Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-03-05
The President Sends Congress
a Job Concerning the
Chinese Question.
Which it Can Attend to More
Creditably Than Trying to
Run the Executive
Office.
A Document that Will Meet
the Approval of the
People.
Wa Shington News,
,rr-ce~-

WASHINGTON, March 2.-The pres
ldent to-day sent a message to the
senate on the Chinese question. He
says the condition of the Chinese in
the western states and territories is
far from being satisfactory. All the
power of the government should be
exerted to maintain the amplest good
faith towards China in the treatment
of the men, and the infexible stern
ness Of law in bringing wrong-d
to justice should be Insisted on.
Every effort has been made bv
government TO prevent the violent
outbreaks, and the president says he
is prepared TO give his earnest consid
eration to any further remedial meas
ures within the treaty limits, which
the wisdom of congress may decree.
The message reads as follows:
To the senate and house of representatives:
1t is made the constitutional duty of the presi-
dent to recommend to the consideration of con-
gresS from time TO time such measures as he shall
judge necessary and expeoient. In no matter can
the necessity OF this be more evident than when
the good faith of the United States under the sol
emn obligation of treaties with foreign powers is
concerned. The question of the treatment of
THE SUBJECTS OF CHINA,
soJournlng within the jurisdiction of the United
States presents such matter for the urgent and
earnest consideration of the executive and con-
gress. In my first annual message upon the as
sembing of the present congress- adverted to
this question (The president here quotes pas
sage from his message upon the Chinese question
and contInues.) At the time l wrote this the
shocking occurrences at Rock Springs in Wy
oming Territory, were fresh in the minds of
all and had been recently presented
anew to the attention of this government bv the
Chinese minister, ia note, which while not un-
naturally exhibiting some miScOncepton OF our
federal system of administration in the territor-
les while they as yet are not in the exercise of
the full measure that sovereign self-government
pertaining to the states of the union presents in
truthful terms the main features of the cruel
outrage there perpetrated upon inoffensve sub
Jects of China; In the investigation of the Rock
ment of the facts on which the
Chinese minister's statements rests, the Chi
nese representatives were aided by the agents
OF the United States, and the reports submitted
having been thus framed and recounted, falls
within the knowledge of witnesses on both sides,
and possess an important statement of truthful
ness, which could not fail TO give them great i'm
presSvenesS The facts which, so far as not con-
trolled or affected by any excuIpatory or miti-
eating testimony, show the murder of a number
Of ennIv ehnese sub subjects in September last
many others, and the spoation of prop
erty, all when the unhappy survivors
had been driven from their habitationS. There
is no allegation that the victims by any lawless
or disordery act on their part contributed to
brlng about collision. On the contrary it ap-
pears that the law abiding disposition of these
people who were soiourners in midst under
the sanction of hospitality, and express treaty
obligations was made pretext for the attack
upon them. This outrage upon law and treaty
engagements committed by a lawleSs mob.
None of the aggressors, happily for the national
good fame appear by the reports to have been
citizens OF the United States
THEY WERE ALL ALIENS
engaged in that remote district as mining labor
ers, who became excited against the Chinese la
borers, as 1t would seem, because of their refusal
to join them in a strike to secure higher wages.
The opprt SSion of the Chinese subject, by their
rivals in competition for labor, does not differ in
violence and illegaity from that applied to other
classes Of native or alien labor. All are equally
under the protection OF the law, and equally en-
titled to enjoy the benefits of assured public
order. Was there no treaty in existence referring
to the rights to Chinese subjects? Did they come
hither, all otker strangers who voluntarily re-
sort TO this land of freedom, of self government
and of laws, here pesceably to win their bread
and to live their lives there can be no
question that they would be entitled still to the
measure of protection from violence, and the
same free forum for said redress of their griev-
ances as any oiher aliens. So far as the treaties
between the United States and China stipulate for
the treatment of Chinese as subjects actually
in the United States as citizens subjects of the
most favored nation" are treated, they create no
new states for them-they simply recognize and
conform the general and existing rule applicable
to all aliens alike, for none are favored above the
others by the domestic law, and none by foreign
treaties, unless it be the Chinese themselves in
some respects. for, by the third article of the
States and China, it is provided that If Chinese
laborers, or Chinese of any other class
now either permanently or temporarily re-
siding in the territory of the Uuited States
with ill treatment at the hands of any other per-
sons the government of the United States will
exert all its power to devise measures for their
protection, and to secure to them the
same rights privileges, immunities and
exemptions as may be enjoyed by
tion and to which they are entitled by treaty
This article may be held to constitute a special
privilege for the 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 the case of ill treatment of
the Chinese in the United States this govern
measures for their protection" by securing to
them rights to which equally with
any and, and all otherr. foreigners they
upon the United States to amend their general
laws or devise new measures in this regard, 1
do not consider il the present communication
but contine myself to the particular point raised
by the outrage and massacre at Rock Springs
The note OF the Chinese minister and the docu-
ments which accompany it, give is believed
an unexaggerated statement of the lamentablc
incident and present imprsssively the regretable
circumstances that the proceedings in the name
OF justice for ascertainment of the crime and
nxlng the responsibility therefore, were
CHASTITY MoCKEsY OF JUSTICE.
50 long as C0e CllneSe minister, ulCer MS III
structions makes tkis basis of an appeal TO the
principles and convictions of mankind no excep-
lion can be taken. But when he goes further,
and taking his precedent the action OF the
Chinese goveruneut in mast instances where the
lives OF American citizens aud their property in
China have been endangered argues reciprocal
obligation on the part of the United States to
indemnify the Chinese subjects who suffered at
Rock Springs, it became necessary TO meet his
| argueDent and to deny, most emph,tically, the
conclusions he seeks 10 draw as TO the
exis stence Of such liability, and the right of the
Chinese government to insist upon it. j draw the
attestion OF congress to the latter part OF the
note of the secretary OF state, of February l6,
1856. in reply 70 the Chinese minister's representa-
rions, and TO inyite especial consideration of the
cogest reasons by which he reached the conclu-
sion that, whilst the United States govsrnment is
under no obligation, whether by the express
terms of its treaties with China or the principles
of International law, to Indemnify these Chinese
subjects for losses caused by such means and
| under admitted circumstances yet, that in view
| Of the palpable and
THE DIsCREDrTABLE FAILURE OF TIE AUTHORITIES
Of Wyoming territory to bring to justice the
| guilty parties, 10 assume TO the sufferers an
impartial forum in which to seek and obtain CON-
pensation for the losses which those subjects
have incurred by lack of police protection; and
considering further. the entire absence or provo
cation or contribution on the part of the
victims the executive may be induced TO
bring the matter TO the benevolent consideration
81 congress in order that that body, in its high
discretion, may direct the bounty OF the govern
Inent in aid of innocent and peaceful strangers,
| whose maltreatmsnt has brought discredit upon
| the country-with the distinct understanding that
such action is in no wise to be held as prece-
| dent is wholly gratuitous, and Is resorted 10 In
/ the spirit OF pure generosity toward those who
are otherwise helpless The correspondence eI-
| changed y herewith submitted for the Informs
| ton Of Congress.
| (Slgpedl GROVER CLE-ELAsD-
Executive Mansion, Washington, March I, 1896
wHITyEY's WAY.
WASHINGTON, March, 2-Secre-
tary Whitney, to-day, sent a letter to
the chairman of the senate com
| mittee of the New York legislature,
investigating the sdway street
| railroad case, in which he ex-
plains his connection with the mat
ter, and says if it is In any respect
open to just criticism he is not aware