The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-12-14

The following is a synopsis covering
the most important points contained in
the PRESIDENTS message:
In opening, the president says:
At the outgoing Of the old and the
incoming of the new century you begin
the last session of the Fifty-sixth con-
gress with evidences on every hand Of
individual prosperity and with proof Of
the growing strength and increasing
power for good Of republican, institu-
lions. Your countrymen will join you
In felicitation that American liberty Is
more firmly established than ever be-
fore, and that love for it, and the de-
termination to preserve it are more uni
versal than at any former period of
our history" =
The president then refers to the Won
derful growth and development of the
country during the century just
closing. The population in 1900 was
5,3os,4s3. To-day it is 76,3O4,7os.
In our foreign relations, says the
president, the dominant question has
been the treatment of the Chinese
problem. Our relations with all other
countries have been happy.
The president goes into the Chinese
question at great length. The history
Of the outbreak, familiar to all readers,
is narrated in detail. The subsequent
landing of the troops of the allied
powers are the events which succeed
ed are fully set forth.
The president then continues: "The
policy of the United States through all
this trying period was clearly an
nounced 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
provinces of the south and southwest
had no share, we regarded the local
authorities in the latter quarters as
representing the Chinese people with
whom we sought to remain in peace
and friendship. Our declared aims in
volved no war with the Chinese nation.
We adhered to the legitimate office Of
rescuing the imperial legation, obtain
ing redress for wrongs already suf-
fered, securing, wherever possible. the
safety Of American life and property in
China. and preventing a spread of the
disorders or their recurrence. AS was
then said. the policy of the government
Of the United States is to seek solu-
ton which may bring about perman-
ent safety and peace to China, preserve
Chinese territorial and administrative
entity, protect all rights guaranteed to
friendly powers by treaty and inter-
national law. and safeguard for the
world the principle of equal and i'm
partial trade with all parts of the Chi
nese empire Faithful to these pro-
testations. which. as it proved, reflect
ed views and purposes of the otheraco-
operating governments. all our efforts
have been directed towards ending the
anomalous situation in China by nego-
tiations for q settlement at the earli-
est possible moment. AS soon as the
sacred duty of relieving our legation
and it's dependents was accomplished
we withdrew from active hostilities,
leaving our legation under an adequate
guard at Pekin, as n channel of negoti-
alton and settlements course adopted
by others of the interested parties.
Overtures of the empowered represent
atives of the Chinese emperor have
been considerably entertained. The
Russian proposition looking to the res
toraticn of the imperial power in Pc
kin has been accepted as in full con-
sonance with our own desires, for we
have held end hold that effective rep
aration for wrongs suffered. and an en-
during settlement that will make their
recurrence impossible can best be
brought about under an authority
which the Chinese nation reverences
and obeys. While so doing we forego
no jot Of cur undoubted right to exact
exemplary and deterrent punishment
Of the responsible authors and abettors
of the criminal acts through which we
and other nations have suffered griev-
Gus injury. The general basis of nego-
tiaticns formulated by the government
of the French republic have been ac-
cepted with certain reservations as to
details, made necessary by our own cir
cumstaEees. but, like similar rescrya-
tons by other powers, open to discus
sion in the progress of the negotia-
tons. The matter of indemnity for our
wronged citizens is n question of grave
concern. Measured in money alone.
sufficient renaration may prove be-
the powers concur in emphatic dis
ment through the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of
the empire. / am disposed to take due
compensation that may be made in part
by increased guarantees Of security Of
foreign rights and immunities. and.
most important of all, by the opening
of China to the equal commerce Of all
the world. These views have been and
will be earnestly advocated by our rep
resentatives. The government of Rus
STA has put forward suggestion that.
in the event Of protracted divergence
Of views in relation to indennities. the
matter be relegated to the court of ar
bitration at The Hague. favorably
incline to this. believing. that high tri-
buna1 Of arbitration could not fail to
reach a solution no less conducive to
the stability and enlarged prosperity Of
China itself than immed iateiy benefl-
cini TO the powers.
The message states that the relations
with the various nations are cordial.
Minor diplomatic negotiations with
several European and Central and
South American countries are progress
ing satisfactorily or i,aye been appfi1
concluded. Good wifi prevails IN our
relations with the German emperor.