The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04
r,Me Senate and Hogss of Representatives,.

70 ne Senate and House of Representatives.
At the outgoing OF the old and the In
coming OF the new century you begin the
last session OF the Fifty-siXth Congress
with evidences on every hand OF indiyit-
uai and national prosperity and with
proof Of the growing strength and increas-
Ing power for good Of republican institd-
t.ons. Your couutrymen will join with
you In fclicitation that American liberty
s more firmly established than ever he-
fore and that love for il and the dete--
mination to preserve it are more univer-
saI than at any former period Of our his
tory.
The republic was never so strong. be-
cause never so strongly intrenched IN the
hearts OF the people as now. The Colst-
tuIion, with few amendments, exists as it
left the hands OF its authors. The a1di-
lions which have been made 10 II pro-
claim larger freedom and more exten1c1
citizenship. Popular government mas
demonstrated In its l24 years of trial
here It's stability and security, and its efii-
't'taNI e9 NAAN bfsA vi iiAAlpii II
development and the best safeguard 10
human rights.
When the Sixth Congress assembled in
November 1890. the population Of the
United States was 5,30s,4S3. II is now &C.,
S47s5, Then we had sixteen States. Now
We have forty-fye. Then our territory
consisted OF s9,050 square miles II is
now 3,Si5 ,595 square miles. Education, re-
ligiOn. and morality have kept pace with
our advancement in other directions, and
while extending its power the govern
ment has adhered to it's foundation prin-
Cples and abated none of them in deal
ing with our new peoples and possessions
A nation so preserved and blessed gives
reverent thanks to God and invokes HIS
guidance and the continuance OF His care
and favor
In our foreign intercourse the dominant
question has been the treatment Of tEe
Chinese problem. Apart from this our re-
iations with the powers have been happy.
Troubles In China.
The recent troubles in China spring
AafAiA tAAN 1hbi-Atitl5l dbAAdAlOH miiANh AOi
the past :hree 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
ernment. The TAPPING rebellion and the
opening OF Chinese ports to foreign trade
and settlement disturbed alike the homo
geneity and the seclusion 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 remoter districts. carrying new
ideas and introducing new associations
among a primitive people which had pur-
sued fer centuries a national policy of
ilolation.
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
tber to the interior, became to the Chi
nese mind types 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-
pl0macy. backed by moral demonstrations
o. The physical force OF fleets and arms.
have been needed TO secure due respect
for the treaty rights OF foreigners and 10
obtain satisfaction from the responsible
authorities for the sporadic outrages upon
the persons and property of unoffending
s0iOurners, which from time 10 time Oc-
CURED at widely separated points in the
northern provinces, as in the case of the
outbreaks In Sze-chuen and Shan-tung.
Posting Of anti-fOreign placards became
a daily occurrence, which the repeated
reprobation OF the imperial power failed
10 check or punish. These infiammatory
anpeals TO the ignorance and supersu-
lion of the masses, mendacious and alb
surd in their accusations and deeply hos
ule in their spirit, could not but work
cumulative harm. They aimed al no par
t..ular class of foreigners; they were i'm
partial I'm attacking everything foreign.
An outbreak in Shan-tung, In which
German missionaries were slain, was the
too natural result OF these maleYolent
teachings The posting OF seditious plac-
ards. eXhOrtIng TO the utter destruction
o. foreigners and Of every foreign thing.
continued unrebuked. Hostile demon
STATIONS toward the stranger gained
strength by organization.
The sect commonly styled the Boxers
developed greatly in the provinces north
Of the Yangtse. and with the collusion
o. many notable officials. including some
Iu The Immediate councils or the throne
itself. became alarmingly aggressive. No
foreigners life, outside of the protected
treaty ports. was safe. No foreign in-
tgTesy was secure from spollation.
Protest of the Powers.
The diplomatic representatives OF the
powers ia Pekln strove IN vain TO check
ials movement. Protest was followed by
demand and demand by renewed protest,
% be met with perfunCtory edcts from
iae palace and eYasiye and futile assur-
4a.es from the tsung-li-yamen. The cir
Gle Of the Boxer influence narrowed about
Fskn and while nominally stlgmstized
a. selitioJs, II was felt that its spirit per-
Sated the capital itself. that the imperial
forces were imbued with its doctrines,
tad ,l4t the immediate counselOrs Of the
Empress Dowager were in full sympathy
WIN the anti-foFeign movement.
4Ae increasing gravity or the conditions
China and The imminence or peril 10
olg Own diversified interest IN the empire
as "e.l as % those OF all the other treaty
s1.eiHments. were soon appreciated by
t--s government, causing IT profound So
"e.i4dy The United States from the
earliest days Of foreign intercourse with
NN.-a had followed policy Of peace
Vntuhg 30 occasions 10 testify good will
Ilfiher she extension OF lawful trade
respect the sovereignty OF It's govern
~'He and " Insure by al legitimate and