Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-02-04

the new treaty with China, is the extended
reply of the Chinese Commissioners to the
memorandum submitted to them by Minister
Angel and the American Commissioners.
The American memorandum stated in cour
teous terms some of the difficulties which
have confronted our Government, in conse-
quence of the excessive immigration of the
Chinese TO California, and the desire of our
Government to secure such modification of
existing treaties as should leave the United
States free to deal with the questions grow
the public interest might demand. The
Chinese Commissioners having read this pa
per, commented upon the friendliness of
its tone, and stated that they would consult
Prince Kung and send memorandum in re
ponse. This they did six days later. This
response is a decidedly able document,
showing full acquaintance Oh the part of
the Chinese, with the discussions and action
upon the question in this country. In fact
We do not at present recall a clearer or faircr
statement of the case on either side than is
given in this Chinese response. The Chinese
Commissioners say in their memorandum
''China and the United States have been
on friendly terms from the first, but
from the ratification of the Burlingame
treaty decided strengthening in our rela-
tions of amity has been seen. The people
of either country have passed TO and fro from
the other and have never failed TO receive all
the benefits privileges and immunities guar
anteed to them by the treaties. To refer,
for example, to the Chinese laborers in Cali
fornia Their number is certainly not small
Being from race of jewellers upon the sea
coast, they have desired to go thither and
have regarded California as a land of abund-
ance and as furnishing great opportunities.
They have also rejoiced in the freedom OF
the United States. Hence they have gone
there, not US the result of deceit or by being
kidnapped, nor under contract as coolies.
but have flown thither as the wild geese fly.
In the many years of Chinese migration TO
California a hundred lines of enterprise have
arisen, and commercial activity has develop
ed to an amazing extent. The Chinese have
given large auIount of labor to your people,
and the benefits of that labor to your country
have certainly not been few. But now, be-
cause the Chinese do good work for small
remuneration, the, rabble are making COM
plants. Since the amount paid TO the labor
er is small, the employer is able TO save
more hence the benefit still inures 10 the
citizen of the United States. This would
seem to be fair reasoning the world over.
Last year the Congress of the United
States passed an act restricting the immigra-
ton of Chinese, which the President of the
United States vetocs. This year there also
has been restrictive Legislation against them,
which the courts have declared unconstitu-
tional, and hence invalid. Some time since
Mr.. Seward handed to us report of Senator
Morton upon Chinese immigration, in which
he held that il would certainly be wrong to
restrict the coming of the Chinese. He quot
ed the Constitution of the United States,
adopted at the establishment of the Govern
ment, which declares our territory is broad
and our people few in number. People of
all nations shall be permitted to come TO or
land without let or hindrance' He also
quoted the Burlingame treaty, which declares
that the people of either country shall be
permitted TO 60 freely TO the other, either
with the purpose of residing permanently
and of becoming citizens or subjects, or tenn
porarily that they shall go voluntarily and
shall not be hindered. These statements
official and personal, are all to the point.
''If now, because of temporary competition
between the Irish and stranger guests, decis-
ion is lightly taken to change the policy OF the
Government, II contradiction with the Consti-
tuition of the United States and with existing
treaties cannot be avoided. Since the estab-
lishment of treaty relations between the two
countries citizens of the United States in
China have not been relocated TO the juris-
diction of the Chinese authorities. China has
accorded this privilege to the United States
Chinese subjects have been permitted 10 go
and come at their pleasure, The United
States has granted this concession 10 China.
At the ratification of this treaty the people of
both sides of the Pacific ocean leaped, shout
ed AID clapped their hands with joy and
pleasure Friendly relations were firmly cs-
tablished, divisions were oblterated, the
people could come and 60 as they chose,
and the government only needed the wishes
of the people. All this was eminently jus,
and honorable in the highest degree TO the
United States. This being so, when other
powers were exceedingly urgent in their
need OF Chinese labor, and desired this Gov
ernment TO allow its subjects to go of their
own free will, this Government, be-
cause those other powers treated the
Nmnesc laDoIeT Aaisniy, anu h"l
with the kindness shown them by
the United States, could not do otherwise
than take this difference into consideration.
There are Chinese who go to the United
States as merchants and traders, and there
are also Chinese who go there as laborers
Formerly, when there was demand for
these laborers, the only fear was that they
would not 20 thither, and now, because of
the influence of violent men, there exists IA
desire that they stay away. In consdera-
ton of the permanent friendship between
the two countries il is believed that the
United States by no means entertains this
idea But as the number of Chinese labor
ers ia California is daily increasing, there
cannot but be abuse. Hence, last year, the
foreign office consented 10 enter upon the
negotiations with Mr.. Seward TO prohibit
the poorer classes of coolie laborers, GRIM
inals, prostitutes, and diseased persons from
going thither.
''Since, now, your excellencles desire TO
discuss this business further with US, we are
ready to discuss further the proposition Of
Mr. Seward with the hope that an equit-
able solution may be reached, and that the
purpose of avoiding difficulties and securing
beneficial results may not be lost sight of on
either side, provided always that such nego-
tiations shall not be contrary 10 the stipula-
tions of the Burlingame treaty. We are by
no means unalterably fixed In our views
We have not before us the text of the cor
respondeuce on the part of the American
Commissioners; but if they succeeded in sur
passing the candor, courtesy and logic OF
tho Cinnamon, as shown above, they did
very well. With able officials on each side,
meeting in such a temper, the negotiation of
the treaty ought not TO have been, and, in
point of fact, it is said, was not very diff
cult matter. And it must be agreed that
II either government appears at u dNadvan-
tage in the whole matter Of the Chinese ques-
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