Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-12-06
THE MESSAGE OF M'K|kLtY
President Reviews Issues Before
the Country.
DIGEST FOR BUSY READERS.
Most Carefully Elaborated Part OF the
Message Deals with the Chinese Prob
iem--This Country Would Bring About
Permanent safety aud Peace In China

Permanent safety aud Peace In China.
| Washington, ID. c., Dec. 4.--Presi-
dent McKinley's message was read at
the opening session of congress short
ly after noon. The annual message TO
the senate and house Of representa-
tives Is lengthy and carefully pre-
pared document in which the various
questions OF greatest interest are clear
| ly and ably discussed and appropriate
recommendations made as to needed
legislation. Ii Is introduced with some
Fluctuations and congratulatory re-
marks as TO the growing strength and
increasing power for good OF republic
an institutions and the larger freedom
and more extended citizenship they
now confer. This topic naturally Is
extended TO include brief statement
o fthe great growth the country has
made in population the past decade as
shown by the census and this congrat-
ulatory review is closed by acknowl-
edgment OF divine care and guidance
OF the nation.
As tn the Chinese Problem
BY far the most carefully elaborated
part OF the message deals with the
Chinese problem, which is also given
the preference by priority of discus
sion. The entire situation is reviewed
from the beginning of the Boxer trou-
bles 10 their elimination last summer
in the siege of the legations in Pekin.
The presidents review Of the early
outbreaks and his entire account are
written in clear, dispassionate, judi
cial manner, which makes 1t an admir-
able compend and history OF the events
to date In this connection the presi-
dent recites the diplomatic success OF
this country in securing the assent OF
the powers TO its circular proposals
OF 1899, which were aimed not only to
safeguard this country's trade inter
ests, but also to quiet China's appre-
tensions, making known the friendly
intentions of the powers as respect
the integrity OF the Chinese empire.
Unfortunately before this was fully
accomplished the Boxer instruction
siege Of the legations, and subsequent
events, which are clearly related. The
siege and relief of the legations. the
president says, have passed into un-
dying history" AS TO the part Amer
ical soldiers took in that relief he
pays a deserved tribute to their valor
and heroisn. The entire loss Of the
Il CD 81 VI
five killed, 1875 wounded and seven by
disease, the latter I1eing all children.
The American troops employed in
China amounted to some 5000, at first
under the command of the late Col.
Liscum and nov under that of Gen.
Chaffee. The president while appar-
emily convinced that the attacks upon
the legations were made by imperial
troops, does justice to the efforts of
the southern viceroys and their energy
and cooperation in rescuing hundreds
OF foreigners from peril.
Americas attitude has been UNMARRIED
and was first broadly defined by cir
cular to the powers of July 3 last, this
countrys policy as then defined being
"to seek a solution which may bring
about permanent safety and peace to
China, preserve Chinese territorial
and administrative entity, protect all
rights guaranteed TO friendly powers
by treaty and International law, and
safeguard for the world the principle
of equal and impartial trade with all
parts OF the Chinese empire. OF
course In addition to this bread and
generous view of the rights and in
terests OF all nations, there has since
been added the question o. reparation
for injuries received the past summer
. and the indemnity for the expenses
necessarily incurred in connection
! with the relief of the legations. On
. this point the president says. We
forego no jot of our undoubted right
to exact exemplary and deterrent pun
ishment of the responsible authors OF
the criminal acts whereby we and 9TH
err nations have suffered grievous in
2 jury
I While the hope is expressed that a
complete settlement of all the ques-
tons involved may be reached, ii is
admitted that the question Of indem-
5 nifty is one of grave concern as
{ measured in money alone, sufficient
! recompense may be beyond the power
5 of China to pay The president is dis
: posed to think, however, that due com
! pensation may be made by increased
) guarantees for foreign rights and i'm
Z munities and by the opening OF
J China to the equal commerce of al
the world"
} Relations viii, o.her Countries.
5 Following the China question and
situation there are brief statements In
respect to the relations of the United
States to other countries of the world