CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 23 August 1907, Page 4

CHINESE SECRET SOCIETIES.

Of the many riots and disturbances which have taken place in China during tho last half-century or more it would be safe to assume that the secret societies with which the country is honeycombed are more or less responsible lor most, says the North China Daily Jicws. It is questionable whether foreigners have any adequate conception of ihe power possessed by these the ramification of which are so comprehensive. They arec ountless in number, protean in form and invariably shrouded in mystery. The inllucnee of some of tjie Jlead;crs, controlling as they do many thousands of adherents, is unique and far-reaching. There are few Chinese laborers, not to speak of multitudes in the higher ranks of life, who do not belong to a secret society. And so deeply ingrained in the Chinese heart and mind in this idea of the necessity of being associated together in this way '.hat no ma'.tcr where his !0.. may b: cast the Chinaman is sure n, find these secret i"gv.i«ii,i,i so irg'ng a > and llour'&iiing I'lis high br< i'ers •■! Call- I forma it.-:, nn'rcd ,o c ; e".c : u\ Du.wa,! '« S'.:-rHb Settlements and else-v;,aie sfu/.l r.himlat'.t rvi;Ui.:,- of tl.i- fact. «t.-r»iLly the -jLjt jf 0/ these societies, be they ■uvil or military, orthodox or heteruj.ji:, k tin cultivation and nrsutir.c of virtue—a coiveiiietit nhrase which may signify Utile or much nceonl ! isg to ?irc.imsUA:cs. 'J here tun, however, be 50 doubt tUot many of them owe their origin to the ,vdcspiva-i corruption nf offihUmuu _-i ( bita with the resultant necessity laid until the people of Siding some methto ol otfenc,: against tyranny and iajusti':.! .t. .litut.t,< .;- et society is a trade union; it is all which that implies, and much more; for, noting independently of the official courts for the administration of justice, it has ft Bccret tribunal of its own, which ad;jjudieates in cases alfecting the interests r of its members, and not infrequently ro- - verses the decisions of the recognised - courts of justice; nor docs it lack the - power of inflicting adequate penalties on i individuals wob. have come under its displeasure.