The semi-weekly messenger., 1902-09-23

Washington, September 1s.-China is
on the verge of another Boxer uprising
which may equal that of 1900, according
TO mail advices received at the state
department from Minister Conger, dated
last month. The troubles appear to
arise principally from extortionate tax
alton combined with resentment against
the presence OF missionaries.
Mr.. Conger's first advice bears date
ports serious anti-foreign riots nes
Chen Tu in the province of Sze-Chuan,
in which a number of native Christians
had been massacred and chapels de-
stroyed. Mr.. Conger appears to. have
acted energetically upon telegraphic
complaints from DR.. Cartwright, an
American medical missionary at Chen
Tu, not addressing the Chinese foreign
office by letter but calling there in per-
son to impress upon the officials the
Importance of an immediate ana ef-
fective action and finally succeeding in
causing the removal of the local Chi
nese officials who had failed to repress
ty.
Mr.. Conger encloses with his report
the communications that passed be-
tween himself, DR.. Cartwright and the
foreign office. Under date Of June
Goth, from Chen Tu, DR.. Cartwright
telegraphed ''Sze Chuan repeating nine
teen hundred. Chapel burned, ten
Christians killed. Boxers multiplying
four months, officials taxed
Mr.. Conger Immediately telegraphed
DR.. Cartwright 10 demand adequate
protection for Missionaries and the ma
tive Christians from the local officials.
He also addressed note to Prince
Ching, stating that there were several
American missionaries and many chap
els and converts in SEE Chuan, and
that it was necessary that immediate
provision be taken to stamp these trou-
bles at their very inception.
In his answer Prince Ching enclosed
a copy of an imperial edict, saying:
"Such fierce and lawless outbreaks
should certainly be quickly put down.
They must on no account be allowed
to spread. We comand Kwei Chun to
strictly order the troops" to disperse
the ring leaders and to punish them &C
cording to the rigor of the law, and so,
nip the rebellion in the bud"
Another dispatch from the foreign Of
flee to Mr.. Conger, dated July 3rd,
stated that the viceroy reported that
the missionary killed was a Chinese
and that quite a number of leading
Boxers had been captured and punish
ed and a sharp lookout was being kept
for those still at large.
Mr.. Conger again had occasion to ad-
dress the foreign office on July 80, in
forming them that DR.. Cartwright had
again reported that robberies and mas
sacres were occurring daily; that all
were in great danger and that he had
demanded protection in vain. The min
lister urged the foreign office to take
more effective measures "in ordr to
avoid the fearful responsibility OF
further loss of life and property" The
foreign office replied that several edicts
had been issued directing the vicroy to
suppress the troubles.
A Letter of later date from Minister
Conger transmits two imperial edicts,
ordering several changes among prov1n-
cial officials as a result of the disturb
ances. The most important of the
changes, Minister Conger states, is the
removal of Kwei Chun as viceroy OF
SEE Chuan province because of his
failure to suppress the recent serious
disturbances in the territory under him.