New-York tribune., 1900-12-04

TO the senate ana House or Representative
At the outgoing of the old and the incoming
Of the new century you begin the last session
of the LvIth Congress with evidences on
every hand of individual and National pros
Eerity, and with proof of the growing strength
and increasing power for good OF republican N
stitutions. Your country men will join with you
Ia felicitation that American liberty is more
firmly established than ever before. and that
love for il and the determination 20 preserve 1t
are more universal than at any former period
OF our history.
The Republic never strong, because
never so strongly intrenched in the hearts oil
the people now. The Constitution. with fe"
amendments exists II left the hands Of Its
authors. The additions which have been made
TO il proclaim larger freedom and more ex-
tended citizenship. Popular government has
demonstrated in it's one hundred and twenty
four years OF trial here it's stability and security
and its efficiency as the best instrument Of Ma
tional development and the best safeguard to
human rights.
When the With Congress assembled IN Novem-
ber, 1900. the population OF the United States
was 5.30s.4S It is 76,304. 799. Then We
had sixteen States. Now have forty-five
Then our territory consisted OF 909,0J0 square
miles. II is now Z, 3,s46505 square miles, Edu-
cation, religion and morality have kept pace
with our advancement in other directions. and
while extending its power Z Government has
adhered TO its foundation principles, and abated
none of them IN dealing with our new peoples
and possessions A nation so preserved and
blessed gives reyerent thanks 10 God and in
vokes His guidance and the continuance Of His
care and favor.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
In our foreign intercourse the dominant ques-
ton has been the treatment of the Chinese
r.rfrf
the Powers have been happy
The recent troubles in China spring from the
anti-foreign agitation which for the last three
years has gained strength in the northern prov
inces Their origin lies deep in the character
of the Chinese race and in the traditions Of their
Government The Tai-Ping rebellion and the
opening OF the Chinese ports 10 foreign trade
and settlement disturbed alike the homogeneity
and the seclCsion Of China.
Meanwhile foreign activity made Itself felt N
All quarters. not alone on the coast but along
the great river arteries and in the remoter dis
tncts. carrying new ideas and introducing new
associations among a primitive people. which
had pursued for centuries national policy Of
isolation.
The telegraph and the railway spreading over
their land the steamers plying on their water
WAYS. the merchant and the missionary pene-
trating year by year further 10 the interior, be-
came 70 the Chinese mind types of an alien In
vasion. changing the course Of their national
nfe and fraught with vague forebc3 ngs OF dis
aster TO their beliefs and their is-control
For several years before the pr SER troubles
ali Of the resources of foreign DIP macy, backed
bv 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 responsible
authorities for the sporadic Outrages upon the
persons and property of unoffending sojourners.
which from time to time occurred at widely
separated points in the northern provinces, as
in the case Of the outbreaks In sze-Chuen and
Shan-Tung.
Posting of anti-foreign placards became a
daily occurrence which the repeated reproba-
ton OF the Imperial power failed 20 check or
punish. These inhammatory appeals TO the ig-
norance and superstition Of the masses, men
dacious and absurd IN their accusations ana
deeply hostile IN their spirit. could not but Work
cumulative harm. They aimed at no particular
class OF foreigners: they were impartial In at
tackinF everything foreign.
An outbreak In shan-Tung. in which German
missionaries were slain was the too natural re-
suit Of these malevoient teachings The posing
Of sedit!ous placards eShOrting 10 the utter De
ming Continued unrebuked Hostile demon
STATIONS toward the stranger gained strength
by organization
RISE OF THE BOXERS.
The sect commonly called the Boxers de-
veloped greatly In the provinces north or the
Yang-tse, and with the eolluson Of many nota-
ble officials including some Of the immediate
councils OF the throne itself. became alarmingiy
aggressive. No foreigners life, outside OF the
protected treaty ports was safe. No foreign
interest was secure from spoliation.
The diplomatic representatives Of the Powers
In Picking strove IN vain 70 check this move
menL Protest was followed by demand and de-
mand by renewed protest 10 be met with per-
functory adicts from the Palace and eVaslYe ana
futile assurances from the Tsur gill amen
Picking, and while nominally stigmatizeo as Sc
ditiousA II was felt that its spirit pervadec the
capital itself that the Imperial forces were IN
bued with lts doctrines and that the INN ediate
counsellOrs OF the Empress Dowager were IN
full sympathy with the anti-foreign movement
The increasing gravity OF the conditions IN
ChinG and the iTnminence Of peril TO our own IL
versihed interests in the Empire. as well as 10
those Of all the other treaty governments, were
soon appreciated by this Government. causing TX
profound solsctuds. The United States, Irofn
the earliest days of foreign intercourse with
China, had followed a policy OF peace, emitting
40 occasions to testify good VIII, 10 further the
extension Of lawful trade. 10 respect the SOW
ereiEnty OF its government, and 10 insure by all
legitimate and kindly but earnest means the
fullest measure OF protection for the lives ana
property OF our law abiding citizens ana for the
exercise Of their benehcent callngs among the
Chinese people.
Mindful OF this II was felt to be appropriate
that our purposes should be pronounced in favor
OF such course would hasten united action OF
the Powers at PeKing 10 promote the admins
tsative reforms greatly needed for strength
ening tne Imperial Government and maintaining
the integrity Of China, in which We believed tn,
whole Western world 20 be alike concerned. To
vuese ends caused TO be addressed 10 the sew