The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
United States Sovereignty Must be Upheld in
the Philippine Islands.
AN ARMY OF 100000 MEN RECOMMENDED.

treaty ports, was safe. No foreign inter-
est was secure from spoliation.
The diplomatic representatives of the
powers in Pekin strove in vain to check
this movement Protest was followed
by demand and demand by renewed pro-
test. to be met with perfunctory edicts
from the Palace and evasive and futile
assurances from the Tsung-li Yamen.
The circle of the Boxer influence narrowed
about Pekin, and while nominally stig
matized as seditious, it's was felt that
it's spirit pervaded the capital itself, that
the Imperial forces were imbued with
it's doctrines, and the immediate counsel
ors of the Empress Dowager were in full
sympathy with the anti-foreign move
ment.
The increasing gravity of the condi-
tions in China and the imminence of
peril to our diversified interests in the
Empire as we'll as to those of all the
other treaty government, were soon ap
preciated by this Government, causing
it profound solicitude. The United States
from the earliest days of foreign inter-
course with China had followed policy
of peace, omitting no occasions to testify
good will, to further the extension OF
lawful trade to respect the sovereignty
of it's Government, and to insure by all
legitimate and kindly but earnest means
the fullest measure of protection for the
lives and property of our lawabding
citizens and for the exercise Of their be-
neficent callings among the Chinese peo-
pie.
AN OPEN DOOR FOR TRADE FORMED.
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 powers
at Pekin to promote the administrative
reforms 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 maintain
ing spheres of influence in China the circu
lar proposals of 1899, inviting from them
declarations of their intentions and views
as to the desirability of the adoption of
measures insuring the benefits of equal
F.! ity of treatment of all foreign trade
| throughout China.
With gratifying unanimity the re-
| sponses coincded in this common poll
| cy enabling me to see in the success
| full termination of these negotiations proof
| of 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 COM
mercial world
| In this conclusion, which had the graf
| ification to announce as a completed en-
gagement to the interested powers on
| March 90, 1900 I hopefully discerned a
| potential factor for the abatement of the
| distrust of foreign purposes which for a
year past had appeared to inspire the
| policy of the Imperial Government, and
| for the effective exertion by it of power
| and authority to Cuell the critical anti
| foreign movement in the northern prov
inces most Immediately influenced by the
Manchu sentiment.
Seeking to testify confidence in the will
lingness 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 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 remitted, as
far as we were concerned, to the ordi-
| nary resorts of diplomatic intercourse.
ATTACKS UPON FOREIGNERS.
The Chinese Government proved. how
ever unable to 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 ascendancy under the leader
| ship of Prince Tuan. Organized armies
| of Boxers, with which the Imperial forces
affiliated, held the country between Pekin
| and the coast, penetrated into Manchuria
up to the Russian borders. and through
their emissaries threatened a like rising
throughout northern China.
Attacks upon foreigners, destruction of
| their property, and slaughter of native
converts were reported from all sides.
The Tsung-li Yamen, already permeated
with hostile sympathies. could make no
| effective response to the appeals of the
legations. At this critical juncture. in
| the early spring of this year, proposal
was made by the other powers that a
combined fleet should be assembled in
| Chinese waters IS a moral demonstra-
tion, under cover of which toeexaet OF the
Chinese Government respect for foreign
treaty rights and the suppression of the
i Boxers.
The United States, while not participat-
ing in the joint demonstration, promptly
sent from the Philippines all ships that
could be spared for service on the Chinese
| coast. small force of marines was
landed at Talxu and sent to Pekin for the
protection of the American legation. 9th
er powers took similar action. until some
four hundred men were assembled in the
| capital as legation guards :
| Still the peril increased. The legations
reported the development of the seditious
| movement in Pekin and the need Of in
creased provision for defense against it,
While preparations were in progress for
larger expedition, to strengthen the
legation guards and keep the railway