Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-09-17

being two native Mongul statesmen
whose inferior station and astute hu
mility provided a delicate foil to the
ostentatious vanity and empty assump
ticn of the tinsel Ambassador. While
the nominal chief of this Chinese EN-
bassy was overflowing with, and over
flowed by, turgid streams Of senti.
ment, his associates, the sedate Celes.
tials, We're quietly engaged in framing
a treaty which, i'll sum and substance
WAS series of abject concessions to
China. In no wise was it an advan-
tage to the United States. We can
not reasonably objurgate the Chinese
Enjoys for doing their utmost for their
own people, and We may even admire
their sagacity in making Use of an
American implement i'm comprising
their designs. 1t was tfeir duty to Sc
cure the greatest possible benefit Ia
their own Government and to its sub
jeets, and they would have less de-
served our esteem as patriotic men
and skillful statesmen had their efforts
been less than they were. But it is
hardly possible to speak with respect
of the mock mandarin, their associate
and instrument, or Of his aiders and
abettors here. Every paragraph of
what is known as the Burlingame
treaty is either useless or mischiev-
GUS concession, or a formal recital of
some mere platitude.
Section | binds the United States
not to attack the citizens or subjects
of any foreign power, or their prop
erty, with which they may be at war;"
on any Of the tracts of lands or water
of the Empire, which China had con-
ceded to the citizens of foreign powers,
and the same section also provides in
substance that the Chinese authorities
shall not be Invested of jurisdiction
over the persons and properties Of citi-
zens Of the United States, in any tract
of land conceded to the latter, except
in the special treaty ports. Article II
provides that "any privilege or im-
munity in respect Of trade or naviga-
ton within the Chinese dominions
which may not have been stipulated
for by treaty, shall be subject to the
discretion of the Chinese Government,
and may be regulated by it according
ly." Section III enacts that COnsuls
appointed by the Emperor of China
shall enjoy the same privileges and
immunities in the ports of the United
States rs those enjoyed by the Consuls
of Great Britain and Russia. Section
Nv comedies to the Chinese the pre-
viously disputed point, that places Of
sepulture must be held free from dis
turbance or proclamation, and also pro-
vides for liberty OF conscience in either
country. This latter article, taken in
connection with the rest of the treaty,
means that an American may enjoy
liberty of conscience in the treaty
ports of China and the Chinese shall
enjoy the same liberty through the
whole extent of the United States; but
as this is guaranteed in any case by
our Constitution, and as the liberty
existed in the treaty ports without the
aforesaid article, the latter is simply
an empty paragraph. Article v, in
express terms, cordially recognizes
the inherent and inalienable right OF
man to change his home and alleg-
lance, and also the mutual advantage
of the migration and emigration to
their citizens and subjects respectively
from the one country to the other for
purposes OF curiosity, of trade, or as
permanent residents" The advantage
of which provision, in the nature Of
things, inures solely to the Chinese
for the reason that where one Ameri-
can emigrates to China, five hundred
Chinese immigrate to the United
States.
The same article contains proviso
that certain laws shall be passed con-
cerning the forced emigration Of cool
les, and of this l shall have occasion
to speak hereafter. Artice vi is that
under which Chinese immigration is
protected at the present time, and
from its importance l quote it at
length. 1t is az follows: "Citizens
of the United States visiting or resid-
ing in China shall enjoy the same
privileges, immunities, or exemptions
in respect to travel or residence as may
there be enjoyed by the citizens or sub
jects OF the most favored nation; and
reciprocally, Chinese subjects visiting
or residing in the United States enjoy
the same privileges, immunities, and
exemptions in respect to travel or res
idence as may there be enjoyed by
the citizens or subjects Of the most
favored nations. But nothing herein
contained shall be held to confer nat
uralization upon citizens of the United
States in China, nor upon the citizens
of China in the United States" The
effect of this is plain when we reflect
that China grants to the most favored
nation simply the right to reside and
trade in certain specified localities
seven in number, while the United
States grants to its most favored ma.
ton the right Of access for travel
trade, OF permanent residence in any
part of our country without restric.
ton. Article VII provides for recip'