tion that Japan has undergone, a phoenix rising triumphant from the ashes of her past.

If that should prove to be so, is the new-born China to look upon us with gratitude or with aversion? Is she to be our willing ally, or another of our many opponents? Our action now will determine our position hereafter; all Englishmen in China are agreed as to that. What they are not agreed upon is what our action should be. Yet, as partition is out of the question, every consideration of political as well as of Christian morality would seem to urge upon us forgiveness rather than vengeance, reconstruction rather than disintegration, a generous assistance rather than the crippling of much-needed reforms by the exaction of enormous indemnities. We are continually told that if we do not pursue what is called a strong policy we shall lose ground in China; but the time for a strong policy has gone by-if it were ever desirable-and a considerate policy is the only means now by which we can hope to regain the influence we have lost. A continuance of the measures we have pursued for the last few years-of threats not followed up by action— will only weaken us still further. Apart, too, from the question of self-interest, is there not such a thing as abstract right and wrong? It may be that to think of China's interests, even more than of our own, may be the wisest course to pursue from a purely worldly point of view-may prove to be for us the most paying policy in the long run-and that in the

stricter observance of the principle laid down in the Treaty of Tientsin-that the Christian religion teaches that we should do unto others as we would that they should do unto us-may perchance be found the solution to the intricate problem of our Chinese policy.

CHAPTER XIII

CHARACTER OF BOXER MOVEMENT-BOXER PROCLAMATION-ATTITUDE OF YANGTZE VICEROYS ANd of Yuan-SHIH-KAI-CORDIAL FEELING ENTERTAINED TO CHINA BY FOREIGNERS IN CHINESE SERVICEIMPERIAL DECREE-DANGER RUN BY FRIENDLY CHINESE-VICEROYS' DECREE PROVIDING FOR SAFETY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROVINCESACTION OF MR. PELHAM WARREN.

It must always be kept in view that, at the present moment, there are two entirely distinct and opposed revolutionary movements going on in the interior of China. That of the Boxers in the North, which has enlisted the support of the Empress Dowager, and of the more conservative of the Manchu Princes, is, in reality, a revolt only against the Emperor, and against the efforts of his chosen Ministers and himself to bring about progress and reform. The Boxer watchword is, 'Drive out the foreigners and uphold the dynasty; it is, in fact, a cry of China for the Manchus,' and it is backed up by all the priests, Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian alike, on account of its anti-Christian as well as its anti-foreign propaganda.

It is a retrograde movement, in which an amelioration of the present state of wretchedness is sought, not in progressive reform, but in a return to the supposed happier condition of simplicity and purity

of a bygone age. "The figure of men in ancient times,' says a Chinese proverb, resembled that of wild beasts, but their hearts contained the most perfect virtue. The outward appearance of the present race of men is human, but their dispositions are utterly brutish.'

It is the dream over again of the French Revolutionaries amidst the corruption of the eighteenth century.

One of the Boxer proclamations, translated for the Japan 'Daily Mail,' is pathetic enough in the truth of its premises, however wrong it may be in its deductions therefrom. It runs thus::

The Chinese Empire has been celebrated for its sacred teaching. It explained heavenly truth and taught human duties, and its civilising influence spread as an ornament over river and hill. But all this has been changed in an unaccountable manner. For the past five or six generations bad officials have been in trust, bureaus have been opened for the sale of offices, and only those who had money to pay for it have been allowed to hold positions in the Government. The graduation of scholars has become useless, and members of the College of Literature and scholars of the third degree are in obscurity at home. An official position can only be obtained at the price of silver. The Emperor covets the riches of his Ministers; these again extort from the lower ranks of the mandarinate, and the lower mandarins in turn, by the necessity of their position, must extort from the people. The whole populace is sunk in wretchedness, and all the officials are spoilers of their food. The condition of the Yamêns is unspeakable. In every market and in every guild nothing can be done unless money be spent. The officials must be bribed. All sorts

of exactions are made. These officials are full of schemes, none of which are in accordance with the three principles. Having forfeited their heaven-derived dispositions, they are unreasonable and unregulated. They are all alike; illgotten wealth is their one object; right has disappeared from the world. There is nothing but squabbling and extortion on all hands, and lawsuits are unnumbered. In the Yamêns it is of no avail to have a clean case; unless you bribe you will lose the day. There is no one to whom the aggrieved may appeal; the simple multitudes are killed with oppression, and their cry goes up to heaven itself, and is heard of God. Though spiritual beings and sages were sent down to teach right principles, to issue good works, and to instruct the multitude, few, alas! heeded. Who is there that understands? The evil go on their course rejoicing, while the spiritual powers are conscious that their teachings have been vain. Now in anger the heavenly powers are sending down multitudes of spirits to earth to make inquiry of all, both high and low. The Emperor himself, the chief offender, has had his succession cut off, and is childless. The whole Court, both civil and military, is in an unspeakable condition. They indulge blindly in mere amusement, and disregard the widow's cry, repenting of nothing and learning nothing good. Greater calamities still have overtaken the nation. Foreign devils come with their teaching, and converts to Christianity, Roman Catholics and Protestants, have become numerous. These are without human relations, but being most cunning they have contracted all the greedy and covetous as converts, and to an unlimited degree they have practised oppression until every good official has been corrupted, and, covetous of foreign wealth, has become their servant. So telegraphs and railways have been established, foreign rifles and guns have been manufactured, and machine shops have been a delight to their vile natures. Locomotives, balloons, electric lamps, the foreign devils think excellent. Though these foreigners ride in sedans unbefitting their rank, China