Gilpin observer., 1900-12-06
THE CHINESE PROBLEM.

THE CHINESE PROBLEM.
Concerning the Chinese problem. the
President says:
I'm our foreign Intercourse the DOM
inant question has been the treatment
of the Chinese problem. Apart from
this our relations with tie 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 Chinese races and in the tradi-
tons of their government. The Tai
ping rebellion and the opening of Chi
nese ports to foreign trade and settle
ment disturbed alike the homogencity
and the seclusion of China.
meanwhile foreign activity made it.
self felt in all quarters, not alone OH
the coast. but along the great river ar
teries and in the remOter districts, car
rying new ideas and Introducing new
associations among a primitive people
which had pursued for centuries ma
tional policy of isolation.
"The telegraph and the railway
spreading over their land, the steamers
plying on their waterways, the mer-
chant and the missionary penetrating
year by year farther TO the interior.
became to the Chinese minds types of
an alien invasion, changing the course
of their national life and fraught with
vague forebodings of disaster to their
belief and their self control.
THE sect. commonly styled the Box.
ers. developed greatly in the provinces
north of the Yangtse, and with the col
fusion of many notable officials, includ-
ing some in the immediate councils of
the throne itself. became alarmingly
aggressive. No foreigners life, outside
of the protected treaty ports, was safe.
No foreign interest was secure from
spoliation.
THE increasing gravity of the condl-
tions in China and the imminence of
peril to our own diversified interests in
the empire. as well as TO those of all
the other treaty governments. We're
soon appreciated by this government,
causing profound solicitude. The Unit
ed States from the earliest days of for
eign intercourse with China has fol
lowed policy of peace. emitting no oc-
casions to testify good will, to further
the extension of lawful trade. to re-
spect the sovereignty of its govern
ment. and to insure by all legitimate
and kindly but earnest means the
fullest measure of protection for the
lives and property of our lnw-abiding
citizens and for the exercise of their
beneficial callngs among the Chinese
people.
Mindful of this it was felt TO be ap-
propriate that our purposes should he
pronounced in favor of such course
as would hasten united action of the
powers at Pekin to promote the admin
istrative reforms so greatly needed Tor
strengthening the integrity OF emma
In which we believed the whole west
ern world to be alike concerned. To
those ends | caused to be addressed to
the several powers occupying territory
and maintaining spheres OF Influence
In China the circular proposals of 1883.
inviting from them declarations of
their Intentions and views as to the de-
STABILITY of the adoption Of measures
insurng the benefits of equality of
treatment of all foreign trade through
out China.
with gratifying unanimity the re-
sponses coluclded in this common pol
ley, enabling me to see In the success
ful termination of these negotiations
proof of the friendly spirit which AMI
mates the various powers Interested in
the untrammclcd development of COM
merce and industry In the Chinese en-
pirc as a source of vast benefit to the
whole commercial world.
"'rhe Chinese government proved.
however. unable 10 check the rising
strength of the Boxers, and appeared
to he n prey of Internal dissensIons. In
the unequal contest the anti-forclgn In
nuences soon gained the asccndcncy
under the leadership of Prince Tuan.
Organized armies of Boxers. with
which the imperial forces affiliated.
held the country between Peliln and
the coast, penetrated into Mnnchurin
up to the Russian border and through
their oinissarles threatened Ike rise
throughout southern Chnn.