Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-01-07
Our New Treaty with China.
Chicago Times.

ulations Of our new treaty with
China, have, thus far, been few and
indefinite, but they are gradually
taking on tangible shape, II
seems to be understood now that
we arc to be nj liberty to restrict
the immigration of Cinnamon upon
engaging to treat those who are
here, and those whom we may
hereafter permit to como, with the
same hberality and forbearance that
we exercise toward Europeans who
come to settle in this country. This
is certainly not an unreasonable cn-
gagement on our part, rs 1t adds
nothing to our existing treaty obi
cations, and as il is nothing short
ofbarbarous 10 permit the maletroat-
ment of those whom we have vol
uLtarily permitted to come among
us.
Some days ago it was stated that
the Chinese government had agreed
to make some important CONNER
cial concession, upon condition that
| America should abstain from the
opium trade, but the nature Of the
concessions was not made known,
II is now futhor stated that the
principal concession, itnot the only
one, relates Ia American cotton
goods, which, upon the conclusion
of the treaty, are to be admitted u,
Chinese ports upon payment of 4
merely nominal duty, upon th,
, one condition above stated. lfthes,
are the terms Of tho treaty, tht
American commissioners are TO b'
, congratulated. Considering I'll,
attitude which had been assumed
toward the Chinese, not only by th,
: people of the Pacific slope but ever
by congress, their task did moi
seem to be a very hopeful one
Under the circumstances, it was tc
be expected that the Chinese would
exact instead ofmaking concessions
upon our asking release from on,
of the most important stipulation'
of the existing treaty. But, accord
: ing TO the reports, our commission
ers accomplished what they wanted
not only without making any i'm
portant concession, but ever
7 obtained n further valuable con
cession from the Chinese govern
ment.
IL remains to be seen what th,
British government will do. II, IL
appears TO be the case, the Chimes
government has agreed TO discrim
mate in favor of American cqttei
goods, admitting them Mt Il lowe
rate of duty than that laid OF
British goods, the British govern
ment will not remain passive. 1
will unquestionably demand tha
British goods be admitted upoI
the same terms as American goods
Even on equal terms, the Americans
are getting the better of the English
III the trade in the Chinese market
as appears from the letters Of Brit
ish consuls in China, extracts from
which were given in these columns
a few days ago. The English will
not yield us the further advantage
of discriminating duties without q
struggle. We may, therefore, con
fidently expect to here Of n British
demand upon China for equality in
the matter Of duties. China will
aecede TO the demand, no doubt,
upon the same condition with re-
spect 70 the opium trade that was
exacted Of the United States. The
real question is, whether England
will accept the condition. If so,
the United States will have been
instrumental in bringing the English
government TO terms which it has
heretofore obstinately refused to
make. II not, we will have gained
al important advantage in the
Chinese markets for cotton goods.
In either case, we shall have accom-
plishcd the principal object Of the
late negotiations in an honorable
way, and without sacrificing any
important interest, and China will
be decidedly a gamer.