the Boxers
within the city But they are safe,
think, from serious danger, as the au+
thorities would be deferred from injuring
them by fear of vengeance. l am sure
they will protect the Legations as long
as they can.
Elm Tien Tsin, the situation is more
serious The walls of the city, which
are twenty five feet high and planted
with Krupp guns, are just about quar-
ter Of a mile from the French concession
and if they were to open fire, could ut
terly demolish it. The concessions are
tracts of land laid off for each nation. and
are in the following order: French, Eng
lish and American. The only trouble is,
the Boxers may be joined by the sol
diers. The authorities are too shrewd
to allow the soldiers to do any damage
at the order of a prominent officer, but
they may allow such to take place by a
petty officer to whose actions could at
tach no national responsibility.
Central China is occupied by the mis-
sionaries from the Southern churches,
and this region is comparatively safe In
Shan Tung, where the Boxer movement is
very strong, there are some Baptist mis-
sionaries. In the valley of the Yangtse
River the Methodists, Presbyterians and
Baptists all have missionaries, but in
five provinces the viceroys have tele-
graphed that there is no necessity for
foreign troops to come in. / think they
are able to protect the missionaries if
they choose to do so, but if war is de-
clared it is best for them to come to the
ports. None Of them are more than five
hundred miles from the coast, and most
of them are less than that.
THE Boxer does not represent the SEN
timent of the better class of Chinese The
men who are creating the literature of
China and who dominate it's thought, are
friendly to the missionary, and are in
favor of reform. / was in Soochaw last
September and attended a dinner given by
DR.. Parks, who has charge of our mission
work there. There were present eight
prominent Chinese officials one of them
had been privy councillor to the Emperor
for twenty years, and another was ex-
literary chancellor of the Province of
Human. The subject of education was
brought up, and it was agreed to be an
excellent plan to establish a college near
there, l said To do this, we must have