The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-04

To the senate and Housc oil representa-
tivrs:
At the outgoing OF the old and the in
coming OF the new century you begin
the last session OF the Fifty-siTth Con-
gress with evidences on every hand OF
Individual and national prosperity and
with proof of the growing strength and
increasing power for good of republican
institutions. Your countrymcn will join
! with you In the fclicitatlon that American
1 liberty is more firmly established than
ever before. and that love for 1t and the
determination to preserve II are more
universal than at any former period OF
| our history.
The republic was never so strong, be-
cause never so strongly intrcnched In
the hearts of the people as now. Thr
Constitution, with few amendments, ex-
lists rs II left the hands Of its authors
The additions which have been made to
| II proclaim larger freedom anu more ex-
! tended citizenship. Popular govern
ment has demonstrated In its12l years
OF trial here Its stability and security,
and Its efficiency as the best instrument
OF national development and the best
safeguard to human rights.
Growth of the Country.
When the Sixth Congress assembled
In November, 1900, the population of the
United States was 5,3OS,4S3. 1t is now
&c, ,30i.79J. Then we had sixteen states.
Now we have forty-fvp Then our ter
rltory consisted of 909.050 square miles.
1t Is now 3Si6.595 square miles. Educa-
tlon, religion. and morality have kept
! pace with our advancement In other di-
rectiuns, and while extending It's power
the government has adhered to Its foun-
dltion principles and abated none Of
them in dealing with our new peoples
and possessions. A nation 80 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 domi-
rant question has been the treatment
OF the Chinese problem. Apart from
this our relations with the powers have
been happy. NF.at
The recent troubles in China spring
from the eanti-foreign which for
tho past three years has gained strength
In the northern provinces, Their origin
lies deep In the character Of the Chinese
race and In the traditions of their gov
ernmcnt. The Ta!ping rebellion and the
opening OF the Chinese ports to foreign
trade and settlement disturbed alike
the homogeneity and thu secluslon OF
China.
Foreign Activity.
Meanwhile foreign activity made Itself
felt in all quarters, not alone on the
coast, but along the great river arteries
and In the remo,er districts. carrying
new ideas and introducing new associa-
tions among primitive people which
had pursued for centuries n national
policy OF Isolation.
The telegraph aud the railway spread
| ing over their land, the steamers plying
| on their waterways, the merchant and
the Missionary penetrating year by year
| farther TO the Interior b2camc to the
| Chinese mind types OF alien invasion.
| changing the course OF thcir national
| life and fraught with vague forebodinSs
| OF disaster to their beliefs and their self
control. .
For several years before the present
troubles all the resources Of foreign d.
plomacy, backed BY moral dcmonstra-
lions OF the physical force of .'tcts nnu
arms, have been needed to secure due
respect for the treaty rights OF foreign
rrs and to obtain satisfaction from the
responsible authorities for the sporadic
outraGes upon the persons and property
OF unoffcnding sojourn2rs, which from
time to time occurred at widely sepa-
rated points In the northern provinces.
as In the case Of the outbreaks In SEE
chucn and Shan-tunG.
Attacked All the Foreigners.
Posting OF anti-fuieign placards be-
came daily occurrence. which the re-
peatcd rcprobation Of the imperial
power failed to check or punish. These
innammatory appeals 10 the ignorance
and superstition OF the masses, menda-
cious and absurd In the accusations anl
deeply hostile In their spirit, could not
but work cumulative harm. They aim
ut no particular class OF foreigners:
they were impartial In attacking every
thing foreign.
| An outbreak In Shan-tung. In which
German missionaries were slain. was
the too natural result or these mnleVo-
| lent teachings. The posting OF scuitious
placards. eNhorting 10 the utter destruc- =
| tlon OF foreigners and Of every foreign
thing, continued unrcbukea. Hostile
demonstrations toward the stranger
| gained strength by organization.
The sect, commonly styled the Boxers,
developed greatly In the provinces north
| or the Yang-TSe. and with the collusiorl
of many notable officials. including some
| In tho immediate councils OF the throne
| itsclf became alarmingly aggressive.
No foreigners life, outside of the pro-
| tpctcd treaty ports. was safe. No for
cign interest, was secure from sp0ila-
| t!or.
Protest Followed by Demand.
The Diplomatic representatives OF the
powers In Picking strovo IN vain 10
check this movement. Protest was fol-
lowed by demand and demand by re-
| ncwcd protest, to be mot with perfume
tory cdicts from the palace and evasivc
and futile nsurarccs from the 'rsunE-ll
Ynmrn. The circle Of the Boxer inlu-
once narrowed about PcklnS. and while
| nomlnally stigmatlged as schitious, II
was felt that It's spirit pcrvuded the
capital Itself, that the imperial forces
were imbucd with It's doctrines. and
| that the immediate counscllOrs of the
| empress dpwarcr7wcre In full sympathy
with the anIi-fOrciEn movement,
The Increasing gravity OF the cpnul-
| tlons In China and the lmmlncncr OF
peril to our own diversified interests In
! the empire, M well ny 10 those of all
the other treaty governments, were soon
appreciated BY this government, causing
II profound solIctude. The United
States from the earliest days of forelg,,
intercourse with China had followed u
| policy OF peace. omlttlns no occasion Ia
testify good will. to further the cx,cn-
sion nf lawful trnd,, 10 respect the SOW
prolgnty OF its government. AMI 10 In
sure by NIL lrgtmntr ana kindly bu,
earnest means the fullest measure OF
protection for the lives and property OF
'our lnw-abiding citizens and for the ex-