Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-12-04


stranger gained strength by organiza-
ton.
The sect, commonly styled the Box
ers, developed greatly IN the provinces
north of the Yang-Tse and with the
collusion of many notable officials in
Guiding some of the immediate coun-
ellis of the throne itself, became alarm
ingly aggressive. No foreigners life,
outside of the protected treaty ports,
was safe. No foreign interest was Sc
cure from spoliation.
The dlplomaticrepresentatlves of the
powers in Pekfng strove in vain to
check this movement. Protest was fol-
lowed by demand and demand by re-
newed protest, to be met by perfume
tory edicts from the Palace and evas-
i've and futile assurances from the
Tsung Ii Yamen. The circle of the
Boxer influence narrowed about Pek-
ing, and while nominally stigmatized
as seditfous, it was felt that its spirit
pervaded the capital itself, that the I'M
perial forces were imbued with its doc
trines and that the immediate counsel
lors Of the Empress Dowager were in
full sympathy with the anti-foreign
movement.
The Interesting gravity of the condi-
ditions in China and the imminence
of peril to our own diversified interests
in the empire, as well as to those of all
the other treaty governments, were
soon appreciated by this government,
causing it profound solicitude. The
United States from the earliest of for
eign intercourse with China had fol-
lowed a policy of peace, emitting no
occasions to testify good will, to fur
thar the extension of lawful trade, to
respect the sovereignty of it's govern
ment, and to insure by all legitimate
and kindly but earnest means the full
est measure of protection for the lives
and property of our abiding citi-
ficlent callings among the Chinese peo-
| pie.
Mindful of this it was felt to be ap-
propriate that our purposes should be
/ pronounced in favor of such course as
hasten united action of The Powers at
Peking to promote the administrative
reforms so greatly needed for strength
ening the Imperial government and
maintaining the integrity of China in
which we believed the whole western
world to be alike concerned. To these
ends | caused to be addressed to the
| several Powers occupying territory and
maintaining spheres of influence in
China the circular proposals of 1899, in
viting from them declarations of their
intentions and views to the desirable
ity of the adoption of measures insur-
ing the benefits of equality of treat
ment of all foreign trade throughout
China.
With gratifying unanimity the re-
sponses coincided in this common pol
cy, enabling me to see in the successful
| termination of these negotiations
proof of the friendly spirit which ami
mates the various Powers interested
in the untrammeled development Of
commerce and industry in the Chinese
empire as a source of vast benefit to
the whole commercial world.
In this conclusion, which 1 had the
qualification to announce as a complet-
ed engagement to the interested Pow
ers on March 20, 1900, l hopefully dis
cerned potential factor for the abate-
ment of the distrust of foreign pur-
poses which for year past had ap-
peared to inspire the policy of the I'm
I'perial government, and for the effec-
tive eXertion by it of power and auth
GRITTY to quell the critical anti-foreign
movement in the northern provinces
most Immediately influenced by the
Manchu sentiment
Seeking to testify confidence in the
Willingness and ability of the Imperial
administrator to redress the wrongs
and prevent the evils we suffered and
feared, the marine guard, which had
been sent to Peking in the autumn OF
1899 for the protection of the legation,
was withdrawn at the earliest practical
moment, and all pending questions
were remitted, as far as we were con-
cerned, to the ordinary resorts of dip
lomatic intercourse.
The Chinese government proved
however, unable to check the rising
strength of the Boxers and appeared to
be prey to internal dissension. In
the unequal contest the anti-foreign
influences soon gained the ascendancy
under the leadership of Prince Tuan
Organized armies of Boxers. with
which the Imperial forces affiliated
held the country between Peking ant
the coast, penetrated into Manchurif
up the Russian border, and through
their emissaries threatened like ris
ing throughout northern China.
Attacks upon foreigners, destruction
of their property, and slaughter o