The Washington critic., 1886-05-07
OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA
THE PROPER POLICY.

OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA
THE PROPER POLICY.
The main difficulty surrounding the
Chinese problem is not in the nature of
the case, but In the tendency Of our
Government to comply with the mcr.
cenary demands Of the few who are
pocuniarily interested in the trans
poriGtion and employment of Chinese
laborers.
There never has been a time when
we could not have had q perfect under.
standing on the subject with the Chi.
nese Government, and secured such a
modification of the treaty of 1868 as
would have made it reciprocal merely.
That treaty gives us access to but
seven ports in China. Beyond these
Americans cannot 60, and there only
to trade The right of immigration
for Chinese was not of Chinas seeking.
1t was only to provide cheap labor in
America for men who obtained Mr.
Burlingame's ear. lie, unconsciously
perhaps, served them instead of his
countrymen at large
The disorders caused by the pres
ence of the Chinese in our country has
made three States and four Territories
unanimous for their exclusion, In re.
sponse TO years of supplication from
them, Congress declared for restriction
Of immigration. The State Depart
ment, under Hayes, moved tardily and
unwillingly in response TO this mandate
for modification of the treaty. The
Chinese Government had right to
assume, from appearances, that our
Government would prefer to be re-
fused such modification if 1t dared
But this would have been dangerous
experiment. A half way concession
was obtained, and after much obstruc-
tion halfway legislation was secured
against powerful lobby and vetoed
by Arthur. A second bill became q
law, but it is insufficient, and only
partially executed.
In short, the Government has played
fast and loose with the people who
gave 1t power. 1t has served those
who could make money by the importa.
tion of Chinese coolie laborers. Now
that we are confronted with the ques.
tion of whether to exclude the Chinese
or TO provide standing army to whip
our people into submission to their un,
welcome company, the Democratic
President is given an opportunity.
He is right in denouncing and dis
avowing the cowardly attacks by mobs
on inoffensive Cinnamon. A failure
by our Government TO protect the Chi
nese, or TO indemnify the injured, is
cause for war. The Congress has as
much power TO remove that cause fol
war by money payment rs it would
have to appropriate money to carry Oh
the war if 1t came. The fact that nc
war is menaced or thought of makes
this treatment of it entirely practicable
without any invasion of national pride
So much as to the past. AS to the
future, it would be natural and easy
for our Government to inform the new
Chinese Minister here that our own citi
zens have to look to the States for pro
lection to person and property; that W,
cannot do more for strangers than TO
our own; that we could not interfer
in States for the punishment of mob
which might attack Englishmen; tina
for the government and people of Chin,
we have the highest respect; bu
that neither government is answerabl,
for the circumstance Of antagonism be
tween the two races in competing 70
labor, and finally, that as the servant
and children Of two friendly neighbor
ought not TO be allowed to mingle un
less they can agree, so the two friendl
governments of China and the Unite,
States will cheerfully consent to
similar separation Of their disagreeini
people.
This would involve no assertion o
superiority or of blame by either.
treaty could be made under which a
immigration to either country shoul
cease, and only those engaged in CON
merce and their employees be admitted
We could open all our ports to Chimes
traders and be content with the seve
in China now open to us,
All this would require only frank
ness on our part and complete emanc
patton from the mercenary influence
in our own country which have hitl
erto controlled the subject of Chimes
immigration.