The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1900-12-07
CHINESE PROBLEM.
Causes That Led Up to the Recent
TrOublea.

In our foreign intercourse the domi-
ndnt question has been the treatment of
the Chinese problem. Apart from this
our relations with the powers have been
happy.
The recent troubles In China spring
from the anti-foreign agitation which Cor
the past three years has gained strength
in the northern provinces. Their origin
lies deep in the character of the Chi
nese races and in the traditions of their
government. The Tai Ping rebellion and
the opening of Chinese ports to foreign
trade and settlement disturbed alike the
homogeneity nd the seclusion of China
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
felt in all quarters, not alone on the
coast, but along the great rivers, arteries
and in the remoter districts. carrying new
ideas and introducing new associations
among primitive people which had pur-
sued for centuries national policy Of
isolation
The telegraph and the railway spread
ing over their land, the steamers plying
on their waterways, the merchant and
the missionary penetrating year by year
farther to the interior, became to the
Chinese mind types of an alien invasion,
changing the course of their national life
and fraught with vague forebodings of
disaster to their beliefs and their self
control
For several years before the present
troubles all the resources of foreign di-
plomacy, backed by moral demonstra.
tions of the physical force of fleets and
arms. have ieen needed to secure due
respect for the treaty rights of foreign
ers and to obtain satisfaction from the
responsible authorities for the sporadic
outrages upon the persons and property
Of unoffend ng sojourners, which from
time to tina occurred at widely sep
arated points N the northern provinces,
as in the case of the outbreaks in SEE
Chuen and Shan Tung.
Posting of anti-foreign placards be-
came daily occurrence, which the re-
peated probation of the imperial power
failed to check or punish. These infiam-
matory appeals to the ignorance and
superstition of the masses. mendacious
and absurd In their accusations. and
deeply hostile in their spirit, could not
but work culminative harm They aimed
at no particular class of foreigners; they
were impartial in attacking everything
foreign ~AG outbreak in Shan Tung, m
which German missionaries were slain.
was the too natural result of the malevo-
lent teachings The posting of seditious
placards. exhorting to the utter destruc-
tion of foreigners and of every foreign
thing continued unrebuked. Hostile
demonstrations toward the stranger
gained strength by organization.
The Boxer Agitation.
The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces north
of the Yangt.e and with coliusion Of
many notable officials, including some in
the immediate councils of the throneitself
became alarmirgly aggressive. Noforeign-
er's life. outside CT the protected treaty
ports. was safe No foreign interest was
secure from spoliation.
The diplomatic representatives of the
nowers in Pekin strove in vain to check
this movement. Protest was followed ny
demand and demand by renewed protest,
to be met with perfunetory edicts from
the najace and evasive and futile assur-
anees from the Tsung Ii Yamun. Fhe
circle of the Boxer influence narrowed
about Pekin and. while nominally- st.g'
matized as seditious. it was felt that Us
sniriI pervaded the capital Itself. that
the Imperial forces were imbued with lis
doctrines. and that the immediate coun-
| selors of the Empress Dowager were In
| full sympathy with the anti-foreign
movement.
The increasing gravity of the condl-
| tions in China, and the lmnshehee -
peril to our own diversified interests N
the empire, as well as to those OF an
the other treaty governments. were soon
| appreciated by this Government. causing
profound solicitude. The United States.
| from the earliest days of foreign inter-
course with China. has followed q poiiey
4 of peace. emitting no occasions to tes
tify goodwill. to further the extension
! of lawful trade, to respect the sovereign
/ tv Of its government. and to insure oy
all legitimate and kindly. but earn
| est means. the fullest measure OF pro
/ tection for the lives and property OF OUT
iaw-ab.dfng citizens and for the exef-
| -ise az their b.neficent callings among
| the Chinese people
Mindful of this. ii was felt to be ap-
nronriate that our purposes should oe
| pronounced in favor Of such a course
= would hasten united action Of tne
,awers at Pelin to promote the admin
| .rative reforms so greatly needed ~.
| strengthening the imperial government
nd maintaining the intfgrity OF 1niba'
which we believed the whole "eS.- IS
N word to be alike eencernea- y
ssse ends 7 caused to Be addressed g
/ ...t r.axreY= occupying territory