The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-02-23
THE ECHINESE TREATIES.
Reasons Why They Hang Fire In the Sen.
Rle,

WASHINGTON, February 81. - The
Chinese treaties are still in allegiance, and
the failure Of the Senate 10 deal with them
is creating discussion Of the reason why
they are not disposed Of. An opinion is
gaining: favor that the Senate will not sp-
prove them at this session, One reason
alleged is that they will affect the relations
OF the next administration with the
Chinese, and that It Is only fair that 1t
should have its hands united, Another is
that as the treaty regarding immigration
opens the doors for the exclusion OF the
Chinese from this country, and was in.
tended to prepare the way for legislation
to that end, 1t Is desirable to give the
country time to consider whether 1t is
ready 10 adopt the policy OF exclusion;
for II not, 1t IL wiser to decline the treaty
and to drop the question out OF politics as
much as possible. Still another reason
alleged is that the treaty regarding immi.
grafton, viewed as a means 10 the exClu-
sion oil the Chinese, Ia unsatisfactory, since
the word "laborers," who alone can be
excluded, IL vague. Does 1t cover minors,
operatives, laundeTers, ahoemakers, cigar,
makers, tailors and house servants? 1t
would seem not, II attention Il paid to the
ordinary use Of the word. Still again 1t is
said that the favored nation clause con.
tanned In the treaty does absolutely aud
positively yield to the Chinese the right to
be naturalized. This provision Ia especially
distasteiul to the Pacific coast people, who
have gone 30 far as to provide in
their new constitution that the Chi.
nese shall not be nRturalized In the State
II Is alleged also that II the treaty IL up.
proved and legislation enacted to exclude
laborers, the class to include all people
who labor, whether In an ordinary way
or Rs operatives, etc., the result will still
not be satisfactory, because the Chinese
who are now, or who have been, In Cali
f0rnia, may 60 and come ns they please
It Is said that tWo'thirds Of the Chinese
passengers who come to this country now
are old hands. II this be true, the Sand.
lot people will be likely 10 think that the
assumed exclusion OF the Chinese will not
amount to much, and 1t becomes possible
that the treaty will be male the means OF
an attack upon the Republican party, In.
stead OF giving 1t strength in Calitornis, as
was anticipated,
The commercial treaty Is also called In
question. II Is said that the provision
under which all trials In China Of causes
between Americans and Chinese arc to be
heard by the magatrate Of the defendant
and according to The law Of his nation, is
4 step backward. Heretofore 1t has been
held by many that mixed cases should be
heard In mixed courts, the native and the
foreign officers sitting together, and that
this procedure ia sanctioned alike by
the old treaties and by the require.
ments OF Justice. 1t la said again
that the opium clause is an sbsurdity,
as the Chinese buy, sell, transport
and consume opium, and that their
government has just made new treaty
with the English, under which the trade
may be carried on by the latter. There Is
NO sympathy with opium expressed by
anybody; but II is doubled whether It is
worth while to discriminate under such
circumstances. Itis not seen, ,again, that
the commercial treaty In any way improves
the status oi our people In China or their
chances to trade, and some disappoint.
ment is expressed that the promised re.
CiproCity, which was to give trade great
impetus, Is quite wanting In IL.