The true northerner., 1900-12-07
The MESSAGE
President Mckinley Presents his
Views to Congress.
Reviews the General Condition Of
Our Public Affairs.
China, Cuba, Porto Rico and Philip
pines are Considered.
He Makes Several Important and
Timely Recommendations.


tives:
At the outgoing Of the old and the in
coming Of the new century you begin the
last session of the hfty-siXth congress
with evidences on every hand of individ
ual and national prosperity and with
proof of the growing strength and in
creasing power for sood OF Republican
institutions. Your countrymen will join
with you in fehcitation that American
liberty is more firmly established than
ever before. and that love for 1t and the
determination TO preserve IL are more
universal than at any former period of
our history.
The republic was never so strong, be-
cause never so strongly intrenched IN the
hearts of the people as now. The con-
Btitution, with few amendments, eNlStS
as IL left the hands OF its authors. The
additions which have been made to 1t
proclaim larger freedom and more ex-
tended citizenship. Popular government
has demonstrated in its one hundred and
twenty-four years OF trial here its stabil-
lty and security, and its efficiency as the
best instrument OF national development
and the best safeguard TO human rights.
When the sixth congress assembled in
November, 1900, the population OF the
United States was $685. ,4S3. 1t is now
f6,304,799. Then we had sixteen states.
Now we have forty-five. Then our terri
tory consisted of 909,050 square miles. 1t
Is now 3,S46595 square miles. Education,
religion and morality have kept pace with
our advancement in other directions, and
while extending its power the govern
ment has adhered to its foundation prin-
ciples and possessions nation SO pre-
served and blessed gives reverent thanks
to God and invokes His guidance and the
continuance Of his care and favor.
The Chinese Trouble.
In our foreign intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment of the
Chinese problem. Apart from this our
relations with the powers have been
happy"
The president then recites the circum-
stances and conditions leading UP TO the
tragic climax of the fall of Pekin and the
development of the Boxer movement. He
tells how the course of this country has
been for peace with China and of our ulti-
mate cooperation with the powers TO pro-
tect citizens and property Always en-
deavoring TO treat the imperial govern
ment sincere in their effort TO suppress
the Boxer movement.
The message then continues:
The siege and the relief of the legations
has passed into undying history In all
the stirring chapter which records the
heroism of the devoted band, clinging to
hope in the face of despair and the un-
damned snirit that led their relievers
through battle and suffering to the goal
1t is a memory Of which my countrymen
may be justly proud that the honor of
our nag was maintained alike in the siege
and the rescue, and that stout American
hearts have again set high, in fervCKt
emulation with true men Of other race
that ever strives for the cause OF right
and justice.
The message reviews in detail the siege.
giving many facts hitherto known only in
official correspondence, and then refers TO
the march on Pekin as follows:
Toward the end of July the movement
Tsin, in which Col. Liscum was killed
The city was stormed and partly DESTROY
ed. Its capture afforded the base OF op-
erations from which to make the final ad-
ha first 1oxyu %
August the expedition being made up of
Japanese, Russian, British and Ameri-
can troops at the outset.
On August IA the capital was reached
After a brief conflict beneath the walls
the relief column entered and the lega-
tions were saved. The United States SOL
diers, sailors and marines, officers and
men alike, in those distant climes and un-
usual surroundings. showed the same val
or, discipline and good conduct, and gave
proof of the same high degree OF inteli-
gence and efficiency which have distin-
suished them in every emergency.
From June 20 until July H." 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 a
single shot to a general and continuous
attack along the whole line" Artillery
was placed around the legations and on
the overlooking palace walls, and thou
sands of 3-fnch shot and shell were fired.
destroying 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
and recast.
During the siege the defenders lost 65
killed, 135 wounded and by disease-the
last all children. The
Policy of the United states
through all this trying period was clear
ly announced and scrupulously carried
out. circular note to the powers dated
July proclaimed our attitude. Treat
ing the condition in the north as one of
virtual anarchy. in which the great prov
inces of the south and southeast had no
share, We regarded the local authorities
in the latter quarters as representing the
Chinese people with whom we sought 20
remain in peace and friendship. Our de-
clared aims involved no war against the
Chinese nation. We adhered to the legi-
timate office of rescuing the imperiled
legation, obtaining redress for wrongs
already suffered, securing wherever pos
sible the safety OF American life and
property In China, and preventing a
spread OF the disorders or their reoccur-
renee.
As was then said, "the policy of the
government OF the United States is to
seek a solution which may bring about
permanent safety and peace to China,
preserve Chinese territorial and admins,
trative entity, protect all rights guaran-
teed to friendly powers by treaty and in
ternational law, and safeguard for the
world the principle OF equal and Impair
tial trade with all parts OF the Chinese
empire"
AS sOOn as the sacred duty or relieving
our legation and its dependents was ac-
complshed we withdrew from active hos
tilities, leaving our legation under an ade-
quate guar N Pekin al a channel of me-
gotiatiOn Q settlement-a course adopt
ed by otL OF the interested powers
Overtures OF the empowered representa-
tives of the Chinese emperor have been
considerably entertained.
The Russian Proposition
looking TO the restoration Of the imperial
power IN Pekln has been accepted as I'm
full consOnance with our own desires for
we have held and hold that effective re-
paration for wrongs suffered and an en-
during settlement that will make their
occurrence impossible can best be brought
About under an authority which the Chi
nese nation reverences and obeys. While
so doing We forego no jot of our un-
doubted right TO exact exemplary and de-
terrent punishment OF the responsible au-
thors and abettors Of the criminal acts
whereby we and other nations have suf-
fered grievous injury.
For the real culprits, the evil COUNSEL
ers who have misled the imperial judy