The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-08
THE CHINESE IN CALIFORNIA.

to the Ways and Means Committee, now in
San Francisco, which is temperate and
moderate expression of the disabilities under
which they and their countrymen labor, and
o request for justice, which ought to receive
the candid consideration of all fair-minded
men. These merchants claim that the Chinese
are faithful, honest, and Industrious; and that,
whether as laborers or men of business, they
are useful in developing the resources of the
country, and in promoting more intimate
commercial relations between the United
States and Asia. They ask, therefore, that
they shall have the same protection for life
and property, and the same rights before the
law, as other men. The treaty which has been
concluded between this country and China
is satisfactory to them and it is
special matter for congratulation
that an American citizen was placed at the
head of the Chinese embassy but the protec-
tion promised under the treaty has not yet
been accorded, and under existing circum-
stances they cannot advise the wealthy mer-
chants and bankers of China to invest their
money in America, when their agents are not
permitted to testify in the courts and are
otherwise placed outside of the pale of the
law and made liable to outrages of every
description. The special tax collected only
from Chinese miners they think is not in ac-
cordance with the treaty, and while they are
willing to pay taxes cheerfully when taxed
equally with others, they think the tax of five
dollars from each Chinaman for coming into
the State of California is not right, if this is
free country. Fung Tang, the spokesman of
the Chinese merchants, said:-
"As people, we wish to do right and treat all men
well. If you will converse with my countrymen here
to-day, they will answer any questions you wish to
ask, and we hope, on your return to Washington,
you will speak favorably of us to the United States
Government"
The Chinese question is rapidly looming up
as a future source of trouble; and it is, per-
haps, well that the intelligent Chinese mer-
chants of San Francisco have had this oppor-
tunity to meet the Ways and Means Commit
tee face to face and to explain their position,
anditis to be hoped that Congress will take some
action towards according them their rights.
1t is useless for civilized nations to complain
of the barbarous policy of the Chinese Gov
ernment towards outsiders when their own
conduct is no better; and the only sound and
statesmanlike course that can be adopted
is to give them the equal and impartial
justice that is accorded to other men. Much
trouble hereafter can be avoided if we do
right now; and as the Chinese have asked for
nothing but what seems just and proper-just
what oar merchants in China have been ask
ing for all along-there is no reason why
their requests should not be met in a proper
spirit. 1t was by temporizing with slavery
that all our former troubles arose; and the ex-
periences of the past should teach us that a
broad and liberal policy, in accordance with
the principles upon which the Government
processes to be founded, is the only course
that can be safely adopted in this instance.
JEFF. DAVIS has written to a friend in Mon.