Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-12-06
M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE
Affairs Of the Nation Discussed by
the Chief Magistrate.
FINANCE and TRUSTS GET ATTENTION

Mr.. Mckinley Says Combinations In Re.
Strsint Of Trade Should be Throttled-
Philippine Question Discussed at
Length-Cubs and Porto Rico.
Washington, Dec S.-The president
to-day transmitted his annual message
to the Fifth-sixth congress. The sail
ent features are as follows:
With the outgoing Of the old and the
incoming of the new century you begin
the last session of the Fifty-slxth con-
gress with evidences on every hand OF
individual and national prosperity, and
with proof of the growing strength and
increasing power for good of republican
institutions. Your country will join with
you in felicitation that American liberty
Is more firmly established than ever be-
fore, and that love for it and the deter
mination to preserve 1t are more uni
versal than at any former period of our
history. The republic was never so strong,
because never SO strongly entrenched In
the hearts Of the people as now. The
constitution, with few amendments, eX-
lists as it 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 la years of trial
here its stability and security, and its
efficiency as the best instrument of ma
tional development and the best safe
guard to human rights.
A GLANCE BACKWARD.
When the Sixth congress assembled in
November, 1900, the population OF the
United States was 53OS,4S3 1t Is now
6,3O4, 1893 Then we had l6 states. Now
we have As. Then our territory consisted
of 9,059 square miles, 1t Is now 3,Si6,595
square miles. Education, religion and
morality have kept pace with our ad-
vancement in other directions, and while
extending Its power tine government has
adhered to Its foundation principles and
abated none of them in dealing with our
new peoples and possessions. A nation
80 preserved and blessed gives reverent
thanks to God and invokes His guidance
and the continuance Of his care and
favor.
TROUBLESOME CHINESE PROBLEM.
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 hap
by. The recent troubles In China spring
from the ant-foreign 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 gov
eminent The TAPPING rebellion and the
opening of Chinese ports to foreign, trade
and settlement disturbed alike the homo
geneity and the seclusion of China. Mean
while foreign activity made itself felt
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 a primitive people which had pur-.
sued for centuries national policy or
isolation. The telegraph and the railway
spreading over their land, the steamer
plying on their waterways, the merchant
and the missionary penetrating year after
year farther to the interior, became to
the Chinese mind types of an alien inva-
sion changing the course of their nation
al life and fraught with vague forebod-
ings of disaster to their beliefs and their
self-control.
The president then recounts the ser-
GUS uprising last spring, The expedition
of the joint allies to release the lega-
tions at Pekin and the subsequent
events in diplomacy and warfare. 1.-THE
policy of the United States through all
this trying PERIOD" he says, was
clearly announced and scrupulously
carried out" lie discusses the various
propositions that have been advanced
to terminate the anomalous conditions
and concludes.
| regard as one of the essential factors
Of durable adjustment the securement
of adequate guarantees for liberty OF
faith, since insecurity of those natives
who may embrace alien creeds Is scarcely
less effectual assaults upon the rights OF
foreign worship and teaching than would
be the direct invasion thereof. The mat
tiers of indemnity for our wronged citi-
zens is question of grave concern. Meas
ured In money alone, a sufficient repara-
ton may prove to be beyond the ability
of China to meet. All the powers concur
", emnhatc, disclamneTrSS f a Fry d ngrnarSe
berment of the empire. | am disposed
to think that due compensation may De
made In part by increased guarantees
of security for foreign rights and i'm
munitles, and most important of all, by
the opening of China to the equal com
merce of all the world These views have
been and will be earnestly advocated by
our representatives. The government of
Russia has put forward suggestion, that
In the event of protracted divergence OF
views In regard to indemnities the matter
NAV be relegated to the court OF arbitra-
tion at The Hague. ] favoraby incline
TO this, believing that high tribunal could
not fail to reach solution no less condu-
Give to the stability and enlarged prosper
fly of China itself than Immediately ben
efcial to the powers.
TRADE WITH SOUTH AMERICA.
In the interest of expanding trade be-
tween this country and South America,
efforts have been made during the past
year to conclude conventions with the
southern republic for the enlargement OF
postal facilities.
The long standing contention with Por-
tugal, growing out of the seizure OF the
Delagoa bav railway, has at last been
determined by a favorable award Of the
tribunal of arbitration at Berne, to which
It was submitted. The amount of the
award which was deposited in London
awaiting arrangements by the govern
ments of the United States and Great
Britain for Its disposal, has recently been
paid over to the two governments A
lately signed convention of extradition
with Peru as amended by the senate has
been ratified by the Peruvian congress-
OUR TRIUMPH AT PARIS,
The year of the exposition has been
fruitful in occasions for displaying the
good will that exists between this country
and France. This great competition
brought together from every nation the
best in natural productions, industry,
science and the arts, submitted In gener-
Gus rivalry to a judgment made all the
more searching because Of that rivalry.
The extraordinary increase of exporta-
lions from this country during the past
three years and the activity with which
our inventions and wares had invaded
new markets caused much interest to
center upon the American exhibit and
every encouragement was offered In the
way of space and facilities to permit Of
its being comprehensive as a whole and
complete in every part. criterion OF
the extent and success Of our partlcipa-
ton and the thoroughness with which our
exhibits were organized Is seen in the
awards granted to American exhibitors
by the International jury, manly Grand
prizes, $40; gold medals, 597; silver medals,
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