The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-23
The Sanctity of Treaties.


II Is barely three months since the United
States paid to Great Britain five and a half
million dollars under tho Halifax award,
resulting from tho much laudcd treaty OF
Washington. Everybody who has bestowed
the least attention to tho subject, knows
that this award was not only exorbitant,
according to every element which entered
into the calculation, as furnished even by
the British claimants, but was wholly arbl-
trary, unjust, and unwarranted by the
merits OF the case, as submitted TO the Com
missoners.
Mr.. EvARTs wrote a long despatch last
September for the benefit Of Lord SAILS
BURY, intended to expose the injustice OF
tho Halifax award, and TO persuade the
British Government that 1t would not DO
crcditable to take the five and half mil
lions But Lord SALISBURY was deaf to this
appeal. He remembered the Geneva award,
and did not forget that nine millions OF 1t
were still in the Treasury at Washington,
waiting like an estate in chancery for the
true heir TO prove his title. So he pocketed
the paper and the millions, finding the latter
most soothing antidote TO the former.
In concluding his despatch, Mr. EvARTs
went out of the way TO commit himself, and
the Government in whose name he spoke, to
tho obligations OF tho Washington treaty.
Here are his words:
"You will say TO Lord SALISBURY that upon such a de-.
cArcd disagreement upon the int OF the
treaty In respect or unanimity OF the Commissioners
hi wW rorrd he maintenance Of entire COOL 6d
and munl rser IN an dnlaqs under the h,ncfoof Of
Wellington Of rirantogf o,teru anf wW as-one 10
DELIBERATE iN"p' sao" q her ka,sv' Government 70 he
harv.n
Now, under the Chinese treaty, there Is no
question OF Interpretation to separate the
two Governments. Tho plain issue is,
whether the United States shall wilfully and
flagrantly violate its plighted honor to China
merely to crafty partisan passion and a
prejudice by means of which politicians are
striving for tho mastery in California. All
treaties stand upon the same footing. There
is nothing moro sacred in that called the
treaty Of Washington than there is in that
with China. In fact, tho obligation Of the
latter in regard TO the rights OF migration
and emigration are specifically described
and tho privileges and immunitics OF the
Chinese in the United State are solemnly
protected In the following articles:
"AEricLE v. The United States OF America and the
Emperor Of China cordially recognize the inherent ami
inaicnable right Of man 10 change his home AMI allie.
glance. and also the mutual advantage Of the mra
ton aud emigration Of their citizens and subjects respect
lively from the country to the other for purposes Of
curiosity, Of trade. or as permanent r,s'isais
AR VI . Chinese subjects visiting or re siding in
the United States shall enjoy the privileges. immu-
mites and exemptions In respect to travel 'iies
may be there enjoyed by the citizens subjects tile
most 6irorsi nano..'
This is the bond we signed in 1863, which
the whole country accepted with applause,
and no part Of II more 50 than California.
Mr. BURLINGAAIE was everywhere welcomed
as a public benefactor. Congress received
him with exceptional honors States, boards
OF trade municipal authorities, and other
organizations joined in tributes Of praise
and admiration. Mr.. SEWARD was applauded
as the statesman whose sagacity had
planned this new departure in our relations
with China.
And now, at the end OF ten years, IL is pro-
posed by an act OF Congress, without com
mon respect to the Chinese Government,
and without the least care for our own
pledges voluntarily made, to break this
treaty, and to stand before the world dis
honored. We shall soon see IN the good
faith" which Mr.. EvARTs recently vauntcd
to Lord SALISBURY in regard TO tho Wash
ington treaty, has any application to the
Chinese treaty, which is far more imposing
In its form, and concerns those great rights
which the Declaration OF Independence sets
forth as the foundation OF free government.