Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-12-14
CHINA COMES FIRST.
The Horrors of the Pekin Siege and
the Timely Rescue.

the Timely Rescue.
In our foreign intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment of the
Chinese problem. Apart from this our
relations with the powers have been
happy.
ORIGIN OF CHINESE TROUBLES.
The recent troubles in China spring
from the anti-foreign agitation which for
he past three years has gained strength
IN the northern provinces. Their origin
lies deep in the character OF the Chinese
races and in the traditions of their gov
eminent. the TAPPING rebellion and the
opening of Chinese ports TO foreign trade
and settlement disturbed alike the homo
seneity and the seclusion OF China
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
coast, but along the great river arteries
and in the reInoter districts. carrying
new ideas and introducing new associa-
tions among primitive people which had
pursued Tor centuries national policy
OF isolation.
The telegraph and railway spreading
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 tspes 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-
lions of the physical force of fleets and
arms, have been needed to secure due re-
spect for the treaty rights of foreigners
and to obtain satisfaction from the re-
sponsibie authorities for the sporadic out
RACES upon the persons and property of
Unoffending sojourners. which from time
10 time occurred at widely separated
POINTS In the northern provinces as in
The case of the outbreaks in Sze-Chuen
and Shantung-
Posting OF anti-foreign placards became
a daily occurrence. which the repeated
reprobat ton of the imperial power failed
to check or punish. These inflammatory
appeals 10 the ignorance and supersti-
tion OF the masses. mendacious and alb
surd in their accusations and deeply hos
tile in their spirit. could not but work
cumulative harm. They aimed at no par
Sicular class of foreigners: they were
impartial in attacking everything for
eign.
MURDERS OF MISSIONARIES
An outbreak in Shantung, in which Ger
man missionaries were slain, was the too
natural result OF these malevOlent teach
fngs. The posting OF seditious placards,
exhOrting TO the utter destruction of for
eigners and of every foreign thing con-
tinued unrebuked. Hostile demOnstra-
tons toward the stranger gained strength
by organization.
The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces north
Of the Yang-Tse. and with the collision
OF many notable officials, including 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 in
terest was secure from spoiiation-
The diplomatic representatives OF the
powers in Peking strOve IL vain 80 check
this movement. Protest was followed by
demand and demand by renewed protest
to be met with perfunctory edicts from
the palace and evasive and futile assur-
ances from the tsung-H-yamen. The cir
C<e Of the Boxer influence narrowed about
Picking and while nominally stigmatized
seditious. IL was felt that its spirit
pervaded the capital itself. thai the i'm
perial forces were imbued with Its doe
trines, and that the immediate counselors
of the empress dowager were in full SYM
pathy with the anti-foreign movement.
The increasing gravity OF the conditions
I'm China and the imminence of peril to
our own diversified interests i'm the en-
pire, as well as to those o; all the other
treaty governments. were soon appreci-
ated by this government, causing it pro-
found solicitude. The United States from
with China had followed policy of
peace, emitting no occasion to testify
good will. to further the extension of
lawful trade, TO respect the sovereignty
OF It's government. and to issue by all
legitimate and kindly but earnest means
the fullest measure OF protection for the
lives and property of our law-abiding cit
zens and for the exercise or their bench
cent cailings among the Chinese people
UNITED ACTION OF POWERS.
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
at Pekin to promote the administrative
reforms so greatly needed for strength
eming the imperial government and main
tanning the integrity of China. in which
we believed the whole western world to
be alike concerned. To these ends caused
to be addressed to the several powers
occupying territory and maintaining
spheres OF influence In China the circular
proposals of 1899, inviting from them dec
1arations of their intentions and views
as TO the desirability OF the adoption of
measures insuring the benefits of equality
of treatment of all foreign trade through
out China.
With gratifying unanimity the re-
aponses conceded in this common policy
enabling me to see in the successful ter
mination of these negotiations proof of
the friendly spirit which animates the
various powers interested I'm the untram-
meled development of commerce and in
dustry in the Chinese empire as q source
Of vast benefit to the whole commercial
world.
In this conclusion. which I had the
qualification to announce as q completed
engagement y The interested powers ON