The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
THE CHINESE PRoBLEM.
Settlement of the Questions InvoIv
ed ShouId he LIZ ArIifrnfinn

Settlement of the Questions IHyoIv-
ed should BE by Arbitration.
IN cur foreign intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment of the
Chinese problem. Apart from this our re-
lations with the Powers have been happy.
The recent troubles IN China spring from
the anti-foreigR 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 traditions Of their Government. The
TAPPING rebellion and the opening OF Chi
nese ports 10 foreign trade and settlement
disturbed alike the homoSeneity and the
seclusi0n Of China,
Meanwhile foreign activity made itself
felt IN all quarters, not alone On the coast.
but along the great river arteries and in
the Temoter districts, carrying new ideas
and Introducing new associations among a
primitive people which had pursued for
centuries national policy of isolation.
The telegraph and the railway spreading
over their land, the steamers plying On
their waterways, the merchant and the
missionary penetrating year by year far
Their to the interior. became to the Chinese
mind types Of an alien invasion. changing
the course Of their national life and fraugbt
with vague foTebodings of disaster TO their
beliefs and their self-eontrol
For several years before the present
troubles ali the resources Of foreign diplo-
macy, backed by moral demonstrations Oh
the physical force Of fleets and arms, have
been needed TO secure due respect for the
treaty rights of foreigners and to obtain
satisfaction from the responsible authoTi-
ties for the sporadic outrages upon the per-
sons and property Of unoffending sojourn-
ers, which, from time to 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
daily occurrence, which the repeated
TepTobation Of the imperial power failed
10 check or punish. These iufiammatory
appeals to the ignorance and superstition
Of the masses, mendacious and absurd in
their accusations and deeply hostile in
their spirit could not but work cumulative
harm. They aimed at no particular class of
foreigners; they were impartial in attack
ing everything foreign.
An outbreak in Shantung. in which Ger
man missionaries were slain was the too
natural result OF these malevoIeut teach
tngs- The posting Of seditious placaris,
exhorting 10 the utter destruction of for
eigneTs and Of every foreign thing, con
tinued unrebuked- Hostile demonstrations
toward the stranger gained strength by or
ganizatiop
The Boxer Rising.
The sect, commonly styled the Boxers,
developed greatly in the provinces rorth
of the YaBgtse, and with the collision Of
many notable officials, including soma in
the immediate councils OF the throne it.
self, became aIarmingIy aggressive. No
foreigners life, outside of the protected
treaty ports, was safe No foreign in
terest was secure from spoliation
The diplomatic representatives of the
Powers in Pekin strove IN vain to check
this movement Protest was followed by
demand and demand by renewed protest,
TO be met with perfunctory edicts from
the palace and evasiye and futile assur-
ances from the Tsung-li-Yamen- The cir
Gle of the Boxer influence narrowed about
PekiD, and while nomiRalIy st:gn1atizcC
as seditious, it was felt that its spirit
pervaded the capital ITSELF that the i'm
peTial forces were imbued with its doc
trines, and that the immediate counsel
ors of the Empress Dowager were IN full
sympathy with the anti-foreign move
ment
The increasing gravity of the conditions
IN China and the imminence of peril to
cur own diversified interests in the En-
pire, as well as TO those of all the other
treaty Governments, we're soon appre-
ciated by this Government, causing~it pro
found .solicitude. The United States from
the earliest days OF foreign intercourse
with China had followed q policy Of peace.
emitting 70 occasions to testify good will
TO further the extension OF lawful trade
70 respect the sovereignty of its Gov
eTDUent, and to ensure by all legitimate
and kindly but earnest means the fullest
measure OF protection for the lives ard
property OF our law-abidtng citizens and
for the exercise Of their benefieent CALI
ings among the Chinese people
Mindful OF this, it was felt to be ap-
proPTiate that our purposes should be |
pronounced n favor Of such course as
would hasten united action Of the Pow
ers ut PeiIin to promote the administra-
tive reforms so greatly needed for /
strengthening the imperial Government /
and maintaining the integrity OF China in !