Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-07

Disturbances and Outcries Against
Foreigners and Foreign InnOva-
lions, Says the Consul - Rivalry
Among Missionaries - Russia Not
Aiding.
Chow Tzchi, the new imperial
Chinese consul in New York, who
gives the following interesting inter-
view to the New York Journal, was
formerly secretary of the Chinese lega-
ton in Washington:
az have no late information from
China" said the new consul, and there
was sorrow in his tone. My superiors
at the legation in Washington are as
ignorant as /. We have cabled home
repeatedly for news and instructions
in the last few days. but no answer
has been returned
81 have sent off another message by
way of Tien-tsin, with instructions to
friends there in case Geographic COM
munication with Picking is cut off, to
forward it by special courier on horse
back. In that way L should secure an
answer in from As to GO hours unless
the land telegraphs between Tien-tsin
and Shanghai, the point Of landing Of
the cable, are closed even to govern
ment service dispatches. Till that
reply comes 1 cannot tell what is hap
pening or whether n state of war ex-
lists or not.
1.-THE Boxer movement" said Mr..
Chow, weighing his words with infinite
care, "was not important. For 200
years sporadic disturbances, created by
members of the Boxer class, have eX-
cited the lowest rabble in China to anti
foreign demonstrations. 1t is only sig
nificant that the officials intrusted with
armed authority in the northern prov
inces did not promptly and easily sup
press this latest Boxer rising and make
examples of the robbers and murderers
captured. They had plenty of soldiers
to oppose the Boxers. They had also
the empress orders. But they did not
suppress the Boxers. Why? That will
be for somebody high in court circles
to explain since the failure of these
officials to do their duty has resulted
so very seriously.
"In Chill province, in which are sit
uated Tien-tsin and the Taku forts.
which Sdlu 10 nave DeclI
by the fleets of the powers, Yu-Lu gov
erns as viceroy. 1t would be Yu-Lu
then who had direct command over the
seven forts at the rivers mouth and OF
the armies about Tien-tSin.
do L think the empress ordered Gen
eral Yu-Lu to fire upon the foreign
ships?" Mr.. Chow repeated the Ques- |
ton slowly, then answered it decisive |
ly:
Il do not. l think the officials of the |
fort, either on their own responsibility |
or by the orders of some one Of the |
officials who have shown their SYM |
patty with this antiforeign movement, |
decided to oppose the passage of any |
more gupboats and troops. 1t was the |
mad act of some ignorant official. |
Surely people will give to the men at |
the head of my nations affairs credit |
for the possession of more sense as |
you call it, than to desire war with the |
whole world!
1.-THE last direct advices 1 had from
China reached me a month ago." said
Mr.. Chow. Both official and unoffi-
rial messages informed me that a num-
Der of high military and civil officials
in the province Of Chill had been de-
graded for failure to suppress the Box
ers' riots and protect the outlying for
eign missions. General Nieh was about
TO march against the rioters when the
letters were dispatched. He went at
the special command of the empress.
1t was said.
The newspapers have told since
how General Mich. after defeating the
Boxers and killing many of them, was
recalled TO Picking and degraded. do
not believe the story about his degra-
iatiOn. He is an able man, and he had
carried out his orders. l do |
not think it is possible that the lega-
ions in Picking have been burned or
sacked" continued Mr.. Chow. Doubt l.
ess they have been attacked by the |
'ioters and roughs-the lowest and
most ignorant of our people-but they
,annot have been seriously menaced.
They have their own marine guards, |
With machine guns. These would be
Imple protection against any morgan
Zed mob attack until help could come
rom the authorities
The empress would protect the for
ign ambassadors and ministers and
heir attaches at all hazards There
we're in Picking at my last advices 30
700 well armed and well drilled troops,
commanded by General Tong Fuh
Slang, Mohammedan, who is a pro-
;ressive man and friend of the for
igners. OF these troops 10000 are
dantchoos and 10000 Chinese. The
dantchoos would be loyal to the dy-
TASTY in any emergency and could and
you'd control the situation. That is |
Why am certain, no matter how much ,
disorder there may have been in Pc j.,
ing, that the foreign political repre-
entatives and most of the business {
nd commercial foreigners will be
ound safe and sound"
And the missionaries. Mr.. Chow?" .
The polite and accomplished oriental s
diplomat paused and reflected before {