The National tribune., 1900-07-05

what the Boxers have been doing. They
give out most solemnly that by fncanta-
tions they are able to make themselves In
vulnerable to bullets and sword cuts. and
what is most remarkable, the common peo-
pie firmly believe this deeiarationl OF
course, when required to give public proof
of this immunity from bodily harm, they
take great care TO see that their muskets
are only loaded with powder and not with
shots.
The following item appeared in a
Shanghai native newspaper: Recently
over dozen scoundrels of the Chuan So
ciety arrived here from the North, iu-
tending to go into the Yangtze Valley to
invite people to join their society. They
claim that they are not afraid of muskets
and revolvers, swords and battle-axes.
Someone declares to have witnessed these
people, to present revolyers filled with
powder and shot to naked breasts, and af-
ter pron0uncing a few words of incanta-
ton, pull the trigger, discharging the pow
der and shot, without any sign of injury
to their bodies," etc. But" comments
the editor, "muskets and revolyers are the
most efficient weapons of warfare. How
C.tl IL DG pOSotDtt AOI Oi4t W LIZ tANhA
at oneself, without suffering injury? That
the Boxers deceive us by some evil art,
it is not necessary to question" When
the progressive and broadminded editor
believes in the Black Art, one can imagine
the state of the ignorant folks.
Hence the rapid rise and widespread
power of the Boxers, threatening the ex-
stence of the Government. This power,
however being founded on bigotry and
fanaticism, it is evident, will melt before
the fire of trained and organized armies.
1t is also evident that this suppression
should be undertaken with a firm and un-
reIenting hand, accompanied by rapidity
OF movement, for with the lapse of time
the Government may find itself unable to
cope against hordes, who, like the follow
ers of Mahomet, will not only be imbued
with superstition and fanaticism, but also
well-drilled and well-organized, under ex-
perienced and efficient leaders.
l close with a translation Of another
item connected with the Boxer movement.
Within and without the walls Of Pekin,
the number of Boxers is increasing at an
alarming rate; especially numerous are
they in the vicinity of Wong-Chang, Luz
Shen, aad Pon-Kwoh Villages. The other
day the Boxer leader started a most mar
velous story, saying that in a coal pit of
the Wen-Tsien Mountain, he excavated a
tablet of stone, on which Liu Tsing-Tien.
the first Prime Minister of the last Ming
Dynasty, had engraved the following pro-
pheey: In the year Kun Tsz Q9OO)
Father Sol will dispel the gathering (po-
iitica) shadows. 1t is not that the EN-
peror will resemble the famous tyrants
Jih and Shao of antiquity, but that his
ministers of State viii be ineficacioUs-
Due to a hateful mistake in the treaties,
the people will be oppressed. The subordi-
nate officials will follow the example %
the higher Gin being inefficientl, and the
wrongs of the populace viii not be right
ed. Now our officials will be partial to
foreigners, cringing and fawning on them,
and depressing people of their own race.
Thus they shall have incurred the anger
Of the God of Heaven, who will punish
them by the hands Of the good people.
The Red Lamp (another superstitionl
Illuminating by its rays, henceforth the
,eopIe will not be misled. The Illustrious
E Ho Society possesses unity of heart
without any effort on It's part. 1t is my or
der. with regard to this terrible foreign
evil, that on the 9th day Of the 9th Moon,
it shall be moved down like grass, ex-
terminating the roots at the same time. y