Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-03-11
THE CHINESE QUESTION.

WASHINGTON, March S.-The President
sent the following message to Congress
yesterday.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.
1t is made the constitutional duty of the
President to recommend to the considerai
ton of Congress, from ti!ie to time, such
measures as he judges necessary and expedt
ent. in no matter can the necessity of this
be more evident than when the good faith Of
the United States under the solemn Obliga-
ton of treaties with foreign powers is con-
cerncd. he question of the treatment OF
the subjects Of China soiourrling within the
jurisdiction cf the United States presents
stch matter for the urgent and earnest con-
sideration OF the executive and Congress-. In
my first annual message, upon the assem-
bling of the present Congress, l ad1erted
to THE question. At the time wrote this,
the shocking occurrences at Rock Springs,
in Wyoming Territory, we're fresh in the
minds OF all and had been recently presented
anew 10 the attention of this Government By
the Chinese Minister in a note which. while
not unnaturally exhibiting some misconcep-
ton Of our Federal system of administration
in the Territories while they as yet are not
IN the exercise of the full measure OF that
sovereign self-goyernment pertaining to the
terms the main features of the cruel outrage
there perpetrated upon inoffensive subjects
OF China.
THE ROCK SPRINGS OUTRAGE.
In the investigation of the Rock Springs
outbreak and the ascertainment of the facts
on which the Chinese Minister'S statements
rest; the Chinese representatives were aided
by thr agents of the United States and the
and recounting facts within the knowledge of
witnesses On both sides possess an impartial
truthfu!ness which could not fail to give them
great impressiveness. The facts, which so
far are not cOntrOverted or affected by ex.
culpatOry or mitigating testimony, show the
murder of a number of Chinese subjects in
September last at Rock Springs, the wound
ing of many others and the spoliation of the
property of all when the unhappy survivors
bad been driven from their habitatiOns.
There is no allegation that the victims, by
any lawless or disOrderly act on their part,
contributed to bring about q collision. On
the contrary, il appears that the law-abding
disposition Of these people who were So
journers ia our midst under the sanction OF
hospitality and express treaty obligations
was made the preteXt for the attack upon
them This outrage upon law and treaty en-
gagements was committed by a lawless mob.
None Of the aggressors-happily for the ma
tiOnal fame-appear by the reports to have
been citizens of the United States. They were
aliens, engaged in that remote district as
the Chinese labOrers. as it would seem, be-
cause of their refusal to join them in strike
to secure higher wages. The oppression OF
Chinese subjects by their rivals in the COM
petition for labor does not differ in violence
and illegality from that applied to other
classes of native or alien labor. All are
equally entitled to enjoy the benefits of as
TREATY RIGHTS.
Was there no treaty in existence referring
to the rights of Chinese subjects? Did they
come hithcr as all other strangers who vol.
unfairly resort to this land of freedom, of
seif-government and of laws. here peaceably
to win their bread and live their lives there
can be no question that they would be en-
titled still to the same measure Of protection
from violence and the same free forum for
alien. SO far as the treaties between the
United States and China stipulate for the
treatment of the Chinese subjects actually in
the United States as the citizens or subjects Of
the most favored nation are treated, they
create no new status for them. They simply
recognize and conform to a general and
none are favored above others by domestic
law and none by foreign treaties unless it be
the Chinese themselves in some respects.
For. Ey the third article Of the treaty of No
vember II, 1885, between the United States
and China, it provides that: ARTICLE B. Ii
Chinese laborers or Chinese of any other
class, either permanent or temporarily re-
S ding i'm the territory of the United States,
meet with ill treatment at the hands
of any other persons the Government
of the United States will exert all its
ton and to secure them the same rights,
privileges. immunities and exemptions as
may be enjoyed by the subjects of the most
favored nation and to which they are en-.
titled by treaty." This article may be held to
constitute a special privilege for Chinese
subjects in the United States as compared
with other aliens; not that it creates any
peculiar rights which others do not share,
but because, in case of ill treatment of the
Chinese in the United States. this Govern
ment is bound to exert all its power to de.
wi m nrOfppf a.
curing to them the rights to which, equally
with any and all other foreigners, they are
entitled.
WHAT CHINA WANTS.
Whether it is now incumbent upon the Uni.
ted States to amend their general laws or de-
wise new measures in this regard, do not
confine myself to the particular point raised
by the outrage and massacre at Rock Springs.
The note of the Chinese minister and the
documents which accompany it give. as
believe, an uneXaggerated statement of the
lamentable incident and present impress.
sively the regretable circumstances that
the proceedings, in the name of justice,
for the ascertainment of the crime and
fixing the responsibility therefor were
a CHASTITY mockery of justice. So long
rs the Chinese minister. under his in
structions, makes this the basis of an appeal
to the principles and convictions of man
kind no exception can be taken. But when
be goes further and taking as his precedent
the action Of the Chinese Government in
past instances. where the lives of American
citizens and their property in China have
been endangered, argues reciprocal Obliga
ton on the part of the United States to in.
temnify the Chinese subjects who suffered al
Rock Springs, it became necessary to meet
his argument and to deny most emphatically
the conclusions he seeks to draw as to the
existence of such liability and the right OF
the Chinese Government to insist upon it.
INDEMNITY wANTED.
draw the attention of Congress to the lat
ter part of the note of the Secretary of State
of February H. 1885, in reply to the Chinese
Minister'S representations, and invite espe-
cial consideration of the cogent reasons by
which he reaches conclusions, that whilst the
United States Government is under no obi |
CATION. whether by the express terms of its
treaties with China or the principles of inter
national law, to indemnify these Chinese sub.
iects for losses caused by such means and
under the admitted circumstances, yet that |
in view of the palpable and discreditable fail |
to bring to justice the guilty parties
Or to assure to the sufferers an i'm. |
partial forum in which to seek and |
obtain compensation for the losses which |
of police protection; and considering |
further the entire absence of provocation or !
contribution on the part of the victims, the
executive may be induced to bring the mat
ter to the benevolent consideration of Con. |
gress in order that that body, in its high |
discretion, may direct Government aid of in |
nocent and peaceful strangers whose NAL |
treatment has brought discredit upon the |!
country with the distinct understanding that |
such action is in no wise to be held as q pre-
cedent. is wholly gratuitous, and is resOrted |
to in spirit Of pure generosity toward those |
who are otherwise helpless. The correspond |
ence exchanged is herewith submitted for |
the information of Congress.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, March l, 1856.
A Terrible Jump.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, March Sc. O'Hara, su.
perintendent of the Pullman Palace Car |
Company, while delirious from erysipelas