St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-09
The Chinese Question.

The harmony of our relations with China
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.
The 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 unoffending
Cinnamon, indisputably within the protection
of the treaties and the law, were murdered by
u mob, and the more recent threatened out
break of the same character in Washington
Territory are fresh in the minds of ALL and
there is apprehension lest the bitterness
of feeling against the Mongolian
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 inf1exible 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 q these out
RACES, and it is but just to say that they are
traceable to the lawlessness Of men,
NOT CITIZENS
with Chinese laborers. Race prejudice is the
chief factor in originating these disturb
auces, and is. in 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. If existing laws are inadequate to
compass the end in view, | shall 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 CONGO,
The Independent state of the Congo has
been organized as a government, under the
sovereignty of his majesty, the king of Bel
GUM. who assumes its chief magiStracy, in
his personal character only, without making
the new state dependency on Belgium. 1t
is fortunate that q benighted region.
owing all it has of quickeningg
philanthroplc 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
ISOLATION of the Congo, has been followed by
formal recognition of the new nationality,
winch succeeds to its sovereign powers. A
conference of delegates of the principal COM
merclal nations was held at Berlin last winter
TO discuss methods whereby the Congo basin
might ne Kept open to the worlds trades.
delegates attened on behalf of the United
States, on the understanding that their part
should be merely delberative, without i'm
parting to the results any binding character
so far as the United States was concerned.
This reserve was due to the ndispositiou of
the government to share in any disposal by
an International congress of iurisdictional
questions in remote foreign territories. The
results of the conference were embodied in a
formal act of the nature of an international
convention. which laid claim to certain obIi-
cations purporting to be binding on the sip-
natorieS subject to ratification within one
year. Notwithstanding the reservation nm
der which the delegates of the United States
attended, their signatories were attached to
the general act in the same manner as those
of the plenipotentiaries of other governments.
thus making the United States appear without
reserve or qualification as signatory to joint
international engagement imposing on the
signers the conservation of the territorial in