The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-04
STORY Of THE BOXERS
As.RELATED BY MINISTER CONGER
TO A DIES MONIES AU-
DIENCE
WAS STARTED BY BUDDHIsTs
In ITS ORIGIN THE MOVEMENT
WAS OF A RELIGIOUS
NATURE
TAKEN UP BY GEN. w sHEN

DIES MONIES, To-, May minister
Conger was formally welcomed to Des
Moines at a public meeting held in the
auditorium this afternoon. The recep-
tion was rendered by the two Grand
Army posts, the city, citizens generally
and the missionary societies represented
in China. Three thousand attended.
Minister Conger and family and intimate
friends occupied the stage, and the boxes
were filled with state and city officials.
Addresses Of welcome were made by
Judge Josiah Given, DR.. E. r. Hutchins,
John A. Mccall, Gov. Shaw, Mayor
Hartehbower and others, and Minister
Conger responded briefly, reviewing the
events of the siege of Pekin and the re-
lief of the legationers.
In the col rse Of his reply Minister
Conger, referring to the Boxer move
ment uprising in China, said:
HISTORY OF THE RISING.
But there is q history connected with
this affair which have not seen in print,
and about which l will tell you. The or
ganization which is known as the Box
ers' has been in existence more than
hundred years, but had long ceased to
be Of Importance. Two Buddhist priests,
in the province of Shan Tung, some time
in the year 1899, revived the organization.
or made an organization which took the
name OF the older one. Some have said
II was u pdIIlOLlC OTSdIllZdIlOn, DuL IL was
In fact at the outset q religious move
lnent. The priest who was at it's head
has since been captured, tried by Ger
man court and executed. 1t has been
learned osince the suppression Of the
Boxers that the organization was en-
tirely religious. The priests professed
to have supernatural powers. The So
clety spread in Shan Tung province. There
was never any danger from it until 1t
was taken up by Gen. Yu Shen, the gov
ernor OF tho province, bitter hater Of
make of this society a tool to further
his ends. He encouraged the society,
gave the promoters funds and assisted
them in every way. The priests pretend
millions of warriors fully armed and
equipped, and that they would form an
army to drive out of China everything
mat was foreign. They pretended that
monies make their bodies irnpervious to
bullets. This took deep hold on the super
stitlous minds Of the Chinese people. But
there had not been a foreigner harmed
in Shan Tung province up to this time
rev Or. BROOKS missionary, was killed
more by accident than by design. Gen.
Yu Shen secured the assistance of
powerful princess and between them thew
determined on making the society sum.
clnetlX powerful to drive out all foreign
eTs; eS; soon the societies spread over Into
IN IN II province. IN which Pekin is sit
uated; and all Of the foreigners were at
lacked and native Christians were com
PEELED either to recant or suffer death. !"
CHINESE ARE CowARDs.
Minister Conger declared that all of
the time Of the siege there was the
h1msiest possible veil between the Iega-
tloners and death. It could have been
brushed aside with one charge. he said
ana would have been If the Chinese had
possessed courage. In some way they
We're flled with fear and never mada
the charge Such charge as was made
py our men under Capt. Meyer would
have ended our career.
MT. Conger and his family were tha
guests at reception at the state house
uhder the auspices Of the CITY Fedora
tioh ti OF Women's clubs. 1t is the second
t-I tin'e In history that the use Of the state
reception. Pi1'"'"
IN MINISTER Conger will leave on Monday
Tor washington to consult with tho sta+e
department with regard to his duties