The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04
THE CHINESE PROBLEM.
settlement Of the Questions Invol
ed should BE BY Arbitration.

OettIement OF the Quest1Ons AnVOlv.
ed should BE BY Arbitration.
In our foreign intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment OF the
Chinese problem. Apart from this our re-
lations with the Powers have been happy.
The recent troubles in China spring from
the anti-foreign agitation which for the
past three years has gained strength in the
northern provinces. Their origin lies deep
In the character of the Chinese races. and
n the traditions of their Government. The
Tipping rebellion and the opening of Chi
nese ports to foreign trade and settlement
disturbed alike the homogeneity and the
seclusion of China.
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
felt in all quarters, not alone on the coast,
but along the great river arteries and in
the remoter districts, carrying new ideas
and introducing new associations among a
primitive people which had pursued for
centuries national policy Of isolation.
The telegraph and the railway spreading
over their land the steamers plying on
their waterways, the merchant and the
missionary penetrating year by year far
Their to the interior. became to the Chinese
mind types of an alien invasion, changing
the course of their national life and fraught
VIII vague lOTeDOuluSS Vi ulSdsttI ~ luclT
beliefs and their self-control.
For several years before the present
troubles all the resources Of foreign diplo-
macy, backed by moral demonstrations Of
the physical force of fleets and arms, have
been needed to secure due respect for the
treaty rights Of foreigners and to obtain
satisfaction from the responsible authori-
ties for the sporadic outrages upon the per-
sons and property of unoffending sojourn-
nd -
widely separated points in the northern
provinces, as in the case o. the outbreaks
In Sze-chuen and Shantung.
Posting OF anti-foreign placards became
Q daily occurrence, which the repeated
reprobation Of the imperial power failed
TO check or punish. These inflammatory
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 cumulative
harm. They aimed at no particular class Of
foreigners; they were impartial In attack
ing everything foreign.
An outbreak in Shantung In which Ger
man missionaries were slain, was the too
natural result of these malevolent teach
ings The posting Of seditious placards.
+. exhorting to the utter destruction Of for
eigners and Of every foreign thing, con-
tinued unrebuked. Hostile demonstrations
ganization-
The Boxer Rising.
The sect, commonly styled the Boxers,
developed greatly liz the provinces rorth
of the Yangtse, and with the collision of
many notable officials, including some in
the immediate councils of the throne it.
self, became alarmingly aggressive. No
foreigners life, outside Of the protected
treaty ports, was safe. No foreign in
terest was secure from spoliation.
The diplomatic representatives OF the
Powers in Pekin strove in vain to check
this movement. Protest was followed by
demand and demand by renewed protest.
TO be met with perfunctory edicts from
the palace and evasive and futile assur-
ances from the Tsung- li-Yamen. The cir
Gle Of the Boxer influence narrowed about
Pekin, and while nominally stigmatized
as seditious, II was felt that its spirit
pervaded the capital itself, that the i'm
periai forces were imbued with its doc
trines and that the immediate counsel
ors of the Empress Dowager were in full
sympathy with the anti-foreign move
0ent.
The increasing gravity OF the conditions
In China and the imminence OF peril to
our own diversified interests in the En-
pire, as well as to those Of all the other
treaty Governments, were soon appre-
ciated by this Government, causing It pro-
found soIicitudc. The United States from
the earliest days of foreign intercourse
witt China had followed policy OF peace,
emitting no occasions to testify good will,
70 further the extension Of lawful trade.
to respect the sovereignty Of its Gov
eminent, and to ensure by all legitimate
and kindly but earnest means the fullest
measure Of protection for the lives aid
property of our law abiding citizens and
for the exercise Of their beneicent CALL
(ngs among the Chinese people.
Mindful OF this, II Was felt TO be ap-
propriate that our purposes should be
pronounced In favor Of such course as
would hasten united action Of the Pow
ers At Pekin to proraote the administra-
tive reforms 30 greatly needed Tor
STRENGTHENING the imperial Government
and maintaining the integrity Of China in