Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-12-13

I qualification to announce as a completed
engagement to the interested powers or
| March 20 1900. hopefully discerned po.
tential factor for the abatement of the
| distrust OF foreign purposes which for q
| year past had appeared to inspire the
| policy OF the imperial government. anc
| FOR the effective exertion by IL of power
and authority TO quell the critical anti
| foreign movement In the northern prov.
! lnces most Immediately influenced by the
| Manchu sentiment
Seeking to testify confidence in the WILL
| ingness and ability of the imperial ad-
ministratlon to redress the wrongs and
| prevent the evils we suffered and feared
the marine guard, which had been sent to
Pekin In the autumn OF 1888 for the pro-
tecuon OF the legation, was Withdrawn al
tho earliest practical moment, and all
pending questions were RENTED, as far
as we were concerned, to the ordinary re-
sorts OF diplomatic intercourse.
SLAUGHTER BY BOXERS,
The Chinese government proved. how
| ever unable to check the rising strength
| OF the Boxers and appeared to be a prey
| to internal discussions In the unequal
contest the anti-foreign influences soon
| ship OF Prince Tuan. Organized armies
| OF Boxers, with which the imperial forces
afhliated held the country between Pekin
and the coast. penetrated into Manchuria
| up to the Russian border. and through
\ their emissaries threatened 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-yamep, 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. a proposal
| was made by the other powers that q
| combined feet should be assembled In
Chinese water as moral demonstration
under cover Of which to exact of the
Chinese government respect for foreign
treaty rights and the suppression Of tn,
| Boxers.
The United States. while not participant
| Ing In the joint demonstration. promptly
! sent from the Philippines all ships thai
| could be spared for, service on the Chi
| nese coast. A small force OF marines
| for the protection of the American lega-
| ton. Other powers took similar action.
until some 400 men were assembled In the
capital as legation guards.
still the peril increased. The legations
reported the development of the seditious
movement In Pel0n and the need of in
creased provision for defense against 1t.
While preparations were in progress for
larger expedition to strengthen the le-
cation guards and keep the railway open
an attempt OF the foreign ships to make
landing at Taku was met by fire
from the Chinese forts The forts were
thereupon shelled by the foreign vessels.
the American admiral taking no part in
the attack, on the ground that We were
not at war with China and that hostile
demonstration might consolidate the anti
foreign element and strengthen the Box
ers to oppose the relieving column.
Two days later the Teku forts were
captured after sanguinary conflict.
followed, and a combined force OF addi-
tional guards. which was advancing to
Pekin by the Pei-Ho, was checked at
Lang Fang. The isolation of the lega-
tons was complete.
HERoISM OF THE LEGATIONS.
The siege and the relief of the legations
| has passed into undying history. In ell
| 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 BELIEVERS
| through battle and suffering to the goal,
| II 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 other race
| and language. the indomitable courage
| that ever strives for the cause OF right
and justice.
BY June 10 the legations were cut OF.
An identical note from the yamen or
| dered each minister to leave Pekin, under
a promised escort. within twenty-four
| hours. To gain time they replied. asking
| prolongation Of the time, which was aft
erward granted. and requesting an inter-
| view with the tsung-li-yamen on the fol-
| lowing day, No reply being received. on
| the morning of the 10th the German min
| lister, Baron Won Ketteler. set out for the
yamen to obtain response. and on the
| way was murdered.
An attempt by the legation guard to re-
cover his body was foiled by the Chinese.
| Armed forces turned out against the lega-
| tons. Their quarters were surrounded
| and attacked. The mission compounds
| were abandoned, their inmates taking
refuge In the British legation, where all
| the other legations and guards gathered
4 f,v- az IaTa L.tsn AraI
persons were crowded into Its narrow
| compass. Two thousand native converts
were assembled In near by palace under
| protection of the foreigners. Lines of de-
Tense were Strengthened. trenches dug
| barricades raised and preparations made
| to stand a siege, which at once began.
From June 20 until July H." write,
| Minister Conger, there was scarcely ar
| hour during which there was not trims
| upon some part OF our lines and into
some of the legations. varying from 9
single shot to a general and continuous
was placed around the legations and or
the overlooking palace walls and thou
sands OF 3-inch shot and shell were fred
| destroying some buildings and damag
ing ali. So thickly did the balls rain that
| when the ammunition Of the besieged rar
| low. five quarts of Chinese bullets wer,
gathered in IN hour In one compound ant
| recast.
Attempts were made 20 burn the iega
lions by setting neighboring houses OF
| fire, but the flames were successful,
fought off, although the Austrian. Bel
gian, Italian and Dutch legations wer,
then and subsequently burned.
ATTITUDE IN CHINA.
Americas attitude has been UNMARRIED
and was first broadly defined by a circu
lar to the powers of July last, Thu
country's policy as then defined being It,
seek a solution which may bring abou
permanent safety and peace to China
preserve Chinese territorial and admin
istrative entity, protect all rights guar
anteed to friendly powers by treaty an,
international law and safeguard for tn
world the principle OF equal and impair
tial trade with all parts OF the Chimes
| empire" OF course. in addition to thi
! broad and generous view os the right
and Interests Of all nations, there ha
since been added the question Of repara
ton for injuries received the past sum
mer and the indemnity for the expense
necessarily Incurred in connection witt
the relief of the legations On this poin
the president says: I'VE forego no 10
OF our undoubted right to exact exem
| plary and deterrent punishment of tn
responsible authors Of the criminal act
whereby We and other nations have sui
fered grievous injury"
! While the hope Is expressed that
complete settlement of all the question
involved may be reached. II Is admitte
that the question OF indemnity Is one o
| grave concern" as measured In none,
alone. a sufficient recompense may b
! beyond the power of China to pay. Tn
president is disposed to think, however
| that due compensation may be made b,
| Increased guarantees for foreign right
and immunities and by the opening o
China to the equal commerce OF all tn