The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-07

self on the vital point raised by Mr.. Huntington
| to-wit: How far has our trade with China been
affected by the passage of the act? it will be
seen that the excerpts hardly bear out the con-
cluson. The Examiner readers have these let
tiers in all the fullness which the committee has
permitted to see light and can judge for them
selves.
'The effect of this conduct on the part of the
government" concludes the chamber, winch
cannot fail to de considered by the Chinese
government and people as arbitrary discourte-
Gus and unfIiendly. Upon the relations OF our
people with the government and people of China
those best qualified to decide seem to have an al
most unanimous opinion. This opinion has al
ready been expressed in extracts from American
and foreign journals, with this report introduced
and they may be supplemented by numerous
letters recently received by the chamber of COM
merce from merchants and missionaries In
China These letters are submitted to the
chamber herewith, but from some OF them a few
brief extracts will be found pertinent. From
Canton, August q, 1854 gentleman who has
been resident OF that place for more than forty
years writes:
| treaty made by Secretary Bayard and the Chi
nese minister in the most friendly spirit. 1t
only refused to ratify it owing to some additions
made in the Senate to which the consent Of the
Chinese minister had not been given. There is
no doubt that little diplomacy would have Sc
cured the acceptance OF that treaty with very
slight notifications" He says further: 1.-The
Chinese government has been very forbearing.
This, however, does not imply that it does not
feel the indignity most keeniy. This people will
bide their time.''
From Shanghai, August 12, 1sSc.-The cham
Der OF commerce Of Shanghai, to which was sub
mitted various questions on the subject, says:
1T is our opinion that. as regards Shanghai at
any rate, it is incorrectly stated that the Chi
nese officials discriminate between American
and Other foreign residents
From Shanghai, August 9, 1889. The head
master of ST. Johns college writes: I do not
think that trade interests in Shanghai are in
any way affected by the exclusion act. Among
educated Chinese there is strong feeling and
the insult there is deeply felt
Frazer & Col, merchants, write from Shang-
hal, Aug. Z, 1899: According to the best of our
knowledge and belief, it is not true, as reported
in the press, that American interests in China
are suffering by reason Of this law. If any feel
ing of hostility has been generated in the minds
Of Chinese officials, it has been caused by the
rough and ready way in which the act has been
passed.
Rev. Henry V. Noyes, now in this country,
but many years resident of China, and a care
full observer. writes, August 80, 1889:
The antagonistic policy pursued by our Gov
eminent OF late toward China, II persisted in,
must in the end be injurious to American inter
ests both commercial and missionary. The
Chinese are a long remembering as well as
suffering people, and they understand full well
how to use the boycott principle when they con-
slider it eXpedient.'
"Mr. B. C. Henry writes from Canton. Sep
TENDER g. 1889: There is a widespread feeling
that the Chinese are sure to retaliate, and If
their rolicy of retaliation is not yet developed it
is only because, in their opinion, the time has
not yet come TO inaugurate it. They are not
likely to forget that glaring injustice
"A clergyman in Shanghai writes, September
90 1889: Although the Americans were in
greater favor than any other people previous to
this obnoxious enactment, our popularity has
suffered, and the officers are sure to diScrimin-
ate against our people TO the advantage of other
nations without, of course, giving reasons
This is ALL in the many thousands OF
words of type, the real intelligence as to the al
legged loss of trade this country has suffered DV
virtue of the act. 1t will be observed that after
all the invective which the committee has
heaped upon California, it expressly diSavows
any open attack upon the restriction act.
In view of the facts here presented, ard of an
opinion widely expressed concerning the effects
of the arbitrary action of our government in the
the passage of the recent acts for the exclusion
of Chinese laborerS from the United States the
committee on foreign commerce and revenue
laws would now recommend that measures be
taken by the government of the Uuited States
to reopen the negotiations which were unfortu-
nately interrupted and terminated by the act of
Congress approved by President Cleveland
October II, 1888 1t is believed by your com
mlttee that the change IN administration which
has taken place since that act was passed will
readily permit the renewal of negotiations at the
point where they ceased in September, 1888, and
that the government of China will recognize and
appreciate favOrably movement on the part of
the government of the United States looking to
peaceful and friendly adjustment of all qu6S-
tons IN dispute, and to the restoration of those
marked the intercourse ofthe two governments
1t is not proposed nor even suggested, that the
government of the United States should open
the way for revival OF Chinese immigration in
violation of convictions so long entertained and
so earnestly expressed by our fellow-citiZenS OF
the Pacific states. But il is reasonable to be-
lieVe from the tenor of the expressions of Chi
nese officers and of our two representatives in
China that if the Chinese government is frankly
approached by the government of the United
States it will respond in the same spirit and will
mr. n ~
agreement which would be satisfactory to both
governments and put an end to the bitterness
which now seems TO endanger the welfare of
American citizens, whether missionaries or
merchants, in China, and to threaten our COM
mercial relations with China, which promise to
become of vast Importance to our people with
the advancing culture and development of the
Chinese empire. In the words of Hon. John A
KasSon, spoken during the debates in Congress
in 1882: 1t is not debased empire. Its higher
authorities are the peers OF European and
sentativeS of that people who are orderly, who
are seeking education, who are in responsible
places, who are entitled to respect
Let be careful that do not forfeit the friend
ship of this great empire, to be still greater in
future when she shall have accepted more and
more of the principles of progress which ami
mates US. Let US take care that we do not for
get that friendship, and let US assure that great
government ofthe honesty and good faith of this
government and of the people of the United
States
(Signed) Edward H Ammidown, F. B. Thur
Der Charles Watrouse, Gustav Schwab, S. w.
Carey, Committee
James F. Henry and c. Waldo Smith both OBJ
jected to the adoption of the report without a
chance for full discussion. the latter especially
warming up to an elaborate speech against
Chinese immigration. Members of the chamber
however, were not in mood to listen TO every
argument, and Mr.. Smith was choked of by loud
calls of question"
Mr. St. John made an appeal for the striking
out of political illusions, particularly those to
Mr.. Cleveland's administration. He claimed
that it was not becoming to put report on the
records in which the late administration was al
luded to in a manner that conveyed the idea of a
slur. The report was adopted in it's original
form, however, by viva voce vote.