Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-08
THE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES.
The San Francisco Chronicle saws:

Inc San Francisco Chronicle saws:
When n Chinese mob kills Christian mis-
sionaTy the Minister of the nation to which the
missionary belonged Immediately laws the case
before the Government at Picking and demands
compensation under penalty of bombardment
He always gets what he wants without needless
delay.
Nothing of the kind The Chinese
Government has distinctly announced that
it viii not be responsible for damages for
the killing of foreigner by Chinese
mob. 1t does answer in damages for prop
erty destroyed, but it is estopped from
claiming any smart money for the killing
of its people abroad-estopped by a prece-
dent it deliberately made.
On the 18th of May, 1874, at Shanghai,
occurred what became known as the French
concession riot. 1t was begun in the French
quarter by a Chinese mob,which DESTROYED
the property of foreigners and took their
lives. More foreigners were butchered by
the rioters in that one case than Chinese
have been killed by mobs in Chris
tian lands. Among the slain were a half
dozen American citizens. Claims for rec
ompense to the families of these unfortu-
mates were laid before the Chinese Govern
ment. The whole matter of assessing
damages of the riot had been referred to
the COnsul-General of the United States
and the Chinese Niceroy. But when it
came to damages for American citizens
killed by the rioters the Viceroy fatty
refused to act, and he was sustained by his
Government, which was advised in the
premises by Sir Robert Hart, then Com
missioner of Customs for China.
The affair became the subject for d;plo-
matte correspondence, and was at issue for
nearly five years. 1t resulted in the Chi
nese Government refusing indemnity. and
the United States Government sent no
gunboats to lombard Chinese cities in
consequence. We demanded what we
wanted and did not get it. 1t NAV occur
to the Chronicle when it receives this infor-
nation that the action referred to was the
cause of the subsequent refusal of the
United States Government to answer in
damages for the Chinese mob at Den
yer some years ago.
The dispatches say that it is held by a
legal attache Of the Chinese Legation that
even if the leaders of the mob in Wvom-
ing are arrested and punished, the Chinese
Government viii put in claim for in
Identification, and that the outbreak is
liable to cost the United States MANY
thousands of dollars. A Boston lawyer
who has been employed by the Chinese
Legation, it is added, says if the reports
are true as to the number Of Chinese killed
in the Wyoming riot, the affair may cost
our Government upwards of S1,0OO,OOo
Probably the fee of the Boston LAWYER is
contingent, and hence his assessment; but
If he is familiar with the cases. lie viii
learn that in 1874 the Chinese Government
declared such claims to be Unsupported by
international law, and refused to allow
them for the American citizens mobbed
and murdered in China. Behind this pre-
cedent the Chinese representatives cannot
60
1t is true that the recent treaty with
China guarantees Chinese in the United
States the same protection and rights as
are accorded to citizens of the most-favored
nation. But that in no wise affects the.
question or removes the estoppel China
has placed upon her claim in declaring
that international law does not support
such demands. And our Government but
recently has held to the same effect. as has
been shown. The treaty clause can scarce
ly be said to affirmatively recognize such
claims, its provision extending to the Chi
neSe protection, but not to an affirmation of
the right to recompense for lives lost.
The Wyoming riot is blot upon the
record of the country, and defensible in no
manner, and in no light whatever; but that
the nation must pay money for the lives
lost, is settled in the negative in advance.
THE Portland Oregonian, referring to the