Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-12-07
CHINESE PROBLEM.
Causes That Led Up to the Recent
Troubles.

Troubles.
In our foreign intercourse the domi-
ndnt 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 FOR
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
government. The Tai Ping rebellion and
the opening of Chinese ports to foreign
trade and settlement disturbed alike the
homogeneity 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 a 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 forebodings of
disaster to their beliefs and their self
control.
For several years before the present
troubles all the resources of foreign di-
plomacy, backed by moral demonstra
tions of the physical force of fleets and
arms. have zen 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 unoffend' 'ng sojourners, which from
, time to tim. occurred at widely sep
arated points IN the northern provinces,
in the of the Outbrp9kS in SEE
Chuen and Shan Tung.
Posting of anti-forefgn placards be-
came daily occurrence, which the re-
peated probation of the imperial power
failed to check 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 culninative harm. They aimed
at no particular class of foreigners: they
were impartial in attacking everything
foreign. An 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-
ton of foreigners and of every foreign
thing. continued unrebuked Hostile
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 Yangt,e. and with collusion of
many notable officials, including some IN
the immediate councils of the throne itself
became alarmirgly aggressive. No foreign
er's life. outside of the protected treaty
ports, was safe. No foreign interest was
secure from spoiation.
The diplomatic representatives Of the
powers in Pekin strove in vain to check
this movement. Protest was followed by
n nd nd renewed nr0tRSt
to be met with perfunctory edicts from
the palace and evasive and futile assur-
ances from the Tsung Ii Yamun. The
circle of the Boxer influence narrowed
about Pekin. and while nominally stsg-
matized as seditIuus, 1t was felt that its
spirit pervaded the capital itself, that
the imperial forces were imbued with Its
doctrines, and that the immediate coun-
| selors of the Empress Dowager were in
full sympathy with the anti-foreign
movement.
The increasing gravity of the condi-
tions in China, and the imminence of
peril to our own diversified interests II,
the empire, well as to those of all
the other treaty governments. were soon
appreciated by this Government, causing
profound solicitude. The United States,
from the earliest days of foreign inter-
course with China, has followed policy
of peace. emitting no occasions to- tes
| tify goodwill, to further the extension
of lawful trade, to respect the sovereign
| ty of its government. and to insure, by
all legitimate and kindly. but earn
est, means. the fullest measure of pro-
lection for the lives and property of oGr
law-abiding> citizens. and for the exer-
else of their b-nefcent callings among
the Chinese people.
Mindful of this, it was felt to be ap-
propriate that our purposes should be
pronounced in favor of such course
as would hasten united action of the
powers al Pekin to promote the admin
istra tive reforms so greatly needed for
Strengthening the imperial government
and maintaining the ints gritty of China.
in which we believed the whole West
ern world to be alike concerned. To
| these ends I caused to be addressed To
the several powers occupying territory