Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-28

of course true that in few minds the fear
exists that the new religion will overthrow
the old. But it is doubtful whether there
has been sufficient growsh in the Christian
church to generally excite this fear Mis-
sionaries are attacked. Jfnot as religious
teachers, but as foreigners, and Chinese
Christians are robbed sand murdered as
those who sui yang kwei tsi' or follow
the foreign DEVIL rand hnot because they
have changed their religion. The attacks
have thus far BEEN borne chiefly by the
interior, while most W the merchants are in
the coast towns and treaty ports.
Those who know the Chinese people find
much to admire both in individual traits
and in national custems, But the govern
ment of the empire is a tangle of ways
that are dark and tricks that are vain"
The Chinese method of the past sixty years
of so-called Intercourse with foreigners is
very aptly expressed by this quotation The
official class has never taken foreign rela-
lions seriously. In case of trouble the pro-
gram has been to promise everything, but
to do nothing which by any means could be
avoided. Local officials have more than
once directly instigated anti-foreign out
breaks which have resulted in murder or
destruction of property, and when the de-
mands of the foreign government could be
resisted no longer have been degraded by
the Pekin government; yet when the dust
had settled sufficiently into the eyes of the
too easily deceived foreigners, the same Of
ficials have reappeared in positions of
greater prominence. The Chinese, high and
low, are adept actors. Ii Ping Heng was
governor of Shan-tung province at the time
of the seizure Kiao-chau by the Germans,
following the murder by bandits of two
German priests. Among other concessions
secured by the German government was a
decree against Governor Lii perpetually dis
abling him from holding any Office This
decree was simply two big handfuls of dust,
for in a short time this same Ii Ping Heng
was appointed to an office of great i'm
portance in the north, and it is reported
that he 1S of the
chief anti-foreign advisers.
In dealing with the Boxers the author
tiles Of China have but continued these
methods The anti-foreign party has be-
yond question hoped for opportunity to rise
against all foreigners and drive them into
the sea-" Ii Ping Heng petitioned the en-
press dowager to be allowed to resist
Of arms. Again. something over a year
ago. 1t was commonly reported and
believed that Gen.. Tung Flu Hsiang.
ager. requested permission to use his
soldiers. who were like himself bitterly anti
foreign. to attack the foreign legations in
Pekin. and that he pledged himself to make
the empress showed signs Of pleasure at his
loyalty and Of regret that she feared to
follow his suggestions. 1t was under a gov
ernor Of similar spirit that the Boxers" be-
gan operations in Shan-tung last fall. In
response to the representations of the mis-
sionaries. whose converts were being looted,
he refused to admit the existence Of any or
ganized society, and 1t was not until two or
three counties were In a state of practical
anarchy that soldiers were sent from the
capital. The avowed purpose Of these troops
was to protect the Christian Chinese from
robbery and to catch and punish the out
laws. The real animus Of the governor was
shown when he recalled and degraded the
officers who mad punished the Boxers" in
severe fight The Boxers openly claimed
to have the governors sympathy, and after
he aIoti
str1cted. The Chinese soldiers had evidently
been given orders not to harm the insur-
gents: for they refused to interfere, though
called upon. even when the outbreak Oc-
Cured within two or three miles of their
camp. The recent action of the empress
dowager in reprimanding Gen. Mich for at
lacking the Boxers" who were destroying
the railway from Tien Tsjn to Pekin is but
repetition on a larger scale of what the
governor of Shan-tung did at the beginning
of the troubles. In Shan-tung one county
magistrate is said to have sent word to the
rebels: Save my face, and don't enter this
the city The magistrate of POPPING county
said: Our own people we will protect but
not the converts of the foreigners"
1t Is the theory Of the Chinese government
that the people are naturally ignorant, and
that Its officials are sent to all parts of the
empire to instruct them IN the duties of life
In recent proclamation, when referring to
troubles with foreigners, the empress dow
ager said: THE stupid and ignorant people
who circulate rumors and stir UP strife,
proceeding from light to grave differences,
are most truly to be detested On the
other hand. the officials, who have not been
able at convenient seasons to properly in
struct the people and prevent disturbances.
cannot be excused from censure." The
character of the instruction given the peo-
pie may be seen in the following quotations
from pamphlet. issued a short time before
the beginning Of the present outbreak, by
a county magistrate named Chao. at that