Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-12-06
MKINLEY'S fourth
Sannual message was read to both

assembling or that DOQy on MOHudy.
It was presented in the usual manner
and received by Senator Frye, as Pres
tdent pro tenn. of the Senate, and Speak
er Henderson, of the House. The mes
sage entire contains nearly lo,OoO
words, and in it the President dis
cusses all the questions that were
passed on by the voters in November.
It treats Of our colonial policy, the
needs of the army and navy, the ques-
tion of the Nicaraguan Canal, the part
we have played in China, and treats the
question of Imperialism as settled. The
message asks for the passage OF Dill
for the civil government of the Philip
pines and for the ratification Of the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty. It strongly
urges the passage of a ship-subs1dy
bill and a reduction in the war rev.
enues 1t firmly urges economy, so far
as compatible with the expenditures
needed to carry out the nations policy
at home and abroad. The message fol
lows:
To the Senate and House of Represent
atives: At the outgoing of the old and the
incoming of the new century you begin
the last session of the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress with evidences on every hand OF
Individual and national prosperity and
with proof of the growing strength and
increasing power for good of republican
institutions. Your countrymen Will ]oln
with you in felicitation that American
liberty is more firmly established than
ever before, and that love for it and the
determination to preserve it are more uni
versal than at any former period Of our
history.
The republic was never so strong, be-
Cause never so strongly intrenched in the
hearts of the people as now. The con-
stitution, with few amendments, exists
as it left the hands of its authors. The adj
ditions which have been made to it pro-
claim larger freedom and more extended
citizenship. Popular government has
demonstrated in its 124 years of trial
here it's stability and security, and its
efficiency as the best instrument OF ma
tional development and the best safe
guard to human rights.
Origin of Chinese Troubles.
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.
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 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 seclusion of China.
For several years before the present
oil foreign 6Inl0-
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 respon-
sble authorities for the sporadic outrages
upon the persons and property of unof-
Tending sojourners.
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 it
self, became alarmingly aggressive. No
foreigners life, outside of the protected
treaty ports, was safe. No foreign inter-
est was secure from spoliation. The dip
lomatic representatives of the powers in
Pekin strove in vain to check this move
ment. Protest was followed by demand
and demand by renewed protest, to be
met with perfunctory edicts from the pal
ace and eyasive and futile assurances
from the tsung-i yamen.
The increasing gravity of the conditions
in China and the imminence of peril to
our own diversified interests in the en-
pire, as we'll as to those of all the other
treaty governments, were soon appreciat-
ed by this government, causing it pro-
found solicitude. The United States from
the earliest days of foreign intercourse
with China had followed a policy Of
peace, emitting no occasion to testify
good will, to further the extension Of law
fdl trade, to respect the sovereignty of
its government. and to issue by all legiti-
mate and kindly but earnest means the
fullest measure of protection for the lives
and property of our law-abiding citizens
and for the exercise of their beneficent
callings among the Chinese people.
United Action of the Powers.
Mindful of this, it was felt to be appro-
pirate that our purposes should De pro-
nounced in favor of sucn course rs would
hasten united action of the powers at
Pekin to 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 to
be alike concerned. To these ends l
caused to be addressed to the several
powers occupying territory and mant ain
ing spheres of influence in China the cir
cular proposals of 1899, inviting from
them declarations of their intentions and
views as to the desirability of the adop-
ton of measures insuring 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 to see in the successful ter
mutation of these negotiations proof of
friendly spirit which animates the various
powers interested in the untrammeled de-
veiopment Of commerce and industry in
the Chinese Empire as source of vast
benefit to the whole commercial world.
The marine guard, which had been sent
to Pekin in the autumn of 1899 for the
protection of the legation, was withdrawn
at the earliest practicable moment. and
all pending questions were RENTED, as
far as we were concerned. to the ordinary
resorts of diplomatic Intercourse.
The Chinese government proved. how
ever, unahle 10 check the rising strength
of the Boxers and appeared to be a prey
to internal disSensions. In the unequal
contest the anti-foreign influences soon
gained the aseendancy under the leader