The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-12-04

Washington, Dec 1.-The following
Is comprehensive synopsis of the pres
ident's annual message to congress:
The president gives first place in his
message to the troubles in China and
our connection with the allied forces OPP
Grating there. He reviews the causes
leading up to the Boxer outbreak and
the hrst murders of foreigners in Chi
nese territories In this connection he
says:
The increasing gravity of the conditions
in China and the imminence OF peril to our
own diversified interests in the empire as
we'll 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 policy of peace, emitting no occa-
EiOns to testify good will, 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-
ton for the lives and property of our law
abiding citizens and for the exercise of
their benefcent callings among the Chinese
people.
= Mindful of this. it 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 reforms
so greatly needed for strengthening the
imperial government and maintaining the
integrity of China, in which we believed the
whole western world to be alike concerned.
To these ends caused to be addressed to
the several powers occupying territory and
maintaining spheres of influence in China
the circular proposals of 1899, inviting
from them declarations of their intentions
and views as to the desirabIity of the
adoption of measures insuring the benefits
of equality of treatment of all foreign
trade throughout China.
Proposals Well Received.
With gratifying unanimity the re-
spOnses coincide in this common policy,
enabling me to see in the successful ter
nina Con Of these negotiations proof or
the friendly spirit which animates the
various powers interested in the UNI
trammeled development of commerce and
industry in the Chinese empire as a
source of vast benefit to the whole com
mercial world
In this conclusion which I had the graf
ihcation to announce as a completed en-
gagement TO the interested powers on
MarchzO. 1900. l hope was fully diScerned
potential factorfor 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 exertioA by it of power
and authority to quell the critical anti
foreign movement in the northern prov
1nces most Immediately Influenced by the
Seeking TO testify confidence in the
Willingness and ability of the imperial
administration to redress the wrongs and
prevent the evils we suffered and feared.
the marine guard, which had been sent
TO Peking in the autumn of 1899 for the
protection Of the legation was withdrawn
at the earliest practicable moment and
al pending questions were RENTED, as
Tar as we were concerned, to the or
binary resorts of diplomatic intercourse.
VigOr OF the Siege.
The history of the efforts made at re-
neVlng the beleaguered legationers in Pc
king is thoroughly covered no important
detail IS lacking, and every engagement
with the Chinese forces is mentioned
whether our forces were engaged or not.
TO show the vigor with which the siege
o. the legations was pushed by the Chi
nese he quotes reports from Minister
Conger. rs follows:
From June 20 until July IT," writes
Minister COnger, there was scarcely an
hour during which there was not firing
upon some part of our lines and into
some OF the legations, varying from
single shot to general and continuous
ATTACK along the whole line" Artillery
was placed around the legations and on
the overlooking palace walls, and thou
SANDS or three-1nch shells were fired de-
stToying some buildings and damaging
all So thickly did the balls rain that
when the ammunition of the beseged ran
low, five quarts of Chinese bullets were
gathered IN an hour in one compound
Attempts were made to burn the lega-
tons by setting neighboring houses on
fire, but the flames were successfully
fought oil, although the Austrian, Bel
gian, Italian and Dutch legations were
then and subsequently burned. With the
aid OF the native converts, directed by
the missionaries, to whose helpful coop
eratlon MI CongEr awards Eunstinted
praise, the British Flegatioh was made
Sir Nlauoe macdonald, was chosen gen
eral commander ofTthe defense, with the
secretary of the American legation, Mr.
!. G. Squiers, IS chief of staff.
Defense of the Legati0ners.
To save life and ammunition the be-
sieged sparingly returned the incessant fire
OF the chinese soldiery, fighting only to
repel attack or make an occasional suc-
cessful sortie for strategic advantage. such
as that of 80 Americans British and Rus
sian marines led by Capt. Myers of the
United States marine corps, which result
ed in the capture of formidable barricade
on the wall that graVely menaced the
American position. 1t was held to the last
and proved an invaluable ACQUISITION he
cause commanding the water gate through
which the relief column entered
During the siege the defenders lost 65
the last all children.
On July u the besieged had their first
communication with the tsung-li-yamen,
from whom a message came inviting to
conference, which was declined Core
spondence, however, ensued and a sort of
armistice was agreed upon, which stopped
the bombardment and lessened the rifle fire
for time. Even then no protection what
ever was afforded, nor any aid given, save
TO send to the legations a small supply of
fruit and three sacks of -four
Dup1icity OF Chinese, Government.
Indeed. the only communication had with
the Chinese government related to the oc-
casional delivery or dispatch of a telegram
or to the demands of the tsung-li-yamen
coast under escort. Not only are the pro-
testatiOns Of the Chinese government that
il protected and succored the Legations
positively contradicted but irresistible
proof accumulates that the attacks upon
them were made by imperial troops, regu-
larry uniformed, armed and differed, be-
longing to the command of Jung Lu the
imperial commander in chief. DEGREES en-
couragIhg the Boxers. organizing them I'M
der prominent imperial officers, provision
ing them, and even granting them large
Sums in the name of the empress dowag
are known to exist. Members of the
tsung-li-yamen who counseled protection
OF the foreigners were beheaded. Even in
theFdistant provinces men suspected of for
eign sympathy were put to death, promi-
nent among these being Chang Yen-Hoon.
formerly Chinese minister in Washington.
With the negotiation of the partial arm
istice OF July II, a proceeding which was
doubtless promoted by the representations
Of the Chinese envoy in Washington, the
way was opened for the conveyance to Mr..
Conger of test message sent by the sec
rotary of state through the kind Offices of
Minister WI Ting-Fang. Mr. Conger's re-
ply, dispatched from Peking on July IS
through the same channel, afforded to the
outside world the first tidings that the in
mates of the LEGATIONS were still alive and