The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1900-12-07
M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE
The Annual Communication of the
President to Congress.
MANY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS
Outlines Our Policy In ChIna-As- .
proves of Ship Subsidy-PrOpOses
Legislation for the Philippines
and Asks Ratification of Hay
PRuncefOte Treaty.


Washington, Dec. 4.-The following
is comprehensive synopsis of the pres
ident's annual message to congresss
The president gives first place i'm his
message TO the troubles in China, and
our connection with the allied forces op-
Grating there. He reviews the causes
leading up to the Boxer outbreak, and
the hrst murders of foreigners in Chi
says;
The Increasing gravity Of the conditions
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 gov
ernments, were soon appreciated by this
government, causing IL profound solicitude
The United States from the earliest days
OF foreign intercourse with China had fol-
lowed policy of peace, emitting no occa-
sions 70 testify good WILL to further the
extension of lawful trade, to respect the
sovereignty of its government, and to in
sure by all legitimate and kindly but earn
est means the fullest measure of protec-
tion for the lives and property of our law
abiding citizens and for the exercise of
their benehCent callings among the Chinese
people.
Mindful Of this, It was felt to be appro-
pirate that our purposes should be pro-
nounced I'm favor OF such course as would
hasten united action of the powers at Pc
king to promote the administrative reforms
so greatly needed for strengthening the
imperial government and maintaining the
integrity of China, in which we believed the
whole western world to be alike concerned.
1
the several powers occupying territory and
maintaining spheres CT influence in China
the circular proposals of 1899, inviting
from them declarations of their intentions
and views as to the deSiTa bility of the
adoption of measures insuring the benefits
or equality of treatment Of all foreign
trade throughout China.
Proposals Well Received.
With gratifying unanimity the re-
spOnses coincide in this common policy,
enabling me to see in the successful ter
the friendly spirit which animates the
various powers interested in the un-
trammeled development Of commerce and
industry in the Chinese empire as
source of vast benefit TO the whole COM
merCial world.
In this conclusion, which 1 had the graf
ihcauOn TO announce as a completed en-
gagement TO the interested powers on
March 20, 1900 hope was fully discerned a
potential factOrfOr the abatement of the
olStrust OF foreign purposes which for
year past had appeared to inspire the
polcy OF the imperial government, ana
Tor the effective exertiOn by it of power
and authority to quell the critical anti
foreign movement In the northern prov
inces most Immediately influenced by the
Seeking to testify confidence in the
Willingness and ability of the imperial
administration to redress the wrongs and
prevent the evils we suffered and feared,
the marine guard which had been sent
10 Peklng in the autumn Of 1899 for the
protection OF the legation, was withdrawn
al the earliest practicable moment, and
su pending questions were remitted, as
lar as we We're concerned TO the or
dinary resorts CT diplomatic intercourse.
NigoP OF the Siege.
he history Of the efforts made at re-
Iieving the be!eaguered legatiOners in Pc
king is thoroughly covered: no important
detail is lacking. and every enga cement
with the Chinese forces is mentioned,
whether our forces were engaged or not.
To show the vigor with which the siege
OF the legations was pushed by the Chi
T. neSe he quotes reports from Minister
L
From June 20 until July IT," writes
Minister COnser. there was scarcely an
upon some part OF our lines and into
some OF the legations. varying from a
single shot to general and continuous
AlISck a-ons the Whole line Artillery
was placed around the legations and on
the overlooking palace walls, and thou
sands OF thrce-inCh shells were fired de-
stTOying some buildings and damaging
all 50 thickiy did the balls rain that
when the ammunition of the besieged ran
and reCast.
Attempts were made to burn the Iega-
lions by setting neighboring houses on
fire, but the flames were successfully |
fought of, although the Austrian, Bel
E-an, Italian and Dutch legations were
then and subsequently burned With the
aid or the native converts, directed by
the missionaries to whose helpful coop
Grafton Mr.. Conger awards unstinted
praise, the British legation was made a
veritable fortress. The British minister
NldAAt hatuONdAQ. was CHOSEN gen
eral commander of the defense, with the
secretary of the American legation, Mr..
L. G. Squiers, chief Cf staff.
Defense of the LeGaliOners.
To save life and ammunition the be-
sieged sparingly returned the incessant fire !
of the Chinese sOlGiery, figf ting only to
repel attack or make an occasional sue
Cessful sOrtie for strategic advantage, such
as that Of 80 Americans, British and Rus
sian marines led by Capt. Myers of the !
United States marine corps, which result |
Fu Mt ~ F-- Z IL
on the wall that Sravely menaced the |
American position. II was held to the last
and proved an invaluable acquisition, be |
cause commanding the water gate through |
" hich the relief column entered.
During the siege the defenders lost e. |
killed, lS5 wounded and seven by disease
on July Is the besieged had their first
communication with the tsung-li-yamen.
which was declined. Core
spondence, however, ensued and sort of |
armistice was agreed upon, which stopped |
the bombardment and lessened the rifle fire |
for time Even then no protection what
ever was anorded, nor any aid given, save |
fruit and three sacks of flour.
DuplIcIty of Chinese Government.
Indeed. the only communication had with |
the Chinese government related to the oc- |
casional delivery or dispatch of a telegram |
for the withdrawal Of the legation to the |
coast under escort Not only are the DrO- |
teSlallOnS OF the OnlneSe government that |
It protected and succOred the legations |
positively cOntradicted, but irresistible |
proof aCCumulates that the attacks upon |
them were made by imperial troops regu- |
arly uniformed, armed and OffiCered be- |
longing to the command Of Jung Lu, the |
imperial commander in chief. DEGREES en- |
the Boxers, organizing them un- |
der prominent imperial officers, provision |
Ing them, and even granting them large /
sums in the name of the empress dowager, |
are known 10 exist. Members of the /
who counseled protection /
Of the foreigners were beheaded. Even in l
the distant provinces men suspected of for !
eign sympathy were put to death, promi- |
nent among these being Chang Yen-Hoon, |
Chinese minister in Washington. !
With the negotiation of the partial arm |
suce OF July Il, a proceeding which was /
doubtless promoted by the representations |
OF the Chinese envoy in Washington, the /
way was opened for the conveyance to Mr.. /
Conger OF test message sent by. the sec
retary or state through the kind Offices of /
Minister WI Ting-Fang. Mr.. COnger'S re- /
ply. dispatched from Peking on July IS |
through the same channel, afforded to the /
outside world the first tidings that the in /
mates Of the legations were still alive and /
hoping for succor.
Preparations for Relief.
All the preparations for relief by the
combined powers are gone into, and when /
that object was finally accomplished on /
August Il the conditions met with in Pc
sAng are described as follows:
The imperial family and the govern
nent had fed few days before The
,ity was without visible control. The re-
naming imperial soldiery had made on
The night OF the 18th 8 last attempt TO
sxterminAa tie oesieged. which was gal