Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-12-13
CHINESE PROBLEM,
Causes That Led Up to the Recent
Troubles.

In our foreign intercourse the domi-
nant question has been the treatment Of
the Chinese problem. Apart from this
our relations with the powers have been
happy.
The recent troubles In China spring
from the anti-foreign agitation which Cor
the past three years has gained strength
In the northern provinces. Their origin
lies deep in the character of the Chi
nese races and in the traditions OF their
the opening of Chinese ports to foreign
trade and settlement disturbed alike the
homogene1ty nd the seclusion Of China.
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
felt In all quarters not alone on the
coast, but along the great rivers. arteries
and In the remoter districts. carrying new
ideas and introducing new associations
among primitive people which had pur.
sued for centuries q national policy Of
isolation.
The telegraph and the railway spread
Ing 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 fOrebodinEs OF
disaster to their beliefs and their self
control.
For several wears 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 cen needed to secure due
respect for the treaty rights of foreign
ers. and to obtain satisfaction from the
responsible authorities for the sporadic
Outrages upon the persons and property
OF unoffending sojourners. which from
time to time occurred at widely sep
arated points IN the northern provinces.
as in the case of the outbreaks in SEE
Chuen and Shan Tung.
Posting of anti foreign placards be-
came a daily occurrence, which the re-
peated probation of the imperial power
failed to cheek or punish. These inflam-
matory appeals to the ignorance and
superstition Of the masses. mendacious
and absurd In their accusations. and
deeply hostile In their spirit, could not
but work culminatlve harm They aimed
At no particular class of foreigners: they
were impartial in attacking everything
foreign. Az outbreak in Shan Tung. IN
which German missionaries were slain
was the too natural result Of the malevo'
lent teachings The posting OF seditious
placards. eXhorting to the utter destruc-
tion of foreigners and OF every foreign
demonstrations toward the stranger
gained strength by organization.
The boxer Agitation.
The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces north
OF the Yangtsc. and with colusion OIL
many notable officials including some in
the immediate councils of the throne itself
became alarmirgly aggressive Noforeign'
Ar's life outside oe the protected treaty
ports, was safe. No foreign interest was
0ecure from spoliation.
The diplomatic representatives OF the
powers in Pekin strove In vain to CHECK
this movement. Protest was followed II,
demand. and demand by renewed protest
10 be met with perfunctory edcts from
the palace and evasive and futile assur
ances from the Tsung Ii Yamun. The
circle of the Boxer influence narrowed
about Pekn and. while nominally st'g
matixed as seditiuus. 1t was felt that ~
spirit pervaded the capital itself, tina
the imperial forces were imbued with nj
doctrines, and that the immediate coun
eelors Of the Empress Dowager were II
full sympathy with the antt-foreiSI
movement.
The increasing gravity of the cond'
lions in China. and the imminence @
merrill to our own diversified interests u
the empire. as well as to those OF a.
the other treaty governments. were sooI
appreciated by this Government causing
profound solcltude. The United States
from the earliest days of foreign inter
course with China. has followed polio,
Of peace. emitting no occasions to ties
fifty good will. to further the EXTENSION
Of lawful trade to respect the sovereign
" of its government. and to insure. bl
All legitimate and kindly. but earn
est. means. the fullest measure OF pro
lection for the lives and property OF on
aw-abiding citizens. and for the exer
else of their beneticent callings amnnl
the Chinese people.
Mindful of this, 1t was felt to be ap
propriate that our purposes should b
pronounced in favor OF such cours
A would hasten united action Of thu
powers at Pekin to promote the admin
lstrative reforms SO greatly needed 10
strengthening the imperial government
and maintaining the integrity OF China
IN which We believed the whole West
1rn world to be alike concerned. T
these ends l caused to be addressed Z
- several powers occupying territor'