The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-07-14
An IMPERIAL DECREE.
Vhc Pri,y CounciI at Pckin Proceeds
to Tell "How IL H~nppencd.-

"a
TO Tell "How IL Happened"
The circumstances which led to
the commencement of fighting be-
tween Chinese and foreigners were
of such a sompleX, confusing and
unfortunate character as to be en-
tirely unexpected.
Our diplomatic representatives
abroad, owing to their distance
from the scene of action. have had
Eo means of knowing the true
state of things, and. accordingly,
can not lay the views of the gov
eminent before the ministers for
foreign affairs of the respective
powers TO which they are accredit-
ed. Now we take this opportunity
of going fully into the matter for
The information of our representa-
1i,es aforesaid.
In the first place, there arose
1n the provinces of Chilli and
Shang-Tung a band Of rebellious
subjects. who had been in the
habit of practicing boxing and
fencing in their respective villages.
and at the same time c~lothingtheir
doings with s%piritualistic and
strange rites. The local authori-
ties failed to take due of them at
the time. Accordingly. the infec-
tion spread withastonishing rapid
jty. Within the space of a month
it seemed to make its appearance
everywhere, and finally. even
reached the capital itself. Every
one looked upon the movement as
supernatural and strange, and
many joined it.
Then there wrre lawless and
treacherous persons who sounded
The cry of: Down with Christiani-
w About the middle Of the fifth
moon, these persons began TO
create disturbances without warm
ing, Churches were burned and
converts were killed. The whole
city was in Il ferpnent. 4 sitna-
lion was created which could not
he brought under control. At
first the foreign powers requested
that foreign troops be allowed TO
enter the capital for the prctec-
lion of the legations. The impe-
rial government he'd in view The
comparative urgency of the occa-
sion. granted the request as an
1racTdiuarv mark Of courtesy be-
You'd the requirements of interna-
1ional intercourse. Over 800 for
sipn troops were sent 10 Pekin.
This shows clearly how much care
China exercised in The maintenance
of friendly relations with other
countries.
The legations at the capital
never had much TO do with the
people. But from the time for
sign troops entered the city, the
guards did devote themselves
exclusively TO the protection of
their respective legations. They
sometimes fired their gupC on the
top of the city walls, ard some
times patrollcd the streets every
where. There were reports of per-
ttllN b'iltE III ~ FAlhN RtAA'A7
Moreover, they stroiled about the
city without restraint. and ever
attempted to enter the Tsung-Ila
gate (the eastern gate Of the
palace grounds). They only de
sisted when admittance was posi-
tiTely forbidden. On this account
both the soldiers and the people
were provoked TO resentment, anC
voiced their Indignation with on'
accord.
"Lawless persons then took ad
vantage of the situation TO do mis-
chief, and became holder than eve
sn burning and killing Christian
converts. The powers thereupol
attempted to reinforce the foreig
troops in Pekin, but the reinforc
ments encountered resistance an
defeat at the hands of the insui
gents on the way, and have not ye
been able to proceed. The insui
gents of the two provinces Of Chill
Ii and Shan-Tung had by tn
time effected a complete union, an
could not be separated. The in
perial government was by II
means reluctant to issue orders fC
the entire suppression of this il
surgent element, but as the troub
was near at hand, there was grei
fear that due protection might n
be assured the legations il the a
nrchists should be driven TO e
tremities, thus bringing on a n
,tional calamity. There also was
fear that uprisings might occur
the provinces of Chilli and sha
Tung at the same time, with t
result that both foreign missile
aries and Chinese converts IN I
two provinces might fall vicul
to popular fury. 1t was, thereto
absolutely necessary to eohsie