and maintaining apheres of fnftaaviea hi China the circular proposals of 1890, In- vltlng from them declarations of the:r Intentions and views as to desirability of the adoption of measures insuring the benefits of equality of treatment of all foreigners throughout China. With gratifying unanimity, the re­ Recommendations for Civil Gov­ sponses coincided in this common policy, enabling me to see in the successful ter­ mination of these negotiations proof of ernment in the Philippines. the friendly spirit which animates th»? various powers Interested in the untram­ meled development of commerce and in­ REVIEW OF THE CHINESE QUESTION dustry in the Chinese Empire as a source of vast benefit to the whole commercial world. Powers Acted in Concert. The History of a Year—The West Indies — Operations of the Departments—Other Foreign Questions. WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.—President Mc­ Kinley s message went to Congress to­ day. it follows: To the Senate and House of Representa­ tives: With the outgoing of the old and the Incoming of the new century you begin the last session of the 56th Congress, with evidences on tv£ry hand of individual and National prosperity and with proof of the growing strength and Increasing power for good of Republican institutions. Your countrymen will join with you in fe­ licitation that American liberty is more firmly established than ever before, and that love for it and the determination to preserve it are more universal than at any former period of our history. The Republic was never so strong, be­ cause never so strongly entrenched in the hearts of the people as now. The Constitution,with few amendments, exists as it left the hands of its authors. The additions which have been made to ’t proclaim larger freedom and more ex­ tended citizenship. Popular government has demonstrated in its 124 years of trial here its stability and security and ;ts efficiency as the best Instrument of Na­ tional development and the best safe­ guard to human rights. W|en the sixth Congress assembled, in November, 1800, the population of the United States was 5,308,483; it is now 76,304,799. Then we had 16 states; now we have 45 Then our territory consisted of 909.050 square miles; it is now 3,846,595 square miles. Education, religion and morality have kept pace with our ad­ vancement in other directions, and, wnile extending its power, the Government has adhered to its foundation principles and abated none of them in dealing with our new-peoples and possessions. A Nation so preserved and blest gives reverent thanks to Gou and invokes his guidance and the continuance of his care and favor. CHINESE PROBLEM Causes That Led Up to the Recent Troubles. In our foreign intercourse the doml- 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 Chi­ nese races and in the traditions of their government. The Tai Ping rebellion and the opening of Chinese ports to foreig i trade and settlement disturbed alike the homogeneity « nd the seclusion of China. Meanwhile foreign activity made Itself felt in all quarters, not alone on the ooast, but along the great rivers, arteries end in the remoter districts, carrying new ideas and introducing new associations among a primitive people which had pur- ■«ued for centuries a national policy of Isolation. The telegraph and 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, became to the Chinese 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- dontrol. For several vears before the present troubles all the resources of foreign di­ plomacy, backed by moral demonstra­ tions of the physical force of fleets and arms, have teen needed to secure due respect for the treaty rights of foreign- ers. and to obtain satisfaction from the responsible authorities for the sporadic outrages upon the persons and property of unoffending sojourners, which from time to tim? occurred at widely sep­ arated points In the northern provinces, as in the case of the outbreaks in Sze Chuen and Shan Tung. Posting of anti-foreign placards be­ came a dally occurrence, which the re- peated probation of the imperial power failed to check or punish. These inflam­ matory appeals to the ignorance and •uperstition of the masses, mendacious and absurd in their accusations, and deeply hostile in their spirit, could not but work culrrlnatlve harm. They aimed at no particular class of foreigners; they were impartial in attacking everything foreign. An outbreak in Shan Tung, !n which German missionaries were slain, was the too natural result of the malevo­ lent teachings The posting of seditious placards, exhorting to the utter destruc­ tion of foreigners and of every foreign thing, continued unrebuked. Hostile demonstrations toward the stranger gained strength by organization. ( I I I The Boxer Agitation. I 1 I I I i 5 4 ’ -U I ) The sect commonly styled the Boxers developed greatly in the provinces north of the Yangt*e. and with collusion of many notable officials. Including some in the immediate councils of the throneitself, became alarmingly aggressive. No foreign­ er’s life, outside cf the protected treaty ports, was safe. No foreign interest 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 evasive and futile assur­ ances from the Tsung 11 Yamun. The Circle of the Boxer influence narrowed about Pekin, and. while nominally stig­ matized as seditious, it was felt that l’s spirit pervaded the capital itself, that the imperial forces were imbued with its doctrines, and that the immediate coun­ cilors of the Empress Dowager were in full sympathy with the anti-foreign movement. The Increasing gravity of the condi­ tions In China, and the Imminence cf peril to our own diversified interests In the empire, as well as to those of all the other treaty government», were soon appreciated by this Government, causing profound solicitude. The United States, from the earliest days of foreign inter­ course with China, has followed a policy of peace, emitting no occasions to tes tlfy good-will, to further the extens'en of lawful trade, to respect the sovereign­ ty of Its government, and to Insure. by all legitimate and kindly, but earn­ est means, the fullest measure of pro­ tection for the lives and property of our law-abiding cltlx« ns and for the exer- r Colonel Liscum and afterwards of Gen­ suspected ultimate destination to the eral Chaffee. Boer states. 8uch consignments In Brit­ Rencne of Leffatlonera. ish ships, by which alone direct trade is Toward the end of July the movement kept up between our ports and South began. A severe conflict followed at Tien Africa, were seized in application of a Tsin, in which Colonel Liscum was kilkxL law prohibiting British vessels from trad­ The city was stormed and partly de­ ing with an enemy without regard to any stroyed. Its capture afforded the base contraband character of the goods, while of operations frem which to make the cargoes shipped to Delagoa Bay in neutral final advance, which began in the first bottoms w*»re arrested on the ground af days of Augu«‘ the expedition being alleged destination to the enemy’s coun­ made up of J«.A nese. Russian, British try. Appropriate representation on our and American ttoOps at the outset. An­ part resulted in the British Government other battle was fought and won at agreeing to purchase outright all such Yong Tsun. Thereafter, the disheartened goods shown to be the actual property of Chinese troops offered little show of re­ American citizens, thus closing the inci­ sistance A few days ’ater, the impor­ dent to the satisfaction of the immediate­ tant position of To Si Wo was taken. A ly interested parties, although unfortu­ rapid march brought the united forces to nately without a broad settlement of the the populous City of Tung Chow, which question of a neutral’s right to »end capitulated without a contest. goods not contrband per se to a neutral On August 14, the capital was reached. port adjacent to a belligerent area. After a brief conflict beneath the walls, i Alaska Ronndary. the relief column entered and the Lega­ The work of marking certain provis­ tions were saved. The United States ional boundary points for convenience of soldiers, sailors and marines, officers and administration around the head of Lynn men alike, in those distant climes and Canal. In accordance with the temporary unusual surrounding«*, showed the same arrangement of October, 1899, was com­ valor, discipline and g<»od conduct and pleted by a joint survey in July last. The gave proof of the same high degree of in­ modus vlvendi has so far worked without telligence and efficiency which have dis­ friction and the Dominion Government tinguished them in every emergency. has provided rules and regulations for The Imperial family and the govern- securing to our citizens the benefit of the ment had fled a few days before. The recijfrocal stipulation that the citizens or city was without visible control. The subjects of either power found by that remaining imperial soldiery had made, arrangement within the temporary juris­ 1 on the night of the 13th. a last attempt diction of the other shall suffer no di­ to exterminate the besieged, which was minution of rights and privileges th y the National Constitution shfiulf have been established and its stability assur d. In Porto Rico we have re* duced -he garrisons to 1636. which include 896 native troops. There is no room foi further reduction here. We will be re­ quired to keep a considerable force Is the Philippine Islands for some time te come. From the best information ob» talnable we shall need there for the lm mediate future from 50,000 to 60,000 men. I am sure the number may be reduced a the insurgents shall come to acknowledge the authority of the United States, o. which there are assuring indications. It must be apparent that we will re* quire an army of about 60,000, and that during present conditions in Cuba and the Philippines the President should have authority to increase the force to th* present number of 100,000. Included in this, authority should be giver, to rals< native troops in the Philippines up t.o 15,000, which the Taft commission bellevet will be more effective in detecting and suppressing guerillas, assassins and la- drones than our own soldiers. The full discussion of this subject by the Secretary of War in his annual re­ port is called to your earnest attention. The important matter of an interoceanlc canal has assumed a new phase. Ad­ hering to its refusal to reopen the question of the forfeiture of the contract of the Maritime Canal Company, which was terminated for alleged nonexecution in October, 1S99, the Government of Nicara­ gua has since supplemented that action by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cragln option void for nonpayment of the stipu­ lated advance. Frotests in relation to these acts have been filed in the State Department, and are under consideration. Deeming Itself relieved from existing en­ gagements, the Nicaragua Government shows a disposition to deal freely with the canal question, either in the way of negotiations with the United States or by taking measures to promote the water­ way. Overtures for a convention to effect the building of a canal under the auspices of the United States are under considera­ tion. In the meantime, the views of Con­ gress upon the subject in the light ot the report of the committee appointed to examine the comparative merits of the various trans-isthmian ship canal proj­ ects may be awaited. I commend to the early attention of the Senate the convention with Great Britain to facilitate the construction of such a canal, and to remove any objec­ tion which might arise out of the conven­ tion commonly called the Clayton-Bul- wer treaty. Relation«! With Spain. Satisfactory progress has been made toward the conclusion of a general treaty of friendship and Intercourse with Spain in replacement of the old treaty, which passed into abeyance by reason of the late war. A new convention of extradi« tlon is approaching completion, and 1 would be much pleased were a commer­ cial arrangement to follow. I feel that we should not suffer to pass an oppor­ tunity to reaffirm the cordial ties that existed between us and Spain from the time of our earliest independence, and to enhance the mutual benefits of that com­ mercial Intercourse which is natural be­ tween the two countries. By the terms of the treaty of peace, the line bounding the ceded Philippine group on the southwest failed to Include several small islands lying west of the Sulus, which have always been recog­ nized as under Spanish control. The oc­ cupation of Sibutu and Cagayan, Sulu, by our naval forces elicited a claim on the part of Spain, the essential equity of which could not be gainsaid. In order to cure the defect of the treaty by re­ moving all possible ground of future mis­ understanding respecting the interpreta­ tion of its third article, I directed the negotiation of a supplementary treaty, which will be forthwith laid before the Senate, whereby Spain quits all title and claim of title to the Islands named, as well as to any and all Islands belonging to the Philippine Archipelago lying out­ side the lines described in said third ar­ ticle, and agrees that all such islands shall be comprehended in the cession of the archipelago as fully as if they had been expressly Included within those lines. In consideration of this cession the United States is to pay Spain the sum of $100,000. A bill 1» now pending to effect the rec­ ommendation made In my last annual message, that appropriate legislation be had to carry into execution article 8 of the treaty of peace with Spain, by which the United States assumed the payment of certain claims for indem­ nity of its citizens against Spain. I ask that action be taken to fulfill this obli­ gation. CONDITIONS IN The Navy. Very efficient service has been rendered by the Navy in connection with the insur­ rection in the Philippines, and the recent disturbance in China. A very satisfactory settlement has been made of the long-pending question of ths manufacture of armor-plates. A reason­ able price haa been secured, and ths necessity for a Government armor-plats plant avoided. The Hawaiian Islands. PHILIPPINES. Recommendations for a Civil Cdv- ernment for the Islands. In my last annual message I dwelt at some length upon the condition of af­ fairs in the Philippines. While seeking to impress upon you that the grave re­ sponsibility of the future government of those islands rests with the Congress of the United States, 1 abstained from rec­ ommending at that time a specific and final form of government for the terri­ tory actually held by the United States forces, and in which, as long as the in­ surrection continues, the military arm must necessarily be supreme. I stated my purpose, until the Cot.gross shall have made known the formal expression of Its will, to use the authority vested In me by th** Constitution and the stat­ utes to uphold the sovereignty of the United States in these distant Islands, as in all other places where our flag right­ fully floats placing to that end at the disposal of th? Army and Navy all the means which the liberality of the Con­ gress and the people have provided. No contrary expression of the will of the Congress having been made, I have steadfastly pursued the purpose so de­ clared. employing the civil arm az well toward the accomplishment of pacifica­ tion and the institution of local govern­ ments within the lines of authority and law. I’rogress in the hoped-for direction has been favorable. Our forces have suc­ cessfully controlled the greater part of the islands, overcoming the organized forces of the insurgents, and carrying order and administrative regularity to all quarters. What opposition remains is for the most part scattered, obeying nj concerted plan of strategic action, oper­ ating only by the methods oummon to the traditions of guerrilla warfare, which, while ineffective to alter the general con trol now established, 'are still sufficient to beget Insecurity among the popula­ tions that have felt the good results of our control, and thus delay the confer­ ment upon them of the fuller measures of local self-government, of education and of industrial and agricultural devel­ opment which we stand ready to give ' I ( Much interesting information I? given tn the report of the Governor of Hawaii as to the progress and development of th< islands during the period from July 7, 1898. the date of ihe approval of the joint resolut'on of the Congress providing for their annexation up to April 30, 1900, the date of the approval of the act providing a government for the territory and there­ after. The last Hawaiian census, taken in the year 1896, gives a total population of 109.020, of which 31,019 were native Ha- wallans. The number of Americans re­ ported was 8485. The results of the Fed- eral census taken this year show ths Islands to have a total population of 154.- 001, snowing an Increase over that report­ ed in 1896 of 41.981, or 41.2 per cent. There has been marked progress In educational, agricultural and railroad development of the Islands. The Twelfth Census. The Director of the Census states thal the work in connection with the 12th cen­ sus Is progressing favorably. This Na­ tional urdertaking, ordered by the t on* gross each decade, has finally resulted in the collection of an agregation of statls- tical facts to determine the industrial growth of the country. Its manufacturing and mechanical resources, Its richness io mines and forests, the numbers of Its agricultural districts, their farms ard i products, its educational and religious op. portunities, as well as nuestlons pertain­ ing to sociological condlt'ons. Precaution AKalnnt Extravnicanre. I Tn our greit prosperity we must guard against the dangers It Invites In extrav­ agance in government expenditures and appropriations, and the chosen represen­ tatives of the pe-ople w II. I doubt not, fur­ nish an example in th» ir legislation of that wise economy which. In a season of plenty, husbands for the future. Tn this era of great business activity and oppor­ tunity caution la not untimely. It will not abate but strengthen our confidence. Tt will not retard but promote I gi’imate Industrial and commercial ex^winsion. Our growing power brings with It temp­ tations and perils inquiring constant vig­ ilance to avoid. It must n t be used *o in. vlte conflicts, nor f< r oppression, but for the more effective maintenance of those principles of equality and justice upon which our Institutions and happiness de­ pend. Tyet us keep always In mind that the foundation of our Government Is lib­ erty; Its superstructure peace. WILTJAM McKTNLET, Executive Mansion, December 3, 1W>. WEATHER A DRAWBACK. Fall Tr«d< Slightly Affecting Jobbing Diitrt» tlon— November Failure». Bradetreet’« Mye: Unsettled weather and holiday« are a drawback to retail and jobbing distribution in many mar­ kets. but the general eituation ie etill » inoet satisfactory one, and the iron and steel, coal, boot and shoe and lumber trades are conspicuously well main­ tained. The industrial situation ia also deserving of note, because of tha striking abeence «■( complainte as to idleness or as to pending or future la­ bor troubles. While the volu*ne of new order« in crude material continues moderato when compared with the enormou« ac­ tivity for some time past, business in iron and steel is steadier, and as a rule held better in hand. Export trade iu iron and steel is less active, owing to lower prices abroad and active oeman I at home, but .American railmakers this week have received flattering indorsements in the matter of prices, quality and delivery from English railway authorities. Among textiles, the situation iu woolen goods and wool is perhaps the least encouraging of any, but even here the strength of the raw material ia no­ table. Relatively the best trade reports come from the south and southwest, while the most backward are from sec­ tions of the East, where unseasonable weather is complained of, and from sections of the spring wheat region which suffered most from the shortage in yield. It is notable, however, that the better situation in lumber has stim­ ulated trade in Northern Minnesota. Wheat, including flour, shipments for the week aggregate 2,497,880 bush­ els, against 3,827,296 bushels last week. Failures for the week number 184. as against 21S last week. PACIFIC COAST TRADE. Seattle Market. Onions, new, llio. Lettuce, hot house, |1 per crate. Potatoes, new. $16. Beets, per sack, 86c@$l. Turnips, per sack, $1.00. Squash—1 J^o. Carrots, per Back, 60c Parsnips, per sack, $1.20. Cueu m hers—40 @ 50c. Cabbage, native and California. IJic per pounds. . Butter—Creamery, 80c; dairy, 183 22c; ranch, 18o pound. Eggs—84c. Cheese—12c. Poultry—12c; dressed, 14c; spring, 18@15c turkey, 18c.. Hay—Puget Sound timothy, $14.00; choice Eastern Washington timothy, $18.00. Corn—Whole, $23.00; cracked, $25; feed meal, $25. Barley—Rolled or ground, per ton, $20. Flour—Patent, per barrel, $3.50; blended straights, $3.25; California. $3.25; buckwheat flour, $6.00; gra­ ham, per barrel, $3.00; whole wheat flour, $3.25; rye flour, $3.80@4.00. Mill«tuff«—Bran, per ton, $13.00; shorts, per ton, $14.00. Feed—Chopped feed, $19.00 per ton; middlings, per ton, $20; oil cake meal, per ton, $30.00. Fresh Meats—Choice dressed beef steers, price 7 He; cows, 7c; mutton pork, 8c; trimmed, 9c; veal, 90 lie. Hams—Large, 18c; small, 13»i; breakfast bacon, 12c; dry salt sides, 85»c. ________ Portland Market. Wheat—Walla Walla. 53 054o; Valley, nominal; Bluestetn, 56o per bushel. Flour—Best grades, $8.40; graham, $2.60, Oats—Choioe white, 45o; choion gray, 42c per bushel. Barley—Feed barley, $15.50 brew­ ing, $16.50 per ton. Millstuffs—Bran, $15.50 ton; mid­ dlings, $21; shorts, $17; chop, $16 per ton. Hay—Timothy,$12@ 12.50; clover,$? 09.50; Oregon wild hay, $607 per ton. Butter—Fancy creamery, 4505Oo; ■tore, 30c. Eggs—35c per dozen. Cheese—Oregon full cream, 12^01 Young America, 13c; new cheese 10c per pound. Poultry—Chickens, mixed, $2.750 8.50 per dozen; hens, $4.00; springe, $2.0008.50; geese, $6.00 0 8.00 du«; ducks, $3.5005.00 |>er dozen; turkey«, live, 12c per pound. Potatoes—50 0 65c per sack; sweet«, lMc per pounu. Vegetables—Beets, $1; turnips, 75c; per sack; garlic, 7c per pound; cab­ bage, 1 .‘«c per pound; itarsnipa, 85c; onions, $1; carrots, 75c. Hope—New crop, 12014c per pound. Wool—Valley, 130 140 per pound; Eastern Oregon, 10012c; mohair, 25 per pound. j Mutton—Gross, l»est sheep, wether« an