The Forrest City times., 1900-12-07
M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE
The Annual Communication of the
 President to Congress.
MANY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS
Outlines Our Policy in China-Ap- proves of ship subsidy-Proposes Legislation for the Philippines and Asks Ratification of Hay Pauncefote Treaty.


 Pauncefote Treaty.
 Washington. Dec. 4.-The following is comprehensive synopsis of the pres idents annual message to congress-:
 The president gives first place in his message 10 the troubles in China, and our connection with the allied forces op- erating there. He reviews the causes leading up to the Boxer outbreak. and the first murders Of foreigners in Chi nese territories. In this connection he says:
 fin 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 1t profound solicitude. The United States from the earliest days of foreign intercourse with China had fol- lowed policy of peace. emitting no occa- sions to testify good will, 10 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- ton for the lives and property of our law abiding citizens and for the exercise of their beneficent callings among the Chinese people.
 Mindful of this. 1t was felt to be appro- priate that our purposes should be pro- nounced in favor of such course would hasten united action of the powers at Pe- 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. To these ends I caused to be addressed to the several powers occupying territory and maintaining spheres of influence in China the circular proposals of iss9 inviting from them declarations of their intentions and views as tc the desirabiiity of the adoption of measures insuring the benefits of equality of treatment of all foreign trade throughout China.
 ProposnIs Well Received.
 With gratifying unanimity the re- sponses coincide in this common policy. enabling me to see in the successful ter mination of these negotiations proof of the friendly spirit which animates the ,var1ous ,ram.s powers interested m the s un, Industry in the Chinese empire as source of vast benefit to the whole com merctal world.
 In this conclusion, which had the grat- incation to announce as a completed en- gagement to the interested powers on March 9, 1900. hope was fully discerned potential factor for the abatement of the oistrust of foreign purposes which for a year past had appeared to inspire the Poncy Of the imperial government, and Tor the effective exertion by 1t of power and authority to quell the critical anti foreign movement in the northern prov inces most immediately influenced by the Aanchu sentiment
 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 feking Tn the autumn of 1899 for the protection of the legation, was withdrawn al the earliest practicable moment. and sn pending questions were remitted, as oihsry resorts of diplomatic intercourse.
 Nfgor of the siege.
 .. The history of the efforts made at re- leVing the beleaguered legationers in Pe- detail is lacking and every engaeement with the Chinese forces is mentioned whether our forces were engaged or not. Io show the vigor with which the siege of the legations was pushed by the Chi nese he quotes reports from Minister Conger, as follows:
 From June % until July IT." writes Minister Conger, there was scarcely an hour during which there was not firing some of the legations, varying from a single shot to general and continuous attack along the whole line" Artillery Was paced around the legations and or me overlooking palace walls, and thou. sands or three-inch shells were fired de stIoying some buildings and damaginf all So thickly did the balls rain that when the ammunition of the besieged rar low, five quarts of Chinese bullets were gathered in an hour in one compound Attempts were made to burn the lega. Sions by setting neighboring houses or fought. of. although the Austrian. Bel gan, Italian and Dutch legations were then and subsequently, burned. With tho
 
 the missionaries, to whose helpful coop eration Mir. Conger awards unstintet veritable fortress The British minister has Sir Claude Macdonald was chosen gen eral commander of the defense with tn. secretary of the American legation MT b. c. Sduiers, as chief of staff
 Defense of the Lesationers
 To save life and ammunition the be seged sparingly returned the incessant fir. of the Chinese soldiery, fighting only tC attack "a cessful sortie for strategic advantage. suet as that of 55 Americans. British and Rus san marines led by Capt. Myers. of ths United states marine corps, which result ed in the capture of a formidable barricad, on the wall that gravely menaced th, Aineriean position. It was held to the last cause commanding the water gate througf which the relief column entered.
 During the siege the defenders lost s. killed. lSS wounded and seven by disease the last all children.
 On July l4 the hesieged had their frs, communication with the tsung-li-varnan from whom a message came inviting to conference, which was declined Corre. bpondence. however ensued and sort nj armistice was agreed upon, which stonned the bombardment and lessened the rifIe f,rs for time. Even then no protection what. eyer was afforded. nor any aid given. save 10 send to the legations a small supply oi Fruit and three sacks of flour
 DupIicity of Chinese Goyerpmsn,
 Indeed. the only communication had witt the Chinese government related to inc oc casional delivery or dispatch of telegram or to the demands of the tsung- g-li-yameT for the withdrawal of the legation to tb, coast under escort. Not only are the nro testations of the Chinese government thai 1t protected and succored the legation, positively contradieted but irresistihl, proof accumulates that the attacks unor them were made by imperial troops regu larly uniformed, armed and officered be longing to the command of Jung Lu in, imperial commander in chief Decrees en couraging the Boxers. organizing them m der prominent imperial officers, provision Ing them, and even granting them larg, sums in the name of the empress dowager are known 10 exist. Members of th, tsung-li-yamen who counseled protection or the foreigners were beheaded Even fl the distant provinces men suspected of for eign sympathy were put to death promi nent among these being Chang Yen -fIoon formerly Chinese minister in Washington With the negotiation of the partial arm tstice Of July If, proceeding which wa. doubtless promoted by the represe ntation. of the Chinese envoy in Washington in, way was opened for the conveyance to Mir Conger Of test message sent by the sec retary of state through the kind offices o Minister Wu Ting-Fang MT Conger's re