Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-03

ltSelf, became aiafElin5ly aggressive. No 1 foreigners life, outside of the protected 1 treaty ports, was safe. No foreign inter- | est was secure from spoliation.
 The diplomatic representatives of the i powers in Picking strove in vain to check ! this movement. Protest was followed by ] demand and demand by renewed protest, l 10 be met with perfunctory edicts from the Palace and eyasive and futile assurances from the Tsung-i Yamcn. The circle of the Boxer influence narrowed about Pe- king. and while nominally stigmatized as seditious, it was felt that it's spirit per vadcd the capital itself, that the ImDe- rial forces were irbued with it's doc trines and that the immediate counselors of the Empress DowaSer were in full sympathy with the Gntiforeign move Elcnt.
 The Chinese Government proved, how ever. unable to check the rising strength of the Boxers and appeared to be prey to internal dissensions. In the unequal contest the antforeign influences soon gained the ascendaEcy under the leader ship of Prince Yuan. Organized armies of Boxers. with which the Imperial forces affiliated. held the country between Pe- king and the coast, penetrated into Man ,churia up to the Russian borders, and through their emiSSaries threatened like rising throughout northern China.
 
 their property. and slaughter of native converts were reported from all sides.
 The Tsung-li Yamen. already permeat"d
 with hostile Sympat hcs, could make no effective response to the appeals of the
 legations. At this critical juncture i'll the early spring of this year. a proposal
 was made by the other powers that combined fleet should be assembled i'll Chinese waters moral demonstra- tion, under cover of which to exact of the Chinese Government respect for foreign treaty rights and the suppression of the Boxers.
 The United States, while not part ,cipat- ing in the joint demonstration, promptly sent from the Philippines all ships that ] could be spared for service on the Chi i nese coast. A small force of marines
 was landed at Taku and sent to Pek:ns | for the protection of the American lega-
 tion Other powers took similar action. | until some four hundred men were as | sembed in the capital as legation guards. Still the peril increased. The legations l reported the development of the sedl-
 tious movement in Picking and the need | of ncrea ased provision for defense against | it. While preparations were in progreSs | for larger expedition, to strengthen tke | legation guards and keep the railway | open, an attempt Of the foreign ships to
 make a landing at Taku was met by 2 | fire from the Chinese forts. The forts
 were thereuDon shelled by the foreign
 vessels, the American admiral taking ro | part in the attack. on the ground that we
 were not at war with China and that q | hostile demonstration might consolidate
 the antiforeign elements and strengthen
 the Boxers to oppose the relieving col l umn.
 Two days later the Taku forts were l off | Severance of communication with Pe- ! King followed, and combined force of l additional guards which was advancing
 to Picking by the Pei-Ho, was checked l at Iangfang The isolation of the lega-
 tions was complete.
 The siege and the relief of the lega-
 tions has passed into undying history. ln
 all the stirring chapter which records the
 heroism of the devoted band. clingin. tc
 hope in the face. of despair, and the tin daunted spirit that led their reIievers through battle and sufferin. to the goal it is a memory of which nly countrymei may be justly proud that the honor o1
 our flag was maintained alike in the siege and the rescue. and that stoul American hearts have again set high. il
 fervcnt emulation with true men of oth : CT race and language tle indomitabll
 courage that ever strives for the caus, t Of right and justice.
 me policy Of the United States tnrousl
 all this trying period was clearly an
 n0unced and scrupulously carried out 4 circular note to the powers dated Jul,
 Sd proclaimed our attitude. Treating tn !. condition in the north as one of virtua q anarchy in which the great provinces O . the south and southeast had no share :. we regarded the local authorities in tn
 latter quarters as representing the Chi Il rese people with whom We sought to rc T. main in peace and friendship. Our de Il cIared aims involved no war against th il Chinese nation. We adhered to the lt , oitimate office of rescuing the imperilc n legation. obtaining redress for wrongs q
 ready suffered, securing wherever posS It bIe the safety of Arisrican life and proI l. ertt in China, and preventing q spread c IT the disorders or their recurrence
 As was then said. The policy of th D. Government of the United States is 70 seek a solution which may bring abor
 permanent safety and peace to CElna . preserve Chinese territorial and admins is trative entity. protect all rights guarai IL tecd to friendly powers by treaty and II O. ternationai law. and safeguard for th ed world the principle of equal and impartl; IS trade with all parts of the Chinese En Id pire.''
 a- Faithful to those professions which, z ts it proved, reflected the views and pu poses Of the other cooperating So'eri 'h ments all our efforts have been directe toward ending the anomalous situation ID China by negotiations for q settlement le the earliest possible moment. As sot !" as the sacred duty of relieving our leg $. ton and it's dependents was accompllshe IT. we withdrew from active hostilities, lea 's. ing our legation under an adequa u- guard in Pekiag as a channel of negoti pt ticns and settlement-a course adoptt IT. by others of the interested powers. Ove CT lures of the empowered representatlv h. of the Chinese Emperor have been co or siderably entertained.
 es, The Russian proposition looking to u eu restoration of the Imperial power ln r .o king has been accepted as in full cons he nance with our own desires, for we ha
 held and hold that effective reparati Ut For wrongs suffered and an enduring st he Element that will make their recurren UT impossible can best be brought about Il P der an authority which the Chinese n ton reyerences and obeys. While so ng ing we forego- no jot of our undoubt or right to exact exemplary and deterre tn punishment of the responsible autho m and abettors of the criminal acts whel l.~- 4Fors