Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-12-12

sides. The tsung-li-yamen, already
permeased with hostile sympathies,
could make no effective response to the
appeals Of the legations At this crit
iCal juncture. in the early spring or
this year, proposal was made by the
other powers that a combined fleet
should be assembled in Chinese waters
as a moral demonstration, under cover
of which to exact of the Chinese gov
eminent respect for foreign treaty
rights and the suppression of the Box
ers
The United States, while not partici-
pating in the joint demonstration,
promptly sent from the Philippines all
ships that could be spared for service
on the Chinese coast. A small force
of marines were landed at Taku and
sent to Pekin for the protection Of the
American legation. other powers took
similar action, until some 400 men were
assembled in the capital as legation
guards.
1.-THE president here tells of the siege
of the legations at Pekin, the landing
of troops and the rescue of the foreign
ministers.
Taking, as a point of departure. the
imperial edict appointing Earl Ii Hung
Chang and Prince Ching plenipotentiar-
les to arrange a settlement, and the
edict of Sept. %, whereby certain high
officials were designated for punish
ment, this government has moved, In
concert with the other powers, toward
the opening of negotiations. which Mr..
Conger assisted by Mr.. Rockhill, has
been authorized to conduct on behalf
of the United States.
General bases of negotiation formu-
lated by the government Of the French
republic have been accepted with GER
tain reservations as to details, made
necessary by our own circumstances,
but like similar reservations by other
powers, open to discussion in the prog
ress of the negotiations. The DISPOSE
ton of the emperor's government to
admit liability for wrongs done TO for
eign governments and their nationals
and to act upon such additional desig-
nation of the guilty persons as the for
eign ministers at Pekin may be in po-
sition to make gives hope of complete
settlement of all questions involved, as
surfing foreign rights of residence and
intercourse on terms of equality Tor all
the world.
I regard as one Of the essential fac
tors of a durable adjustment the Sc
curement OF adequate guarantees for
liberty of faith. since insecurity OF
those natives who may embrace alien
creeds is a scarcely less effectual as
sault upon the rights of foreign wor-
ship and teaching than would be the di-
rect invasion thereof.
The matter of indemnity for our
wronged citizens is a question of grave
concern. Measured in money alone a
sufficient reparation may prove to be
beyond the ability of China to meet
All the powers concur in emphatic dis
Chalmers of any purpose of aggrandiZe-
ment through dismemberment or the
empire. I am disposed to think that
due compensation may be made In part
by increased guarantees of security for
foreign rights ard immunities and
most important of all. by the opening
of China to the equal commerce of all
the world These views nave been and
will be earnestly advocated by our rep
resentatives
The government Of Russia has put
forward a suggestion. that in the event
Of protracted divergence of views in
regard to indemnities the matter may
be relegated to the court Of arbitration
at The Hague. I favorably incline to
this believing that high tribunal could
not fail to reach a solution no less
conducive to the stability and enlarged
prosperity of China itself than immedi-
atelv beneficial to the powers.
THE president here tells of our rela-
lions with other foreign countries.
which are very friendly. He devotes
considerable space to our exhibit at the
Paris exposition. the Samoan settle
ment. boundary questions and other
matters in which the United states is
interested with other countries