The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-04
An Exhaustive and Scholarly Document Treating of
all the Subjects Before the Country at Present..
Fully Explains His Policy at Home and Abroad.
FAYORS CONSTRUCTION OF THE CANAL.
erclse Of their brneilcent calllnss among
the Chinese people. m al5 s7Tf ''l
sHS' United Action Neoded

Mindful OF this Is was felt to be ap-
pr0prlate that our purposes should be
pronounced In favor OF such course as
would hasten united action Of the pow
ers at Peklng to promote the. adminis-
trative reforms SO greatly needed for
strengt thening the imperial government
anu 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 tho
several powers occupying territory and
maintaining spheres OF Influence in Chi
ma the circular proposals of 1890. invit-
Ing from them declarations of their In
tenlons and views az to the deslrability
OF the adoption Of measures insuring
the benefits of equality OF treatment of
all foreign trade throughout China.
with gratifying unanimlty the re-
sponses colncldentin In this common policy
enabling me to see In the successful ter
mlnation OF these negotiations proof Of
the friendly spirit which animatcs the
various powers Interested In the un-
trammeled development OF commerce
and industry In the Chinese empire as a
source OF vast benefit to the whole COM
tnercial world.
a Potential Factor.
In this conclusion, which had tho
qualification to announce US n completed
engagement to the Interested powers on
March 20, 1900. hopefully discerned
potential factor for the abatement OF
the dlstrust of foreign purposes which
for year past had appeared to inspire
the policy of the imperial government,
and for the effective eXertion by 1t OF
power and authority to quell the critical
antiforeign movement IN the northern
tor,lvipcnu ip,rr n Int nj Inc nd
by the Manchu sentiment.
Seeking to testify confidence In tho
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 Peklng In the autumn OF
1899 for the protection of the legation.
was withdrawn at the.earliest practical
BILE moment, and al pending question:
were remitted. as fur as we were con-
cerned, to the ordinary resorts Of diplo-
matte intercourse. Z. I! ~
"a The Chinese egoyernmentpr proved. hoHv-'
ever. unable to check the Il rising
strength OF the Boxers, and appeared to
be u prey to Internal dissenslons. In
the unequal contest the anti-foreign in
luence soon gained the ;asccndancy un-
der the leadership OF Prince Tuan. Or
sanIzed armies Of Boxers. with which
the imperial forces affiliated. held the
country between Peklng and the coast.
penetrated into Manchuria up to the
Russian borders, and through their eni-
issaries threatened a like rising
throughout northern China.
Combined Fleet.
Attacks upon foreigners, destruction
of their property and slaughter of ma
tive converts were reported from all
sides. The TsunE Ii Yamcn. 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
q proposal was made by the other pow
ers that 4 combined fleet should be as
sembled In Chinese waters as n moral
demonstration, under cover OF which to
exact of the Chinese government respect
for foreign treaty rights and the sup
preston of the Boxers.
The United States, while not particle
pating in the Joint demonstration.
promptly sent from the Philippines all
the ships that could be spared for SER
vice on the Chinese coast A small
force of marines was landed Mt Taku
and sent to PckinS for the protection Of
the American legation. Other powers
took similar action. until some four
hundred men were assembled In the
capital as legation Guards.
Stlll the peril increased. The lcga-
tlons reported the development of tho
scditious movement In Pcking, and tho
need OF Increased provision for defense
against 1t. While preparations were
in progress for a larger expedition, to
strengthen the legation guards and keep
the railway open, an attempt of the
foreign ships 10 make landing ut To-
ku was met by n fire from the Chinese
forts. The forts were thcreupon she'll
ed by the foreign vessels, the Ameri-
can admiral taking no part In the Mt
tack, on the ground that we were not
Mt war with China, and that a hos
tile demonstration might consolidate
the anu-foreign elements and strength
en- the Boxers to oppose tho relieving
column.
Taku Forts Captured.
Two days later the Taku forts were
captured after sanguinary conflict.
Severance Of communications with Pc
king followed, and combined force Of
additional guards which was advancing
to Peking by the Pei-Ho, was checked
ut LangfanE. Tho isolation OF the lcga-
tions was complete. H
The Siege and the RELIEF OF the lega-
tions has passed into undying history,
In all the stirring chapter which records
the hcroism OF the devoted band, cling
Ing to hope In the face OF despair. and
the undauntcd spirit that led their re-
levers through battle and suffering to
the goal, 1t Is n memory OF which my
countrymcn may be justly proud that
the honor OF our flag was maintained
alike In the Siege and the rescue, and
that stout American hearts have again
set high, In fcrvent emulation with true
men OF other race and language, the In
domitable courage that ever strives for
the cause OF right and justice.
BY June 10 the legations were cut
on. An Identical note from the Yamen
ordered each minister to leave Picking,
under promised escort, within twenty
four hours. To gain time they rcplled.
asking prolonSation OF the time, which
was afterwards granted, and request
inR an Interview with the Tsung Ii va
mon on tho following day, No, ,reply
helng received. on the morning OF tho
10th the German minister, Baron Won
ketteler' SGT out FOR tho Yamcn to oh
tain n response, and on s,,c way was
nassucred >9.E H-t
Conduct of Chinese.
An attempt by tho legation guards To
recover his body was follcd by the Chi
nese. Armed forces turned out against
the legations. Their quarters were
surrounded and attacked. Tho mis-.
alon compounds were abandoned their
Inmates taking refuge In tho British le-
cation, where nil the other LEGATIONS
and Guards Ca therea for moro n Affective