The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-03
CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES.
Millions Baaded Together for Pur-
poses of Murder or Politics.

London Leader.
Events have recently been happening in
China of which much would nave been
heard in this country but for the concen-
tration of the national mind upon the war
in South Africa. There is another big in
surrection on foot. and a cable message
told us a day or two ago that 1t is assum-
ing alarming proportions. The secret So
c~ieties, as usual, are behind the movement,
and this time it is the Boxers" who have
been most active. They came into collision
with the imperial troops at en-Ch and
gave a good account Of themselves. The
action is said to have been indecisive-
which probably means that the imperial
troops We're defeated. Prior to this they
had been making themselves a terror
throughout the province of Chilli, and, to
say nothing Of murderous outrages on a lot
of native Christians. had assassinated an
English missionary named Brooks.
The Boxers" known also as the big
Sword Society,"" form only one Of many
institutions with which the Chinese empire
is honeycombed. They are all actuated by
the motives underlying their motto of
China for the Chinese" The Boxers made
a great parade of their loyalty to the
throne and pretended that 1t was only the
Fan Kwei-the foreign -.devils-whom they
wished to drive out. But the Empress
dowager knows better. and When she found
that the Governor Of Shantung (where
they first broke out) was encouraging them
that masterful woman promptly superseded
him. Last years experience with the
BLACK Tags was doubtless not IOrgOtuen.
This society is made up principally of the
pirates and other wilder spirits who infest
the coast from Annoy down to Hainan.
They are the men who organized the three
great rebellionS which broke out simulta-
neously at Macao, Annoy and Shanghai,
just before the Tapping affair, and they,
aided by the "Koloa Hui" and the fanati-
cism of the religious impostor who called
himself the heavenly king" were mainly
responsible for that outbreak. They have
fomented trouble on several occasions since
then, and they are by a long way the most
inveterate enemies whom the reigning Man
it may be remarked, are the hardest as
well as the bravest Of all the people who
make up the nation.
Another great Chinese s~ociety-more i'm
portant from its widespread distribution
than the Black Flags, and actuated by the
same motive-is that known as the Koloa
HUI. The authorities made an attempt last
year to .squelch this organization. but. Of
course, they did not succeed, though they
contrfved to capture one of the leaders,
whom they executed with much circum-
stance of brutality. The membership roll
runs well into the millions, and 1t has its
secret meetings In every city Of China. It's
members must commit murder at the COM
mand Of the order. They are initiated by
the drinking of hot wine mixed with the
smoking blood of a cock, killed at the time.
The society counts among its members a
large number of army officials. and the
great Viceroy of Marking, who died not
lOnS dSO, was luz d tifuc dl ACTIVE mem-
Der. The recent troubles in the Shantung
province were backed up by the Koloa Hui.
The oldest society in China is the Triad
Society, known also as the Sam Hop
Hui" 1t has its lodges, and there are
flags, banners and umbrellas connected
with 1t. 1t holds regular meetings, and 1t
forces influential individuals to join it's
organization IL they are not amenable to
persuasion. 1t has the power of life and
death over it's members, who have their
owns signs and passwords, You can tell, 1t
is said, whether a man belongs to the order
is, "Drive out the Tartars," and one branch
Of the society dates back to 1864 A. d., or
twenty years after the conquest. They
have been working to overthrow the gov
eminent ever since, and one day they may
succeed.