The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-12-05

lion Is Interested.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-Presiden
McIHnley's annual message was read II
both houses of the legislature at the frs
days session today. The message in par
is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives;
AT the outgoing of the old and the in
coming Of the new century you be-
cs.n the last session of the Fifty-sixth
congress with evidences on every hand
Of individual and national prosperity
and with proof of the growing strength
and increasing power for good of Re-
publican institutions. Your country
men will join with you in fellcitation
that American liberty is more firmly
established than ever before and that
love for 1t and the determination to
preserve 1t are more universal than at
any former period of our history.
In our foreign intercourse the domi-
nant 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 Chinese races and in the tradi-
tions of their government. The tele-
graph and the railway spreading over
their land the steamers plying on their
waterways, the merchant and the mis-
sionary penetrating year by year
farther to the Interior became to the
Chinese mind types of an alien inva-
sion, changing the course of their ma
tional life and fraught with vague
forebodings of disaster to their beliefs
and their self-control.
The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces
north of the Yangtse, and with the
collusion of many notable officials Of
the throne itself, became alarmingly
aggressive. No foreigners life, outside
of the protected treaty ports, was safe.
No foreign interest was secure from
spoilation.
The diplomatic representatives of the
powers in Pekin strove in vain to
check this movement. Protest was fol-
lowed by demand and demand by re-
newed protest, to be met With perfume
tory edlcts from the palace and evasive
and futile assurances from the Tsung Ii
Yamen.
The increasing gravity of the cond-
tions in China and the imminence OF
peril to our diversified interests in the
empire, as well as to those of all the
other treaty governments, were soon
appreciated by the government, caus-
ing it profound solicltude. The United
States from the earliest days of foreign
Intercourse with China, had followed a
policy of peace emitting no occasion to
testify good will, to further the eX-
tension of lawful trade, to respect the
sovereignty of its government and to
insure by all legitimate and kindly but
earnest means the fullest measure Of
protection for the lives and property of
law abiding citizens and for the exer-
else of their benilicent 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 pow
ers at Pekin to promote the adminis-
trative 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 l caused to be addressed to the
several powers occupying territory and
n 4 n grh Of inf l..
China the circular proposals of 1899, in
viting from them declarations of their
intentions and views as to the desira-
bility of the adoption of measures in
suring the benefits of equality of treat
ment Of all foreign trade throughout
China.
With gratifying unanimity the re-
sponses coincided in this common poll
Icy, enabling me to see in the success
full termination of these negotiations
proof of the friendly spirit which ami
mates the various powers interested in
the untrammeled development of COM
merce and industry in the Chinese en-
pire as a source of vast benefit to the
whole commercial world.
The president then tells in brief the
story of the rescue of the legations,
and proceeds:
The policy of the United States
through al. this trying period was
clearly announced and scrupulously
carried out. A circular note to the
powers, dated July 3. proclaimed our
attitude. Treating the condition in the
north as one of virtual anarchy. in
which the great provinces of the south
and southeast had no share, we re-
garded the local authorities in the lat
ter quarters as representing the Chi
nese people with whom we sought to
remain in peace and friendship. Our
declared aims involved no war against
the Chinese nation. We adhered to the
legitimate Office Of rescuing the i'm
Jeriled legation, obtaining redress for
wrongs already suffered, securing
wherever possible the safety of Ameri-
can life and property in China and pre-
venting a spread of the disorders or
their recurrence.
As was then said: "The policy of the
government of the United States is to
seek solution which may bring about
permanent safety and peace to China
preserve Chinese territorial and admin
entity protect all rights
to friendly powers by
treaty and international law and safe
guard for the world the principle of
equal and impartial trade with all parts
Of the Chinese empire"
Faithful to those PROFESSIONS which,
as it proved, reflected the views and
purposes OF the other cooperative gov
ernments, all our efforts have been di-
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