Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-31
The New Treaties.


American Government. The first
refers to commercial relations, and
places Chinese vessels and cargos
upon the same footing as those OF
" The most favored nations. " This
concession is understood to have
been made to secure modification
of the existing treaty relating to
Chinese immigration. II the text OF
the document, which will be sub
mitted to the Senate for ratification
soon after the holidays, is not mis-
stated, it will probably afford ade-
quate temporary relief from the IN
Aux of the barbarous bordes. The
dispatches state that the Emperor
consents that whenever, in the cpin-
ion of the United States, the coming
hither of Chinese laborers, or their
residence in the country, affects in
juriously the interests of the people,
Congress may regulate, limit, Or sus-
pend such immigration, il such
manner as it may deem proper.
This seems to cover the ground
of present contention, but there may
be diplomatic. loop.holes which,
when the whole document is pre-
sented, will greatly modify the priv
ilege. 1t is so radical change
from the principle settled by the
5th Article of the Burlingame treaty,
which cordially recognizes :" the in
herent and inalienable right of man
to change his home and allegiance,
and the mutual advantage of the
migration and emigration of their
citizens and subjects, respectively,
from the one country to the other,
for the purposes OF curiosity, or
trade, or as permanent residents, I"
it can scarcely be expected that
under the new treaty as sweeping an
abrogation of the privileges involved
ia made as has been claimed. If so.
then we shall have succeeded in OBJ
tanning the vital object of negotia-
tions and probably without too great
a concession in return, for the exist
ing treaty inures thousand-fold
more to the advan tage of the Chinese
than to Americans citizens. Where
one of our countrymen avails himself
of the privilege of residence or trade
in the Chinese Empire, at the seven
specified localities which constitute
the only portion Of the domain open
to the most favored nations" from
Eve hundred to q thousand China
men have availed themselves of the
same right" extending all over the
United States.
1t is said that the late Commission
sent to China found less difficulty in
treating upon the subject than they
had anticipated, owing to the fact
that the Chinese government has
never favored the emigration of itf
citizens to any country in such num-
bers as they have come to this; but
il must be noted that the policy Of
the Empire has been subjected to a
great change of late years. The
spirit of exclusiveness which has pre-
vailed SO many centuries, seems to
have been SO lessened by the gradu-
ally extending business relations
with other countries, that now il
can scarcely be said to exist at all.
The Empire now owns its own steam
ships, and the late concession shows
that she intends to dispute the routes
OF commerce on the high seas; hun
dreds of her young men have been
educated in Caucausian schools; the
scientific works of Europeand Amer.
lea have been translated into Chinese
for the use of her officials, improved
firearms have been adopted; and
does all this signify nothing of the
objects of government of five hun
dred millions of people, controlled
by astute craftsmanship, hemmed
in on all sides by the sen, increasing
at the ratio OF one hundred million
in twenty years, whose soil has al
ready reached the limit of product
iveness for the people? We believe
it does indicate its future policy, and
can only hope that in the treaties
Just submitted our nation has not
Leen again worsted in its dealings
with this far-seeing, and we fear