The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-12-06
CHINA CONES FIRST.
The Horrors of the rekin Siege and
the Timely Rescue.


the Timely Rescue.
In our foreign intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment of the
Chinese problem. Apart from this our
elations with the powers have been
happy.
ORIGIN OF CHINESE TROUBLES.
The recent troubles in China spring
from the anti-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 ADDITIONS OF their GOV
e emmsas Is o ~ feas4 .se eis aa4 S
and settlement disturbed alike the homg-,
geneity and the seclusion OF China.
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
felt in all quarters, nc alone on the
coast, but along the greae river arteries
and IN the remoter districts, carrying
new ideas and introducing new associa-
lions among a primitive people which had
pursued Tor centuries national policy
Of isolation.
The telegraph and railway spreading
over their land, the steamers plying on
their waterways, the merchant and the
missionary penetrating year by year
farther to the interior, became to- the
Chinese mind types of an alien invasion.
changing the course of their national life
and fraught with vague forebodings OF
disaster to their beliefs and their self
control.
z, For several years before the present
troubles all the resources of foreign di-
plomacy, backed by moral demonstra-
tons of the physical force of fleets and
arms, have been needed to secure due re-
spect for the treaty rights of foreigners
and to obtain satisfaction from the re-
sponsible authorities for the sporadic out
RACES upon the persons and property of
Z unOfending SoJourners, which from time
to time occurred at widely separated
points in the northern provinces. as in
the case of the outbreaks in Sze-Chuen
and Shantung.
Posting Of anti-foreign placards became
a daily occurrence, which the repeated
reprobation of the imperial power failed
to check or punish. These intlammatory
appeals to the ignorance and supersti-
ton of the masses, mendacious and alb
surd in their accusations and deeply hos
tile in their spirit. could not but work
dcular class of foreigners; they were
Impartial in attacking everything for
tign.
MURDERS OF MISSIONARIES.
Am outbreak in Shantung, in which Ger.
man missionaries were slam, was the toe
natural result of these malevolent teach
ings. The posting of seditious placards
exhorting to the utter destruc ion of for.
tinued unrebuked. Hostile demonstra.
lions toward the stranger gained strength
by organization.
u The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces north
Of the Yang-Tse, and with the collusior
0f many notable officials, including some
in the immediate councils of the throne
itself, became alarmingly aggressive. Nc
foreigners life, outside of the protected
treaty ports, was safe. No foreign in.
terest was secure from spoliation.
8 The diplomatic representatives of tbs
( powers in Peking strove ii 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 evasive and futile assur.
ances from the sung-li-yamen. The cir.
de of the Boxer influence narrowed abou
Picking, and while nomfnally stigmatiZeC
rs seditious. it was felt that its spirit
Dervaded the capital itself, that the i'm.
perial forces were imbued with it's doc,
trines, and that the immediate counselor:
/. OF the empress sdowager were in full sym
pathy with the anti-foreign movement. +
!, The Increasing gravity of the conditions
In China and the imminence of peril tc
our own diversified interests in the en-
I pire, as we'll as to those of all the Other
: treaty governments, We're soon appreci.
: ated by this government, causing it pro.
found solicitude. The United States from
{ the earliest days of foreign intercourse
with China had followed policy OF
peace, emitting no occasion to testify
good will. to further the extension OF
I lawful trade, to respect the sovereignty
. Of Its government, and to issue by al
! legitimate and kindly but earnest means
9 the fullest measure of protection for the
4 Hives and property of our law-abidng cit
i liens and for the exercise of their beneti
cent cnllings among the Chinese people
Mindful Of this 1t was felt to be ap
: propriate that our purposes should b
pronounced in favor of such course a
& would hasten united action of the power
q Pekin to promote the administrativ
reforms SO greatly needed for strength
ening the imperial government and main
Whining the integrity of China, in whicl
We believed the whole western world t
Be alike concerned. To these ends causet
TO be addressed to the several powers
Occupying territory and maintaining
spheres of influence In China the circular
proposals of 1892 inviting from them dec.
iarations Of their intentions and views
a TO. the desirnhility Of the adoption, OF
measures insuring the benefits of equality
81 treatment of all foreign trade through
out China.
with gratifying unanimity the re-
eponses conceded In THIS common policy,
Sabling me to see in the successful ter
sation of these negotiations proof of
tfriend1y spirit which animates the
81 powers interested Nm the untram-
1evelopment of commerce and in
the Chinese empif "a source
Eenefit to the lWholl percial