Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-08-20


Hong Kong and Macao. 1t is part Of
the system for the members of the
diplomatic corps in China to make
common cause with each other, in Or
der that what is demanded by one
may, if obtained, be shared by the
others; and the favored nation"
clause forms part and parcel of every
treaty between China and other coun-
tries. Among the demands made by
France is that of "the' right to place
salaried consuls at any point, either on
the coast or in the interior, and that
any place where such consul resides
shall be open to foreign trade" The
same power also demands that the rev.
enue derived from the tonnage dues Of
the Chinese ports shall be handed over
to IA "mixed commission, composed
entirely of foreigners, to be expended
i'll such manner as may seem pro-
per-" the avowed idea being that the
amount should be devoted to the i'm
prOvements of the harbors for the ac-
commodation of foreign vessels. In
other words, it is asked that China
shall not only surrender a portion of
her legal revenues, but shall virtually
hand over the administration of her
seaports to foreign powers. Our own
country claims that citizens of the
United States, importing merchandise
into China, should have the privilege
of transshipping such merchandise in
their own vessels, or of those belonging
to the subjects of China, to any point
on the Yangtse River and its tributar-
les, without limitation or restraint"
which amounts to claim that the
Chinese Government shall give up the
control of its inland commerce. This
demand, made many years ago, has
been persisted in by our present repre-
sentation in China, with the more ex-
plicit demand that foreign goods in
native hands shall not pay the lekin
or internal customs duty which is lev
led on the transit of goods from one
part of the Empire to another. This
is, in substance, simply the assertion
of a right to prevent the Chinese Gov
ernment from collecting its usual taxes
from its own people.
In view of these demands it is not
strange to find it officially stated that
the foreign residents of China regard
force "as the only sure and speedy
agent for opening up China" that
the merchants "look upon the use of
force as necessary to open up new re-
sources and avenues of industry" and
that the missionaries favor it, because
it will render their task " less difficult"
and also for the reason that the use
of arms to compel submission, is only
adding an auxiliary force to reason, to
accomplish the great work of the
Master"
When we find merchant and mis-
sionary using the arguments of the
buccaneer in matters of general i'm
port, we are justified in further exami-
nation of the equities of specific claims.
The character Of many Of the demands
for damages made against the Chinese
Government needs no further illustra-
ton than the fact that the indemnity
paid by the Chinese, few years ago,
was go largely in excess Of the amount
actually due that a large surplus still
lies in the United States Treasury !;
and by the further fact that many of
these claims grew out of the damage
inflicted by the British bombardment
of Canton in 1856, or we're necessarily
involved in the defensive operations of
the Chinese. A claim for indemnity
for these losses was simply an asser-
ton that the Chinese Government
should afford to the property of for
eigners protection not given to its
own citizens. 1t is further to be re.
membered that our own Government
was in virtual sympathy with the Brit
ish assault, and only two years later,
one of our naval officers, although we
were at peace with China, joined the
British in their attack on the fortifica-
tions at the mouth of the Peiho. In
like manner, nine years ago, when We
were under treaty obligations to main
tain peace with China, an American
fleet composed of two ships of war and
four armed steam-launches were sent
by the commander on the China sta
ton to prepare chart of the channel
between the mainland and the island
of Hanghoi; which was very much
the same as if foreign power, against
our protest, should send an armed
squadron to take soundings in the
East River. AS was expected, and
prepared for, the Chinese opposed the
invasion, and as result had their bat
teries silenced by American guns.
This, few days later, was followed up
ON our part by an attack in which five
forts were completely destroyed and
two hundred and fifty of the Chinese
were slaughtered. How much danger
was experienced by our forces in this
exploit, may be inferred from our loss
of three killed and ten wounded. 1t
was, however, sufficient to cause our
envoy to explain to our Government
that the "gallantry and heroism" OF
our marines were conspicuous" and
reflected "honor and renown" upon
our "navy and Government" The