Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-12-08

chief. DEGREES encouraging the Boxers,
organizing them under prominent lmpe-
rial officers, provisioning them and even
granting them large sums in the name Of
the empress dowagcr are known TO exist.
Members Of the g-li-yamen who coun-
seled protection of the foreigners we're
beheaded Even in the distant provinces
men suspected Of foreign sympathy We're
put TO death, prominent among these be-
ing Chang Yen-hoon, formerly Chinese
minister in Washington.
Our Policy.
The president then tells in brief the
story of the rescue of the legations and
proceeds:
The policy Of the United States through
all this TRYING period was clearly annonnc-
ed and scrupulously carried out. A cir
cular note to the powers dated July J
proclaimed our attitude. Treating the
condition in the north as one Of virtual
anarchy, in which the great provinces Of
the south and southeast had no share
we regarded the local authorities in the
latter quarters as representing the Chi
nese people with whom we sought to re
main in peace and friendship. Our de-
clared aims involved no war against the
Chinese nation. We adhered to the legit-
innate office of rescuing the Imperfect le-
cation, obtaining redress for wrongs al
ready suffered, securing wherever posi-
bic the safety of American life and prop
erty 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 10
seek solution which may bring about
permanent safety and peace to China
preserve Chinese territorial and admins
tratiye entity, protect all rights gnaran-
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"
Faithful to those professions which, as
it proved, reflected the views and pur-
poses of the other cooperating govern
ments, all our efforts have been directed
toward ending the anomalous situation in
China by negotiations for settlement at
the earliest possible moment. AS soon as
the sacred duty of relieving our legation
and its dependents was accomplished we
Withdrew from active hostilities, leaving
our legation under an adequate guard in
Picking as channel of negotiation and
settlement, course adopted by others
of the interested powers. Overtures Of
the empowered representatives of the
Chinese emperor have been considerably
/ entertained.
The president recapitulates the atti-
tude of the administration to the Rus-
sian and French notes and concludes that
part of his message relating to China as
follows:
The government of Russia has put for
ward a suggestion that in the event of
protracted divergence of views in regard
to indemnties the matter may be rele
gated TO the court of arbitration at The
Hague | favorably incline to this, be
lieving that high tribunal could not fail
| TO reach a solution no less conducive to
the stability and enlarged prosperity of
China itself than Immediately beneficial
to the powers.
The Paris Exposition.
The president then refers to various
matters affecting foreign countries rather
than our own and continues by speaking
of our part in the Paris exhibition. He
says:
Despite all these drawbacks the con
| tribution of the United States was not
only the largest foreign display, but was
among the earliest in place and the most
| orderly in arrangement. Our exhibits
were shown in 101 out of 12i classes
and more completely covered the entire
classification than those of any other
nation. In total number they ranked
next after those of France, and the at
tractive form in which they were pre-
scented secured general attention.
A criterion of the extent and success
of our participation and of the thor
oughness with which our exhibits were
organized is seen in the awards grant
ed to American exhibitors by the
international jury-namely. grand prizes,
240; gold medals, 59T; silver medals, 716;
| bronze medals, 541, and honorable men
tions, 322-2476 in all, being the great
est total number given to the exhibit Of
any exhibiting nation, as well as the
largest number in each grade. This sig
nificant recognition of merit in competi-
ton with the chosen exhibits of all other
nations and at the hands of iuries al
most wholly made up of representatives
of France and other competing countries
is not only most gratifying, but is espe-
cially valuable, since it sets us to the
from IN International questions of sup
| p au demand. while the large porpor-
ton Of awards in the classes Of art and
artistic manufactures afforded uuexpect-
ed proof of the stimulation Of national
culture by the prosperity that flows from
natural productiveness joined to indus
trial excellence.
Relations with the Powers.
Good will prevails in our relations with
the German empire. An amicable nd
justment of the long pending question of
the admission of our life insurance com
panies 10 do business in Prussia has been
reached One of the principal companies
has already been readmitted, and the
way is opened for the others to share the
! privilege.
The settlement of the Samoan problem,
to which l adverted in my last message,
has accomplished good results. Peace
and contentment prevail in the islands,
especially in Tutuila, where a convenient
administration, that has won the CON
fdence and esteem of the kindly disposed
natives, has been organized under the
\ direction of the commander of the Unit
ed States naval station at Pango-P ango.
An imperial meat inspection law has