Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
To the Senate and Nous. OF Representa-

To the Senate and House OF Representa-
lives:
At the outgeing OF the old and ths In
coming OF the new century you begin the
last session Of the Fifty sixth conrr~ss
with evidences on every hand or iadi-
vidual and national prosperity and with
PROOF or the growing strength and in
creasing power for good OF Republican
institutions. Your counsrymsn viii joi.
with you In felicitstion that Americas
liberty Is more firmly established than
ever before and that love for IL and the
determination 20 preserve Il are more
universal than at any former period OF
our history.
In our foreign intercourse the dominant
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 antiforeign 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 In the traditions OF their gov
eminent. The telegraph and the railway
spreading over their land. the steamers
plying on their waterways. the merchant
and the missionary penetrating year by
year farther 10 the interior. became to
the Chinese mind types OF an alien in
vasion, changing the course OF their ma
tional life and frsught with vague fore
bodingx OF disaster 20 their beliefs and
their self control
Posting OF antiforeign placards became
daily occurrence. which the repeated
reprobation Of the imperial power failed
10 check or punish These infsmmatory
appeals 70 the ignorance and superstition
OF the masses, mendRcious and absurd In
their accusations and deeply hostile in
their spirit, could not but work cumula-
tive harm. They aimed at no particular
Gloss Of foreigners: they were impartial
In attacking everything foreign.
An outbreak in Shangtung in which
German missionaries were slain was the
too natural result OF these malevolent
teachings. The posting OF seditious pla-
cards, exhorting TO the utter destruction
Of foreigners and Of every foreign thing,
continued unrebuked. Hostile demons,ra-
tons toward the stranger gained strength
by organization.
The Boxers
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 IL
self became alarmiRgly aggressive. No
foreigners life. outside Of the protected
treaty ports, was safe. No foreign inter
est was secure from spolatiou.
The diplomatic representatives Of the
powers In Peking strove in vain TO check
this movement Protest was followed by
demand and demand by renewed protest,
10 be met with perfunctory edicts from
the palace and svasive and futile assur-
anees from the tsunE-li-ynmsn.
The increasing gravity OF the condi-
tons In China and the imminence Of peril
20 our 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 IL pro-
found solicitude. The United States
from the earliest days OF foreign inter
course with China had followed a policy
OF peace, emitting no occasions TO testify
good will, 70 further the exten sion Of law
fui trade, TO respect the sovereignty OF it's
government and 20 insure by all IeTiti-
mate and kindly but earnest means the
FULLEST measure OF protection for the lives
anc property or law abiding citizens and
FOR the exercise OF their benefcent call
ings among the Chinese people.
Mindful Of this, il was felt 10 be appro-
pirate that our purposes should be pro-
nounced in favor OF such course an would
hasten united action OF the powers at Pc
king 10 promote the administrative re
forms so greatly needed for strengthen.
ing the imperial government and main.
tanning the integrity OF China. in which
we believed the whole western world 70
be alike concerned. To these ends !
caused TO be addressed TO the several
powers occupying territory and maintain.
Ing spheres OF influence In China the cir.
cular proposals OF 1899. inviting from,
them declarations OF their intentions and
views as TO the desira bility OF the adop-
ton OF measures insuriAg the benefits OF
equality of treatment of all foreign trade
throughout China.
With gratifying unanimIty the re-
sponses conceded In this common policy
enabling me 70 see in the successful ter.
mination Of these negotiations proof O,
the friendly spirit which animates the
various powers interested In the untram
meled development OF commerce and In
duStry In the Chinese empire as a source
Of vast benefit to the whole Commercial
world.
In this conclusion, which I had ths
qualification TO announce as a completed
engagement to the interested powers or
March 20, 1900, / hopefully discerned .
| potential factor for the abatement Of III,
distrust OF foreign purposes which for !
year past had appeared TO inspire the
policy OF the imperial government and
for the effective exertion by II of powe,
and authority TO quell the critical anti
foreign movement In the northern prov
inces most Immediately influenced by The
Mantchoo sentiment
Marine Guard withdraw.
Seeking to testify confidence in the will
ingness and ability OF the imperial ad
ministration TO redress the wrongs and
prevent the evils we suffered and feared
the marine guard, which had been sen.
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, "a
the ordinary resorts Of diplomatic inter
| course.
The president continues BY narratins
the growth Of the Boxer movement, the
fighting at Taku and the siege of the le-
cations In Peking and continues:
On July IA the besieged had their frs,
communication with the tsung-Ii-yamen
from whom a message came inviting to 3
conferences, which was declined. Core
| spondence, however, ensued, and a sor,
-