River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-10
The Chinese Question.


The harmony of our relations with China IS
| fully sustained in the application of the acts
lately passed to execute the treaty OF 1880
restrictive of the immigration of Chinese lab
orers into the United States. Individual cases
of hardship have occurred beyond
the power of the executive to rem
edy, and calling for Judicial determination.
Tue condition of the Chinese question in the
Western states and territories is, despite this
restrictive legislation, far from being salts
factory The recent outbreak in Wyoming
Territory, where numbers of unofendin9
Cinnamon. indisputably within the protection
of the treaties and thelaw, were murdered by
II mob, and the more recent threatened out
break OF the same character IN washington
Territory arc fresh in the minds OF all, and
there is apprehension lest the bitterness
of feeling against the Monaghan
race on the Pacific slope may find
vent in similar lawless demonstrations.
All the power of this government should be
eXerted to maintain the amplest good faith
toward China in the treatment of these men,
and the infeyible sternness of the law IN
bringing the wrong-doers to justice should be
insisted upon. Every effort has been made
by this government to prevent these violent
outbreaks and to aid the representatives OF
China in their investigation of these out
RACES. and it is but JUS to say that they are
traceable to the lawlessness of men,
NOT CITIZENS
Of the United states, engaged in competition
with Chinese laborers. Race prejudice is the
chief factor in originating these disturb
auces. and is. in a large part of our domain,
ieopardizing our domestic peace and the good
relationship we strive to maintain with China.
The admitted right of a government TO pre-
vent the influx of elements hostile to its
internal peace and security may not be queS-
toned. even where there is no treaty stipula-
ton on the subject. That the exclusion of
Chinese labor is demanded in other countries
where like conditions prevail Is
strongly eVinced In the Dominion of Can
ada, where Chinese immigration is now
regulated by laws more exclusive than our
own. II existing laws are inadequate to
compass the end in view, shalt be prepared
to give earnest consideration to any further
remedial measures, within the treaty limits,
which the wisdom of congress may devise.
THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF COSCo,
The independent state of the Congo has
been organized as a government, under the
sovereignty of mis- majesty. the king Of Bel
GUM VINO assumes its chief magistl'acy, in
his personal character only, without making
the new state a dependency Oh Belgium. 1t
is fortunate that a benlgnted region,
owing all it has of quickening
civilization to the beuefcience and
phlIanthroplc spirit of this monarch, should
have the advantage and security of its be-
nevolent supervision The action taken by
this government last year, in being the first
to recognize the flag Of the International as
sociation of the Congo, has been followed by
Z
which succeeds to its sovereign powers.
conference of delegates of the principal COM
ruercial nations was held at Berlin last winter
10 discuss methods Whereby the Congo basin
might be kept open TO the worlds trades.
Deierates atteued on behalf of the United
States on the understanding that their part
should be merely deliberative, without i'm
parting TO the results any binding character
so far as the United States was concerned.
This reserve was due to the ludispos1ton OF
the government to share in any disposal by
an international congress of jurisdictional
questions in remote foreign territories. Tue
results of the conference were embodied in
formal act of the nature of an international
convention, which laid claim 10 certain obi
cations purporting to be binding on the sig
natories subject TO ratification within one
Z year. Notwithstanding the reservation un-
der which the delegates Of the United States
attended, their siGRateries we're attached 10
F the general act in the same manner as those
I of the plenipotentiaries of other governments,
7 thus making the United States appear without
J reserve or qualification as signatory to joint
international engagement imposing on the
/ siRners the conservation of the territorial iR-