New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-03
PRICE THREE CENTS
OUTRAGES ON CHINAMEN
THE PRESIDENT APPEALING TO CONGRESS-
SUGGESTING THE GRANTING OF AN INDEMNITY As
AN ACT OF GENEROSITY
WASpYycT0N Morch Tho praoidapt SAINT

and expeden matter can the necessity OF this be
more evident than when the good faith Of the Unted
States under the solemn obligation OF treaties with
egn concerned The question treatment
OF The subjects OF China soonrnng within the
OF the United States presents such
ana earnest OF the Executive and the Con-
gress In my first annual message upon the assembling
OF the present Congress- advered this question IN
| the following words:
The harmony OF relations with China is fully sus
execute the treaty of $780, restrictive OF the imm
grafton or Chinese ab0rers into the United States in
yldua cases OF hardship have occurred beyond the
power OF the Executive to remedy. and calling for jnd
clal determination The condition OF the Chimes CUES
ton In the Western States and Territories f despite
this restrictive legislation far from being satisfactory
The recent outbreak IN Wyoming Territory where num-
bers OK unoifendng Cinnamon, indispntaby within tho
By apob aud the sti threatened outbreak
OF the same Character la Washington Territory.
apprehension lest the bitterness OF feeling against
snd sGe Mong9aD .,1 race on the Pacific slope may
the power Of this Government should be cxsrte 10
tain the amplest good faith toward China In the treat
law IN bringing the wron tosrs to Justice should be
eminent to- preysnt these Violent oa5qsas and and to aid
the representatives OF China IN their Investigation or
traeeabe the lawessness OF citizens Of tho
United states engaged In competition with Chinese Ia.
borcrs Race prejudice the chief factor originating
these disturbances and it exists in large part of
s s os5 to GS@sss ssaa % S the %
mltted right OF government prevent the Influx Of
be questioned even where there is no treaty spuia
on tho subject. That the exclusion Of Chinese Labor
prevail is strongly evidencc in the Dominion OF Canada
where Chinese Immigration is now regulated bv laws
adequate to compass the end Wow, shall be prepared
10 give earnest consideration to any further remedial
measures within the treaty limits which the wisdom of
Congress may devise.
the time wrote this shocking occurrences at
Rock Springs, IN Wyoming Territory, fresh in the
minds Of all and had been recently presented anew to
of Gnv hy
in a note which, while not unnaturaly exhibiting
misconception OF Federal system of adnlins
tration in the Territories while they yet In the
exercise of the full of that sovereign self
pertaining the States OF the Union pre-
sens in truthful terms the main features OF the cruc
outrage there perperated upon inorensive subjects
OF China. In the investigation of the Rock
Springs outbreak, and the ascertanmenG Of the
fact which the Chinese Minister'S statements rest,
the Chinese representatives a1ed by tue agents OF
the United States and the reports submitted, having
been thus framed and recounting facts within tue
knowledge OF 50ih Sides possess impair
truthfulness which could ia TO give them Sress
impressiyeness.
The facts which far are not or Affected
by any exculpatory mitigating testimony show the
murder of Chinese SUBJECTS in September last at Rock
Springs the woundng Of many Others, and tho spola-
Of the property Of all when .e unhappy survivors
had been driven fecs1 their hsbitstions. There
allegation that tho victims by any layless dlsordery
their part contributed to bring a coIlisIon:
the contrary it appears that the law.abic;ag
disposition Of these people who soiourners
in midst under tho sanction Of hospitality aud
press treaty obligations made the pretext for tho
attack upon them. This outrage upon Law and treaty
engagements committed by lawess mob. None of
the aggressors-hsppily for the National good fane-ap
pear the reports to have been citizens OF tho United
States. They aliens. engaged In that remote DIS
trct mining labOrers who became excited against the
iahO nj fhef
fusal to join them in a strike higher wages.
The oppression OF Chinese subjects by their rivals in
the competition for labor does not differ in violence and
legaty that applied to other classes Of
alien labor All equally under the protection OF law
aud equally to enjoy the benefits of assured pau
lie order. We're treaty in existence referring
to the rights OF Chinese subJectsthcy hither
all gers who voluntarily resort 10 this land
OF freedom, OF sefgovernl and CT laws peacesby
TO win their bread and live their lives-here can
be questsn that they would be entitled still to tao
same measure protection from violence and tho
free redress of their grievances other
aliens SO far the treaties between the United states
and spuise for the treatment OF the Chinese sub
lects actually in United citizens SUBJ
OF the 4" most. favored nation treated, they
create no new for then-th'y simply recognize
and confirm general and existusrGle applicable to all
aliens alike for none are favored others by do
nestle law ana none by foreign treaties unless IT be tue
Chinese themselves In some respects, for by the thrd
articles Of the treaty Of November IL $780, between
the United States and China It is provided that:
Article 3f Chinese abOrers Chinese Of any other
class now either permanently temporarily residing In
territory OF tue United States meet with III treat
ment at the hands OF any otuer persons the Govern
their protection aud 10 secure 10 them
the same rights, prVieSes e. mGnl,es ana m tn
most favored nation, anu 10 whch they are chtite6
by treaty.
This article may be held constitute special prvi-
ege for Chinese subjects in tho Uaited states,
pared with other that it any peculiar
rights which others do not share but because IN OF
III treatment the Chinese IN tho United States. this
Government hound to exert all Its power to devise
measures their protection by securing to thei
rights which equally with any ani all other Foreigners
they entitled
Whether IL is now incumbent upon tue United states
to amend their general devise
regard do not consider In the present commuDica
tiou conne Gysef the particular point raised by
the and massacre 1T Rock springs The note OF
the Chinese Minister aud the documents which accom-
pany It. give, believe an ulcxagserated statement
OF the aentablc incident and present mpressiyey the
circumstance that the proceedings In the
name justice for the ascerainment of the crime aud
fixing the responsibility therefor, were ghasfly
muckery OF justice. so long as the Chinese
Minister, undor his Instructions makes this tho
basis of an appeal to tho principles AID convictions VI
eption can be taken But when he goes
further anu taking his precedent the action or the
Chines 80 government past Instances where the llyes
OF American aud their property IN Chus have
been emdau red argues reciprocal obligation on tue
part United to indemnity the Chinese sub
,ots no suffered Rock Springs II becomes necessary
TO meet argument aud 10 deny. most emphaticaly
the conclusions seeks to draw as TO the existence OF
such "a liability. aud the right Of the Chinese government
o insist upon IT,
draw the attention OF the Congress 10 tue latter part
of the Secretary OF state OF Fcbriary Is,
1885, reply the Chinese MinisteTs representations
amd 10 invite especial consideration OF the cogent rea
sons which he reaches the cOnclus on that whilst
the United States Government is under no Obligation
whether Dy express terms or with China
or the principles OF international law-tO indemnify
Chinese subjects for losses caused
and tho admitted crcum yet In that vIswUf
the papabe aud discreditabe failure OF the authorities
Wyoming Territory to briag justice the guilty
parties the sufferers impartial for- IN
which seek and obtain compensation for the
losses which those s;bcCts have IN
Cured by lack OF police projections;
ana considering further entire absence or provoca-
contribution the part OF the victims the Exc