Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-12-13
CHINA COMES FIRST.
The Horrors of the Pekin Siege and
the Timely Rescue,

An@ horrors OF the Pekin siege ana
the Timely Rescue.
In our foreign Intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment of the
relations with the powers have been
happy.
ORIGIN OF CHINESE TROUBLES.
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
HES deep in the character OF the Chinese
races and in the traditions OF their gov
eminent. The TAPPING rebellion and the
opening OF Chinese ports TO foreign trade
and settlement disturbed alike the homo
geneity and the secIusion of China.
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
coast. but along the great river arteries
and in the remOter districts, carrying
new Ideas and introducing new asSocia-
tons among a primitive people which had
Of isolation.
The telegraph and railway spreading
over their land. the steamers pIylng 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 forebodlnSS OF
disaster to their beliefs and their self
control.
For several years before the present
plomacy, backed by moral demonstra-
lions of the physical force of fleets and
arms, have been needed to secure due re-
gpeCt for the treaty rights of foreigners
and to obtain satisfaction from the re-
Bponsible authorities for the sporadic out
RACES upon the persons and property of
pnoffending sojourners. which from time
to time occurred at widely separated
points in the northern provinces, as In
the case OF the outbreaks IN Sze-Chusn
and Shantung.
daily occurrence, which the repeated
reprobation of the imperial power failed
TO check or punish. These intiammatory
appeals to the ignorance and supersti-
ton of the masses, mendaCious and alb
Rurd in their accusations and deeply hos
tile in their spirit, could not but work
cumulative harm. They aimed at no par
ticufar class of foreigners; they were
impartial In attacking everything for
sign.
MURDERS OF MISSIONARIES.
An outbreak in Shantung, in which Ger
man missionaries were slain, was the too
natural result of these malevolent teach
mgs. The posting of sedit.ouS placards,
axhoTting to the utter destruction Of for
eigners and OF every foreign thing, con-
Nnued unrebuked. Hostile demonstra-
lions toward the stranger gained strength
by organization.
I The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces north
OF the Yang-Tse, and with the collision
Of many notable officials, including some
in the Immediate councils of the throne
Itself, became alarmingly aggressive. No
foreigners lie, outside of the protected
treaty ports, was safe. No foreign in
berest was secure from spolIation.
The diplomatic representatives OF the
lowers In Picking strove ii vain to check
This movement. Protest was followed by
demand and demand by renewed protest.
10 be met with perfunctory edicts from
ances from the tsung-n-yamen. The cir
Gle of the Boxer influence narrowed about
Picking, and while nominally stigmatized
as seditious. 1t was felt that it's spirit
pervaded the capital itself, that the i'm
perial forces were imbued with its doc
frines, and that the immediate counselora
of the empress dowager were in full SYM
pathy with the anti-foreign movement.
The increasing gravity of the conditions
In China and the imminence of peril Ia
eur own diversified interests in the en-
pire, as well as to those of all the other
treaty governments, were soon appreci'
Ated by this government, causing 1t pro-
found solicitude. The United States from
the earliest days of foreign intercourse
peace, emitting no occasion to testify
good will, to further the extension Of
lawful trade, to respect the sovereignty
Of its government, and to issue by al
legitimate and kindly but earnest mean!
Che fullest measure OF protection for the
hves and property of our law-abiding cit
liens and for the exercise of their benef
cent calIings among the Chinese people
UNITED ACTION or POWERS.
Mindful OF this, 1t was felt to be ap
pTopriate that our purposes should b.
pronounced in favor of such course al
would hasten united action of the powers
81 Pekin to promote the administrative
reforms so greatly needed for strength
sning the imperial government and main
taining the integrity OF China, in which
We believed the whole western world L
b. alike concerned. To these ends caused
10 be addressed to the several powers
rccupying territory and maintaining
spheres of influence in China the circular
proposals of 1888. inviting from them dec
larations of their intentions and view
a. to the desrability of the adoption o
measures insuring the benefits OF equalit,
OF treatment of all foreign trade through
cut China.
With gratifying unanimity the re
Hronses conceded in this common policy
enabling me 10 see In the successful ter
pninGtion OF these negotiations proof o
the friendly spirit which animates tn
various powers interested In the untram
pneled development OF commerce and in
dustry In the Chinese empire as sourc
OF vast benefit 10 the whole Commercial
world.
In this ssnoiusiOn phlch / had tn