The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-12-05

''oh ~ AntcTcsteus
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Presidenl
McINnley's annual message was read II
10th houses of the legislature at the first
days session today. The message in part
is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
At the outgoing of the old and the in.
coming of the new century you be-
S.n the last session of the Fifty-slxth
congress with evidences on every hand
Of individual and national prosperity
and with proof of the growing strength
and increasing power for good of Re-
publican institutions. Your country
men will join with you in felicltation
that American liberty Is more firmly
established than ever before and that
love for 1t and the determination to
preserve 1t are more universal than at
any former period of our history.
In our foreign intercourse the domi-
nant 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 anti-foreign agitation which
Tor 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 tradi-
tions of their government. The tele
graph and the railway spreading over
their land the steamers plying on their
waterways, the merchant and the mis-
sionary penetrating year by year
farther to the interior. became to the
Chinese mind types of an alien inva-
sion, changing the course of their ma
tional life and fraught with vague
forebodings of disaster to their beliefs
and their self-control.
The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces
north Of the Yangtse, and with the
collusion Of many notable officials of
the throne itself, became alarmingly
aggressive. No foreigners life, outside
of the protected treaty ports, was safe.
No foreign interest was secure from
spoilation.
The diplomatic representatives of the
powers in Pekin strove in vain to
check this movement. Protest was fol-
lowed by demand and demand by re-
newed protest, to be met With perfume
tory edlcts from the palace and evasive
and futile assurances from the Tsung Ii
Yamen.
The increasing gravity Of the condl-
tions in China and the imminence of
peril to our diversified interests in the
empire, as well as to those of all the
other treaty governments, were soon
appreciated by the government, caus-
ing 1t profound solictude. The United
States from the earliest days of foreign
with China, had followed a
policy of peace, emitting no occasion to
testify good will, to further the ex-
tension of lawful trade, to respect the
sovereignty of its government and to
insure by all legitimate and kindly but
earnest means the fullest measure OF
protection for the lives and property of
law abiding citizens and for the exer-
else of their benifcent callings among
the Chinese people.
Mindful of this, it was felt to be ap-
propriate that our purposes should be
pronounced in favor of such course as
would hasten united action of the pow
ars at Pekin to promote the adminls-
Lrative reforms so greatly needed for
the imperial government
and maintaining the integrity of China,
n 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
spheres of influence in
China the circular proposals of 1899, in
7iting from them declarations of their
Intentions and views as to the desira-
oility of the adoption of measures in
iuring the benefits Of equality of treat
nent of all foreign trade throughout
China.
with gratifying unanimity the re-
'ponses coincided in this common poll
cy, enabling me to see in the success
ul termination of these negotiations
'roof of the friendly spirit which ami
mates the various powers interested in
he untrammeled development of COM
nerce and industry in the Chinese en-
'ire as source of vast benefit to the
Whole commercial world.
The president then tells in brief the
tory of the rescue of the legations.
md proceeds:
The policy Of the United States
Trough all this trying period was
learly announced and scrupulously
arried out. A circular note to the
'owers, dated July 3, proclaimed our
ttitude. Treating the condition in the |
lorth as one of virtual anarchy. in
Which the great provinces of the south |
nd southeast had no share, we re-
,arded the local authorities in the lat
er quarters as representing the Chi |
ese people with whom we sought to |
emain in peace and friendship. Our |
eclared aims involved no war against |
he Chinese nation. We adhered to the !
legitimate office of rescuing the i'm |
'eriled legation, obtaining redress for
'rongs already suffered, securing |
wherever possible the safety of Ameri-
an life and property in China and pre-
enting a spread of the disorders or |
heir recurrence.
As was then said: "The policy of the
overnment of the United States is TO |
eek a solution which may bring about |
ornament safety and peace to China
reserve Chinese territorial and admin
'trative entity protect all rights
uaranteed to friendly powers by
reaty and international law and safe
uard for the world the principle of
quail and impartial trade with all parts
the Chinese empire"
Faithful to those PROFESSIONS which.
1t proved, reflected the views and
urposes Of the other cooperative gov