Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-20

are their rights and do they rise superior |
to those of the people of the United |
States in the marine territory that they I
purchased from the Russian Government,
and over which they openly exercised pro-
prietOrship practically undisputed until
1887?
Mr.. Prior cited an article in recent
number of the Forum, an essay in opposi
ton to the claim of the United States that
Behring sea is mare eIausun. He drew
from that article the conclusion that the
American people have cooled, and are ready
to abandon their position. But that paper
was simply the expression of one man,
and has been refuted by many other writ
ers in other reviews and in the public
journals of the day. In the Upper House,
Mr.. Abbott, a Government leader, assured
the Senate that he had the highest author
ity for saying that the whole matter would
be settled amicably, and with less friction
than alarmists had supposed; also, that for
the British schooners seized compensation
would shortly be made. 1t is added that
the settlement to which he refers has, in
fact, been already agreed to by Secretary
Window, and that he only waits the expira-
ton of the lease of the seal fishing grounds,
to carry out the contract referred to. This
will be newst to the American people. We
do not believe that such statement has
been authorized by the American Govern
ment, or that any settlement will be had
without prior advice of Congress. The po-
sition assumed by the United States Gov
ernment in arresting the unlicensed fishers
in Behring Sea is precisely what it was in
the outset, and the country has had no
information of any change of attitude on
our part. 1t is very true that the Wash
ington authorities have not made any
declaration in the matter, but it has been,
we think, iustifably assumed that the
seizures of the fishing schooners in Behring
Sea reflected clearly the policy of this Gov
eminent.
The Dominion statesmen, we repeat, are
too hasty in their conclusion that the
United States proposes to surrender to the
Canadian view of the matter and abandon
the policy that has been emphasized for
seventy-fve, indeed for a hundred and
twenty-five years. Certainly, Russia has
not manifested any disposition to recede
from her position concerning her half of
the marine territory, nor do we believe
she ever will Her claim is on all tours
with that of the United States, and they
must stand or fall together. In fact we
have not as yet heard that the Dominion
seal fishers have dared to invade the Rus
sian territory, or have ever questioned the
right of the Russian Government to expel
sealers who venture beyond the line drawn
off the easternmost point of Copper Island.
OUR Eastern friends who have insisted
that if We applied ourselves heartily to
the task we could make the Chinese in our
midst obey the laws, viii be somewhat sur
prised to learn that the Chief of Police of
San Francisco has accepted the offer of
the Chinese Consul-General with great
manifestations of sincerity and satisfaction
to aid in enforcing order and respect for
the laws by the Chinese in their quarter in
that city. The Consul has issued pro-
clamation announcing that if the Chinese
highbinders and cutthroats do not cease
their murderous assaults, and if homicides
among the Chinese in California do not
cease the Imperial Government of China
will be moved to hold the relatives and
friends of the offenders in China response |
bic for their acts here. That, indeed, |
these relatives will be taken as hostages
and held in bond for the good behavior of
the highbinders on this side the Pacific |
Is not this in itself sufficient commentary
upon the situation under which our East |
ern neighbors hold US responsible for law
lessness in the Chinese quarters of Cali |
fornia cities? Is it not an acknowledge |
ment that the class of Chinese who come |
to us are, in the main, moi to be controlled |
by ordinary laws of civilization, since the
highlander represents societies and organ |
izations that include in their membership |
nearly all the Chinese in America.