Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-12-06
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The Dominant Question Has Been tn e
Treatment of the Chinese Problem.

In our foreign intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment of the
Chinese problem. Apart from this our re-
lations with the powers have been happy.
The recent troubles in China spring 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 government
me Taiping rebellion and the opening of
Chinese ports to foreign trade and settle
ment disturbed alike the homogeneity and
the seclusion of China.
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
FELT i'll all quarters, not alone on the coast,
but along the great river arteries and in
the remoter districts, carrying new ideas
and introducing new associations among
primitive people which had pursued for
centuries national policy of isolation.
The telegraph and the railway spreading
over their land, the steamers plying on
missionary penetrating year by year far
fher' to the interior, became to the Chi
nese mind types of an alien invasion,
changing the course of their national life
and traught with vague forebodings of
troll.
Previous Troubles in China.
For several years before the present
troubles all the resources of foreign diplo-
macy, backed by moral demonstrations of
the physical force of fleets and arms, have
treaty rights of foreigners and TO obtain
satisfaction from the responsible au-
thorltieS Tor the sporadic OutrageS upon the
persons and property of unoffendin So
Journers, which from time to time occurred
al widely separated points in the north
ern provinces. as in the case of the out
breaks in Sze-Chuen and Shan-Tung
Posting of anti-ioreign piacards became
q daily occurrence, which the rene ted rem
Tooaton OF the imperial power failed to
check or punish. These inflammatory ap1
peals to the ignorance and superstition
OF the masses, menGacious and absurd in
their accusations and deeply hostile in
-
harm They aimed at no particular class
OF foreigners; they We're impartial in at
lacking everything foreign.
The First Outbreaks.
c An outbreak in shan-Tung, in which
Serman missionaries We're slain was the
too natural result of these malevolent
teachings The posting of seditious
plaear9s, eNhorting to the utter destruc-
ton OF foreigners and of every icreigr
thing, continued uErebuked Hostile
demonstrations toward the stranger gained
strength by organization.
Inc sect commonly styled the Poxers
developed greatly in the provinces north of
fangtse, and with the collision Of many
notable officials, including some in The i'm
came alarnlingly aggressive No foreign
er's life, outside of the protected treaty
ports, was safe. No foreign interest was
secure from spoliation.
The diplomatic representatives of the
powers IN Picking stIove in vain to check
this movement. Protest was followed by
0GIlAIG ana CenlaEG ny renewed protest,
to be INST with pCrfuncrory edicts from the
palace ana evasive and futile assure noes
from the tsung-h-yamen. The circle of
the Boxer influence narrowed about Pc
king, and while nominaIly stignatized as
seditious. il was felt that its spirit pervad-
ed the capital itself, that the imperial
forces Were imbued with its doctrines
and that the imme diate counselors of the
empress dowaeer were in full sympathy
with the anti-foreign movement.
Effort to Maintain Open Door,
The increasing gravity of the conditions
in China and the imminence of peril to our
own diversified interests in the empire as
well as to those of all the other treaty gov
ernments, were soon appreciated by this
government, causing it profound solicitude
The United States from the earliest days
of foreign intercourse with China had fol
lowed a policy of peace, emitting no occa
: sions to testify good viii, to further the
extension of lawful trade, to respect the
sovereignty Of its government, and to in.
sure by all legitimate and kindly but earn.
est means the fullest measure of protec-
zion for the lives and property of our law.
abiding citizens and for the exercise O.
their beneficent callings among the Chinese
people.
Mindful of this, 1t was felt to be appro.
pirate that our purposes should be pro-
nounced in favor of such. course as would
hasten united action of the powers at Pc
king to promote the administrative reform!
SO greatly needed for Strengthening the
imperial government and maintaining the
Integrity of China. in which we believed thu