East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-02-12

conspirators or for the Arrest of lead
ing members, down to $4,000 for the
arrest of persons issuing conspiracy
badges.
In China secret societies Of a semi
religious, political or criminal nature
have found a favorable atmosphere
in the past, and though the president
dates their rise from the latter days
of the Ming dynasty, it is difficult to
ind time in recorded history when
the country was free from them.
White Lilly Recalled.
In the second century of the Chris
tian era the Yellow Turbans-a pro-
totype Of the Boxers of our own time
I-harassed the latter days of the
house of Han, and in the same CEN
tury we first hear Of the famous
White Lily socity, perhaps one of the
most powerful of all. This was, how
ever religious sodality in it's early
days I'd it was OF util the fourteeth
century that it came under the Off
cial ban as being tainted with sedition
and a menace to the commonwealth.
II might be said that it was this So
ciety that struck the first blow at the
proud structure of the Manchu en-
plre, and inflicted on it the first of
many younds that it received in the
century of decay that eliminated in
its overthrow.
Whatever anti-dynastic societies
may have existed, they dared not show
themselves openly during the vigor-
Gus relgns of the first four monarchs
or the house of Ching, and it was not
until the weak ruler, Chia-Ching. was
on the throne that the White Lily So
clety broke out in open rebellion. The
rising was put down with ruthless
cruelty, but it nevertheless had shown
that the decline of the Manchu had
set in and it was not long before fur
ther trouble was caused by other con-
rederacies of the same sort.
The most redoubtable of all is the
Triad Society, which is the most wide
~ known of the many secret societies
In China today. It has always nos
sessed great power and influence es-
peclally in the south. The central
IDEA OF its creed was the overthrow of
the Manchus and the restoration of
the Mings, and during the Taipino re-
nelllon 1t came very near achieving
its end.
Its Part IngloriOus
FOR all that its part in the revolu.
tlon was inglorious and its activitie,
since nave been so curious that il
may well be that it is aimed the
presidents mandate. The general,
accepted explanation of its ambigu.
Gus behavior since the revolution is
mat 1t felt aggrieved that the over.
throw of the Manchus had been ac.
compllshed without its aid, and thar
the republican constitution did no
| please 1t, and that it still crayed fo,
restoration of the Mings. Doubt
less there were many members who
| looked forward to the creation n
trouble for the spoil that might fal
10 them. AT any rate, the Triads il
! tne south have been a source of mucl
disorder particularly in the south.
| CHINA has always been honeycomb
| ed with secret societies and little rea
fruit is expected from the proposet
| represslVe measures. In any senti
ent state opposition to the govern
ment must arise, and it serves a use
ful purpose. Repression, however
would compel that opposition to worl
In the dark, and it is this which lead!
to treachery. No doubt most of tn,
secret societies which exist in Chine
ought to be stamped out, but it MAJ
be questioned if they would hav,
arisen had free criticism of and {
share in the government been grant
| ed the people.
Yuan Shih Kai's best weapon
against these associations is. there
lore, an educated public opinion an,
frank recognition that opposition t
and criticism of the government ar
not necessarily reasonable, seditious
nor even Objectionable.