, 1888-11-15
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OUR TREATIES.

questions. The country expects re-
publican president and a republican
senate to maintain the dignity OF the
nation; to secure American rights, the
world over; to extend the commerce
of the country 10 every land and to
maintain friendly relations with all
the foreign powers.
The first act of the new secretary OF
state should be to give our treaties a
thorough overhauling.
The treaty with China--if there is
anything left Of it's the most inn
portant of all to the Pacific Northwest,
and especially to the people OF Wash.
ington territory. In 1858, Anson
Burlingame-the most astute courtier
and accomplished diplomat OF his day
negotiated treaty with China
whereby that country accepted, for
the first time in its history, the prin-
ciples of international law, and con-
sented to the establishment Of com
mercial relations with the United
States the right OF travel and residence
10 both countries being accorded to
the citizens OF each. Mr.. Burlingame
was dispatched by our government
China for the express purpose
OF bringing about this result; and
when the articles were Signed, at
Washington, July %, 1868, and rati-
fed, soon thereafter, by the Chinese
government, there was great rejoice
ing all over the country. The treaty.
il was declared, marked a new era in
the progress Of the oldest people on
the globe; opened up new and great
avenue OF commerce; and secured the
trade of the Orient 10 the United States
forever. No one at that time antici-
pated the troubles that have since
grown out OF the relations then estab-
lished; in our eagerness to capture
China We forgot that China might
capture us. It is unnecessary to re-
cite. in detail, the story of anti-Chi-
nese agitation; it is sufficient to know
that, just prior to the late election,
Congress took the bit in its mouth,
and, by Legislative enactment, nullifed
certain objectional features Of our
treaty with China, although IL was
known that that country was then con-
sidering the question of consenting to
an amendment of the treaty, whereby
all that this country desired would be
conceded.
Treaty, or no treaty, it is an estab-
lished fact, in American politics, that
no more Chinese are TO be permitted
TO come here; and we believe it to be
equally true, that China is not overly
anxious for her citizens TO leave home
to reside abroad. II this is the true
feeling on this subject in both coun-
tries, it would seem an easy matter to
negotiate treaty. whereby the COM
mercial relations of the two countries
can be continued.
The trade of our territory with
China, although in its infancy, is ex.
ceediugly valuable; our seaport cities,
Seattle and Tacoma, will in the near
future, reap immense benefits from it,
and will, by reason OF their nearness
and climate be able TO monopolize it
altogether rs soon as their ability to
handle it is ully demonstrated.
Our relations with England are not
as cordial as becomes peoples who are
of common ancestry; speak the same
tongue; and worship the same Ge6.
War between England and America
ought 10 be an impossibility. The
fisheries question, and the Sackville
West episode, have been handled very
bunglingly by the Cleveland admin
istration--so bunglingly as to produce
unnecessary irritation on both sides of
the water-but in the hands of the
right man, they ard all other differ
ences between the two countries, will
be amicably composed with equal
onor TO all concerned.
When tile work Of adjusting our for
nhegrelations comes up, Canada--our
northern neighbor-must not be over
looked. Doubtless the Canadians will
agree TO give our fishermen their rights,
when they have had time to consider
what refusal involves; it is safe to
predict, also, that they will eagerly
accept any amendment to existing