Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-28
CAUSTIC COMMENTS
Some Sharp Reflections on Old
Uncle Samuel.
CRITICISMS OF THE CHINESE ACT.

correspondence Lhiu bcfOft INC
senate, the "saIt" Being Mostly In the
Handwriting of All Sin - Bad Faith
Distinctly Charged Against Congress
The Acknowledged Heather Gives Us q
Going Over I'm "Unmitigated United
states."-CapitaI Notes.
resolution Of the senate of the sth inst the
president yesterday sent to the senate re-
port from the secretary of state, with ac-
companying documents, in relation to the
execution OF the Chinese exclusion acts
May q, 1859, and Oct. l, 1888. The secre-
tary OF state forwards all the correspondence
which has taken place between the state de-
partment and the Chinese government on
this subject. Under date Of Oct 10, 1883,
the Chinese minister complained that a
number of Chinese laborers holding return
certificates had been refused permission To
land at San Francisco. The state depart
ment forwarded 10 the Chinese minister
copy of the law of Oct l, 1883, under which
they were excluded
A Question OF Veracity Raised.
Jan. 20, 1889, the Chinese minister writes
to Bayard complaining that this law is a
violation of the treaty of 1880, and then
with true oriental courtesy proceeds to call
the secretary's attention 10 interviews held
with him during the negotiation of the I'M
ratified treaty in which the secretary told
the minister that 'his excellency, the presi-
dent, would veto any legislation of congress
which violated the existing treaty. l, there
fore, feel persuaded that, in view of the pro-
vision of article 4, and of the assurances of
the American commissioners herein quoted,
may rely upon your interposition W it'll his
excellency, the president, with view to
having him recommend congress to undo
the wrong and hardship which is being in
fiicted upon my countrymen."
In reply to this letter, under date of
Feb. ., 1889, Bayard wrote: Il must assure
you with great distinctness that you labor
under misrepresentation, and that no such
assurance was made or could have been
made by me in the course OF the converse
ton prior TO the negotiation of the treaty.
Kind of Mailing Things Down.
In letter dated Feb %, 1882 Chang Yen
Hoon, the Chinese minister, wrote to Bay
ard that he regretted that he should have
written anything to cause Bayard embar-
him responsible for the action of congress or
the president, but he had understood Bayard
"to be giving me your view of how his ex-
cellency the president regarded the proposed
legislation then pending in congress- etc.
He did not understand, however, that this
"was made in the form of promise" He
enclosed a memorandum of his interview
with Bayard, attested by Shu Cheon Pom
and ID. W Bartlett, of the Chinese legation,
who were present In this memorandum
Bayard isquoted as saying: "Unless you and
soon agree upon some satisfactory meas
ures In our negotiations, congress will Ger
tainly enact laws regardless of the treaty
stipulations. Should such be the case they
would violate the treaty and the president
would, of course, veto them Bayard,
however, advised that the wishes of congress
be- met.
Must Have Been "a Observation-Disclosures,
Proceeding, the Chinese minister says fur
ther that he was under the impression that
he could not discuss officially the presidents
message 70 congress; but as Bayard has
stated in his note that that message reached
~the irresistible conclusion that the passage
of the act of exclusion was In consonance
with the expressed wishes of China, he feels
IL his imperative duty to enter his respect
full but earnest protest against any such as
sumption The act, he saya, was in direct
opposition to the wishes Of China
Bayard Explains Matters
Under date of Feb Is, 1889, Bayard wrote
to the Chinese minister that he was not dis
posed TO question the accuracy of the recol-
lection OF the minister and the gentlemen of
his suite He then says in explanation of
the presidents signing the Scott bill, that
the fact that the news of the rejection of the
treaty between the United States and China
came from Great Britain, gave impetus to
the popular belief that influences exterior to
the two nations had been at work" Under
this condition of affairs the Scott bill was
suddenly and without notice brought for
ward in congress and passed with n unanim-
ity in both houses which palpably rendered
an interposition by veto of the executive
wholly futile"
The Supreme Court Decision.
In a letter written July 5, 1859, to Blaine
the Chinese minister speaks of the decision of
the supreme court of the United States in
the Chinese matter. The supreme court, he
says, has decided that the act of October,
lssS, Is in contravention Of expressed stipu-
lations of the treaty, but 1t is done in the ex-
ercise of the sovereign power vested In CON
law Of the land The supreme court cannot
inquire whether the reasons for this action
were good or bad.
The minister continues: "You will par
don me, MIR. Secretary, If | express my
amazement that such doctrine should be
published to the world by the august tri-
bunal for whose members by personal ac-
quaintance / entertain such profound re-
spect 1t forces upon me the conviction that
IN the three years which ] have resided in
this country have not been able fully and
correctly TO comprehend the principles and
systems OF your great government In my
country we have acted upon the conviction
that where two nations deliberately and sol
EMMY entered upon treaty stipulations they
thereby formed a sacred compact from
which they co uld not be honorably dis
charged except through friendly negotie-
tons and a new agreement"
The Way II Looks to All Sin.
He then asks Blaine's interposition with
the president to have the wrongs of the Chi
nese righted. He calls attention to the facts
that:
1.-The existing treaty relations were brought
about at the express solicitation of the United
States
2.-The action of congress Is not justified by
Its conduct toward other nations nor by any
action or the Chinese government
3-The action Of congress is virtually a de-
nunciation Of all existing treaties, and an ipyi-
tation to China TO terminate all diplomatic and
relations
4-The action of congress must be held TO be
an aftront to the government of China
6.-The government OF the United States
must accept accountability for all the Injuries
and damages resulting from the enforcement
Of the act Of congress.
These five points the minister Celebrates
end argues at some length. In conclusion he
says he trusts some way will be found
whereby "the hasty and unprovoked action
Of congress" may be undone IL cannot but
feel, he says, "that if the late president had