The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-04

With gratifying unanimity the re
 sponses coincided in this common policy
 enabling me to see in the successful ter
 imitation of these negotiations proof oi
 the friendly spirit which animates the various powers interested in the untram
 meled development of commerce and in
 dustry in the Chinese Empire as Il source
 of vast benefit to the whole commercial
 world.
 In this conclusion, which l had the
 qualification to announce as completed
 engagement to the interested powers on
 March 20, 1900, I hopefully discerned q
 potential factor for the abatement of the
 distrust of foreign purposes which for 2
 year past had appeared to inspire the
 policy of the Imperial Government and
 for the effective exertion by it of power
 and authority to quell the critical anti
 foreign movement in the northern prov inces most immediately influenced by the
 Manchu sentiment
 Seeking to testify confidence in the
 willingness and ability of the Imperial
 administration to redress the wrongs and prevent the evils we suffered and feared.
 the marine guard, which had been sent
 to Picking in the autumn of 1899 for the
 protection of the legation, was with
 drawn at the earliest practicable mo-
 ment, and all pending questions were re-
 mitted, as far as we were concerned, to
 the ordinary resorts of diplomatic inter
 course.
 The Chinese Government proved, how
 ever, unable to check the rising strength
 of the Boxers and appeared to be prey
 to Internal disseDsions. In the unequal
 contest the antiforeign influences soon
 gained the ascendancy under the leader
 ship of Prince Yuan. Organized armies
 of Boxers, with which the Imperial forces
 affiliated, held the country between Pe- king and the coast, penetrated into Man churia up to the Russian borders, and ! through their emissaries threatened q like | rising throughout northern China. Attacks upon foreigners, destruction of their property, and slaughter of native converts were reported from all sides. The Tsung-li Yamen, already permeated with hostile sympathies, could make no effective response to the appeals of the legations. At this critical juncture, in the early spring of this year. q proposal was made by the other powers that a combined fleet should be assembled in Chinese waters as moral demonstra- tion, under cover of which to exact of the Chinese Government respect for foreign treaty rights and the suppression of the Boxers.
 The United States, while not partcipat- ing in the joint demonstration, promptly sent from the Philippines all ships that could be spared for service on the Chi nese coast. A small force of marines was landed at Taku and sent to Picking for the protection of the American lega- tion. Other powers took similar action, until some four hundred men were as- sembted in the capital as legation guards
 Still the peril increased The legations reported the development of the sedi- tious movement in Picking and the need of increased provision for defense against it. While preparations were in progress for larger expedition, to strengthen the legation guards and keep the railway open, an attempt of the foreign ships to make landing at Taku was met by a fire from the Chinese forts. The forts were thereupon shelled by the foreign vessels, the American admiral taking no part in the attnck, on the ground that we were not at war with China and that hostile demonstration might consolidate the antiforeign clements and strengthen the Boxers to oppose the relieving col !. umn.
 Two days later the Taku forts were captured after a sanguinary conflict | Severance of communication with Pe- king followed. and a combined force of additional guards which was advancing to Picking by the Pei-IIo, was checked at Langfang. The isolation of the lega- tions was complete.
 The siege and the relief of the lega- tions has passed into undying history. In all the stirring chapter which records the heroism of the devoted band, clinging to hope in the face of despair, and the un- daunted spirit that led their relevers through battle and suffering to the goal, it is a memory of which my countrymen may be justly proud that the honor of our flag was maintained alike in the siege and the rescue, and that stout American hearts have again set high, in fervent emulation with true men of oth- CT race and language the indomtable that ever strives for the cause of right and justice.
 By June 18th the legations were cut off. An identical note from the Yamen ordered each minister to leave Picking, lnder a promised escort, within twenty four hours. To gain time they replied, asking prolongation of the time, which vas afterwards granted, and requesting Tn interview with the Tsung-li Yamen ,n the following day. No reply being re- ,eived, on the morning of the 20th the German minister, Baron von ketteler, 'et out for the Yamen to obtain re- ponse, and on the way was murdered.
 An attempt by the legation guard to re- over his body was foiled by the Chinese Armed forces turned out against the lega- ions. Their quarters were surrounded md attacked The mission compounds were abandoned, their inmates taking ef.ge in the British legation, where all he other legations and guards gathered or more effective defense. Four hun , red persons were crowded in its narrow Two thousand native converts , yere assembled in q nearby palace un- f CT protection of the foreigners. Lines $ f defense were strengthened, trenches , uG, barricades raised, and preparations lade to stand a siege, which at once S egan. f From June 20th until July 1Tth writes f Iinister Conger, there was scarcely an f our during which there was not firing l, pon some part of our lines and into c 1me of the legations, varying from t ugle shot to q general and continuous r