Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-23
The Chinese Commission,

The impotence and disquiet exist
ing on this coast in relation to the
Chinese problem ought to be allayed
to Il great degree for the present by
the appointment of j. i. Angel as
Minister to China, and OF Messrs.
Swift and Trescott as Commission
ers to act with him in negotiating
q treaty with that country. The
attainment of results through this
action that will prove an adequate
remedy for the evils caused on the
Pacific Coast by the fear Of unre-
stricted Chinese immigration, is q
matter of extreme probability.
The intimations occasionally print
ed in Eaastern journals that the
Chinese Government IS mortally Of
Tended at the American demand for
Il restriction upon the emigration of
its subjects to our shores, and the
reports that it intends to shut out
American Commerce ana American
travellers and traders in reprisals,
are partly delusions and partly mere
fabricatioDs. The Chinese who are
already here desire, for their own
interests, to see further immigration
on the part OF their countrymen
checked, and there is good reason
to bcli-ve that the Chinese Govern
ment itself is not now nor never has
been particularly favorable to the
emigration of it's people. Moreover,
the threats of excluding American
trade would be, in any event, alb
surd. China profits far more by
commercial intercourse with the
United States than we do, and Chi
nese merchants ale too long-headed
to favor severing relations under
such circumstances. With the right
kind of Commission there ought
therefore, to be no doubt that we
shall soon have satisfactory treaty
agreed upon.
The Pacific Coast has no cause to
complain of the Commission that has
been appointed. 1t is, indeed, bet
ter than there was reason to expect
it to be. The mistaken sentiment
of the Eastern States in regard to
the Chinese question, ignorant and
unjust though it he, could not be
sresarded in the selection of the
Commissioners, nor would it have
been well for us that it should be.
The appointment of { Commission i'll
which preponderance in number
or the chief place would have been
given to the Pacific Coast, would
probably have aroused degree OF
antaSonism in the rest of the coun'
try that might have prevented rat
iiication of any treaty that could
have been negotiated. The East
demanded the selection Of Com
mission which, while giving repIe
seutation TO California, should aQ'
pear TO be IN the main unInterested
unbiased by local feeling, and un-
pledged to any particular course
And this is sufficient to answer our
Iurl Cses. too. 1t was essential L
our interests that there should moi
be any prejudice on the part OF any
oi tue Commissioners against oul
demand for the restriction OF lmml
grafton, but this, 1t Is evident, there
is not. President Augell appears Il
be "A man Of fam, temperate, un
prejud.ced disposition. open to con
vic,iou. ani determined not 10 Torn
any conclusions or to determine
upon any policy until lie has thor
oueLly acquainted himself with al
tue facts concerned In the under
taking for which he has been chosen
lie wishes TO see and learn iol
himself all that it IS desirable fol
hlm To know. in order t. Quaiiy Alu
for lis work, and lie will have th'