Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-09

subject to customs inspection. All this oc-
Cured before the steamer locked, and in it
it is impossible to find any incivility.
When the ship touched the wharf the Of
ficers in charge asked for the usual Gre
dentials distinguishing the identity of
the Minister and suite from other Chinese.
This they had clear right to ask and ex-
pect, since all Embassies heretofore have
had due certificates. But none were shown,
for the reason before given. The Surveyor
Immediately telephoned to the Collector
for an order to land the party, and it was
given, on the explanation that the creden-
tials were sealed up in a box.
The detention, says the Surveyor, did
not exceed thirty minutes, and was only
as long as it took to get the order, and
which order would have been unnecessary,
had the Secretary of the party had any
evidence whatever at hand to distinguish
his people as entitled to land from
those not entitled, and which it
was expected would be produced The
Surveyor asserts that there was no conten-
ton, no unnecessary delay, no ill-feeling
and no trouble, and that the Minister
thanked him for his courtesy, and gave
him cordial invitation to call upon him
at his hotel. As it was, the party was
landed without showing a scrap of paper
or offering any evidence to testify as to
who they are.
| Now the world knows such a thing
could not happen in Chinese port No
Embassy from the United States to China
ever has landed or can land and be recog-
nized in an official capacity without in
some official way exhibiting the regalia of
authority. Yet even that was required
at San Francisco. Indeed, in Germany
Italy France and Russia, our Ministers
must exhibit passports. Yet the New York
Times for the trine of formality rendered
necessary by the Minister'S laches, roars
itself hoarse about the hoodlums of
California and the grave insult to China.
Its bias and prejudice and venom are
clearly shown in its judgment of the case
on hearing one side of the story. No Just
man ever forms a Judgment upon an ex
parte statement. He will presume always
that one executing an official trust is pro-
ceeding lawfully and rightly, until the
contrary is clearly shown. The one thing
the Just man is careful not to do is to
jump at conclusions The Collector and Sur
veyor at the port of San Francisco are not
our political friends, but for that very rea-
son we should hesitate to judge them I'M
heard. They have told their side of
the story, and it completely refutes the
sensational yarn Chang Tsai Ju fastened
to telegraph to the East to give aid and
impetus to the pro-Chinese boom there. If
any inciyiiity was shown it was by the
Chinese Minister and the Chinse Consul
TO the authorities of the United States,
and was premeditated by Colonel Bee for
effect As the Collector says:
/ received no intimation whatever from Con-
SUI bee OF any lDenDer OF the Chinese consulate
here that any Chinese dignitaries were to ar
rive Some days since l received a telegram
from Washington, instIUcting lne to admit the
| baggage of the embassy free of duty upon its
arrival, and issued orders accordingly 1t has
| been customary upon the arrival of any foreign
| legation TO present proper credentials and then
receive all the courtesies possible at our hands
know of no reason why the Chinese should be
| exempt from this rule The first knew OF the
| advent of the embassy was on the morning of
| the steamers arrival when / received a tele-
| phone message from the mail dock stating that
Chinese embassy was upon the steamer and
wanted to land. replied that upon presentation
| OF their credentials they should be landed The
| reply came back afterward that the credentials
were locked up in a tin box, and were inacces-
| sible. | then gave instructions through the
| telephone to land the embassy anyhow, which
| was done. | cannot see where the inciyility
| comes in The Consul should have notified me
prior to the arrival of the vessel of the presence
| OF the dlgntaiies and ! should then have de-
tailed special otclal to superintend their
landing. The whole fact of the matter is, / pre-
sumo, that Consul Bee went down TO the d0ck
and wished to show his supcriors his vast influ-
ence over the American Government, by simply
waving them in with his hand, as though It
| were a magieian's wand,