Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-03-12

In the investigation of the Rock
Springs outbreak and the ascertain
ment of the facts on which tho Chi.
nese Minister 8 statements rest, the
Chinese representatives were aided
by agents of the Uuited States, and
the reports submitted having been
thus framed and recounting fact,
within the knowledge OF witncsse,
on both sides, possess an important
truihfulness which should not fail
to give them impressiveness. The
facts, which so far are not controver-
ted or affected by any exculpatory
or mitigating testimony, show the
murder of number of Chinese sub.
jects in September last at Rock
Springs. the wounding OF many
others, and the spoliation Of tho
property Of all when the unhappy
survivors had been driven from their
habitations. There is no allegation
that the victims, by any lawless or
disordorly act on their part. con.
tributed TO bring about a collision
On the contrary. it appears that the
law-abiding disposition Of these
people, who were sojourners in our
midst under the sanction Of hospi-
tality and express treaty obligations.
was made pretext for an attack
upon them. This outrage upon law
and upon treaty engagements. was
committed by lawless mob. None
of the aggrcssors, happily for tho
national good fame, appear by the
reports to have been citizens Of the
United States. They were aliens
engaged in that remote district as
mining laborers, who became excited
against the Chinese laborers, ps IL
would seem, because Of their TO
fusal to join them in strikes TO So
cure higher wages. Tho oppression
of Chinese subjects by their rivals
in competition for labor does no.
differ in violence and illegality from
that applied 10 other classes. Native
and alien laborers are equally under
the protection of the law and equally
entitled to enjoy tho benefits Of as
sured public order. II ,hcro were
no treaty IN existence referring to the
rights OF Chinese subjects. aud il
they camo bithcr rs do other stran.
gers who voluntarily resort TO this
land Of freedom, Of seli-government
and of laws, here peaceably TO win
their bread and TO live their lives.
there can be no question that they
would be entitled to the Same meas.
ure Of protection from violence aud
the same free form for redress Of
their grievances as any other aliens.
So far as the treaties between the
United States and China s,ipulate
for the treatment of Chinese ~ sub
jects Of "the most favored nation ="
are treated, they create no new status
for them. They simply recognize
and confirm the general and existing
rule applicable to oil aliens alike. for
none are favored above Others by
domestic law and none by foreign
treaties unless it be the Chinese
themselves in some respects. for by
tho third article Of tho Treaty Of
II, 1880, between the
United States and China, il is pro-
vided that il Chinese laborers or
Chinese of any other class now either
permanently or temporarily residing
in the territory Of tho United States
shall meet with i'll treatment ut the
hands Of any other persons. the Gov
ernment Of tho United States will
exert all its power to devise meas
ures for their protection. and TO SO
cure to them the same rights. privi-
leges. immunities and exemptions. as
may be enjoyed by tho subjects Of the
most favored nation aud TO which
they arc entitled by this treaty. "
This article may be held to constitute
special privilege for Chinese sub.
jects in the United States as COM
pared with other aliens, not that il
creates any peculiar rights which
others do not share. but because N
case of Ill treatment Of the Chinese
in the United States. this Govern.
ment is bound to exert al iis power
to devise measures for their protec.
ton 10y securing to them tho igh,s to
which, equally with any and all other
foreigners, they arc entitled.
Whether II IN now incum ben upon
the United States 10 amend their
general laws or To devise new meas
ures in this regard. ! do not consider
in the present communication. but
confnc myself to the particular point
raised by the outrage and massacre
at Rock Springs. The Lote Of the
Chinese Minister and the documents
which accompany 1t. give US believe
an exaggerated statement of the
lamentable incident. aud present i'm
pressivcly the regretable circum.
stance that tho proceedings In ths
name OF justice for the ascertainmsn,
Of the crime aud fixing the rsspousi.