The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-12-06
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The Dominant Question Has Been the
Treatment of the Chinese Problem.

=
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-toreign 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.
The TAPPING 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
telt In 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
their waterways, the merchant and the
missionary penetrating year by year far
ther to the interior, became to the Chi
nese mind types of an allen invasion,
changing the course of their national life
ana traught with vague .forebodings of
disaster TO their beliefs and their self-con-
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
been needed to secure due respect for the
treaty rights OF foreigners and to obtain
R RsatIS;tactlon from the responsible au-
persons and property of unoffending So
Journers, which from time to time occurred
at, at widely separated points in the, north
breaks in Sze-Chuen and Shan-Tung.
resting OF anu-toreign placards became
daily occurrence, which the repeated rep
rotation of the imperial power failed 10
check or punish. These infiammatory an
peals to the ignorance and superstition
OF OF the masses, mendacious and absurd in
their accusations and deeply hostile in
their spirit, could not but work cumulative
harm: They aimed at no particular class
of foreigners; they were Impartial In at
lacking everything foreign.
The First Outbreak,
An outbreak in Shan-Tung. in which
German missionaries were slain, was the
too natural result of these maleyolent
teaehlngs. The posting of seditious
placards, exhorting to the utter destruc-
ton of foreigners and of every foreign
thing, continued unrebuked Hostile
demonstrati tions toward the stranger gained
strength by organization.
The sect, commonly styled the Boxers,
developed greatly in the provinces north of
Yangtsep and with the collusion of many
notable officials, including some in the i'm
mediate councils Of the throne itself, be-
came alarmingly 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 Peking strove in vain to check
this movement. Protest was followed by
demand and demand by renewed protest,
to be met with perfunctory edicts from the
palace and eyasive and futile assurances
from the tsung-li-yamen. The circle of
the Boxer influence narrowed about Pc
king, and while nominaliy stigmatized as
seditious. it was felt that its spirit perVad-
ed the capital ITSELF that the imperial
forces were imbued with its doctrines.
and that the immediate counselors of the
empress dowager 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
well as to those of all the other treaty sov-
ernments, were soon appreciated by this
government, causing IL 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-
tlon for the lives and property of our law
abiding citizens and for the exercise of
| their beneficent callings among the Chinese
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
1
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 ana
maintaining spheres of influence in China
the circular proposals of 1893, inviting
from them declarations of their intentions
and views as to the desirability OF the
adoption of measures insuring the Dement'S
of equality of treatment Of al 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
mination Of these negotiations PROOF OF
the friendly spirit which animates 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
mercial world.
In this conclusion, which had the graf
ihcation to announce as a completed en-
gagement to the interested powers on
March 20, 1900, hope was fully dtscerned q
potential factorfor the abatement OF the
distrust OF foreign purposes which Tor !
year past had appeared to inspire ths
Tor the effective exertion by II OF power
and authority to quell the critical anti
foreign movement In the northern prov
lnces most Immediately influenced bys tns
Manchu sentiment -
Seeking to testify confidence In tins
willingness and ability Of the Imperial
administration to redress the wrongs ane
prevent the evils we suffered ana feared
the marine guard, which had been sem
to PekinR IN the autumn of 1888 TOT tne
protection OF the legation. was Withdrawn
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