St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-02-06

observe the laws of filial piety, to sub
NIT without question to the heads o
the order, to observe scrupulously tn
precepts of the oath enjoining tn
practice of virtue and benevOlence. Il
vowing most solemnly never to concea
serpents among dragons the Triad sim
ply swears that he will not introduce
Mantchoos among the loyal ChinameI
of the order. He further agrees to sac
rifice an ear for the slightest infractior
6f - FsAzs Ut secrecy and silence anC
no gs&AsR HRatb for the second offense
$asR ksaaRFe of the ceremonies in secret
,@nkas the heart of the Celestial leap
with joy, and it is no wonder that he
sWears to be a Triad if he dies for it.
The hated cue is unbranded and the
hair allowed to fall down over the
shoulders as in the good old days Of the
| Ming rule when the Chinese were
known as the "black named men" be-
cause Of their long, bushy, black locks.
Out in the world the Triads make
themselves known to "brethren" by va
rious secret glances, gestures and tones
of voice. Being naturally an adept "in
ways that are dark and tricks that are
vain" the heather Chinee is in his ele-
ment in fraternity of Triads banded
together to do horrible things to the
powers that Cypress.
The Boxers and their forerunners for
generations have been the political reg
ulators of China. After the Mantchoo
usurper had installed a foreign court
in Picking the patriot regulator became
the tyrant hater. The Mantchoo is a
foreigner, and after the Europeans be-
came partners in the plot to rule the
Celestial as a vassal hatred was turn
ed against them on general principles.
Still the outbreak of last summer was
not at bottom a Triad society move
ment. The plot was to get rid of the
empress dowager and with her the
whole Mantchoo train of parasites
Prince Tuan flattered and encouraged
the Boxers and skillfully turned the
perial clan upon the Europeans.
1t is extremely improbable that au
association spreading all over China
and to her colonies and the haunts Of
the emigrants on foreign soil and mum.
bering its millions would stop at the
mere expulsion of European foreign,
erS after having broOded over the
teachings of POO years that happiness
could only come to China by the res
toration of native rulers. The Boxers
lead in the cry, China for the Chi
nese!' and with them Chinese does not
include the Mantchoo. Whatever there
is of national spirit and reform spirit
among the Celestials may be found be-
hind the Boxers, if not in open league
with the society. All restIessness has
one cause, hatred of foreign rule and
foreign influence; all reform has one
end IN view China for the Chinese"
The imperial government is too weak
to suppress the secret societies even !
when they aim at the throne. They |
are at least a balance wheel, if moth
ing more, and the people and local
tolerate if they do not EN-
courage their existence. Chinas future
is nation lies in combination of her
elements, and in the Triads
here is the nucleus of an organized
movement to throw off the Mantcboo
'oke and along with that a train Of
wills which hold down the empire
'igilant if nothing more are the
LrlauS. GEORGE L. KILMER.