The sun., 1891-03-02
The New Minister to China.

It is quite probable that the Chinese Gov
ernment has already learned. through It's
Intelligent representatives at Washington,
that the person selected by President HAIR
RIsoN 10 secceed Minister DENBY at Pekin
Il crank and bore, and half-crazy orator
given to violent and undiplomatic express
sions OF his personal opinions.
Possibly che astute dignitaries OF the Mid
die Kingdom do not know that the Hon.
HENRY w. BLAIR, whom they will be asked
to receive with the respect due to his official
station, has expressed himself within three
years, on the floor OF the United States
Senate. IN the following language with re-
gard to the policy Of absolute exclusion:
"If Congress nnds the fact that the chinaman not
snly not assmilats hut ought not TO assimiats
with American civilization: that his presence In small
numbers unrrs'rcted to tecome INFINITE numbeh and
therefore overwhelming onr civilization 30 as to be
destructive ofitf Congress- having In view the general
welfare having control OF commerce aud our relations
with foreign powers. where the Chinaman Ia nuds the
fact bs that that Chnaman detrimental In his tnnu
10 the civilization Of the American people and that
located In particular State he dead sure to spread
and 10 Into all the other States ask the Senator II IL
not In exact analogy 10 that po~er BY ohbh roe exclude
~ Rdnondt Irce pesntll dEs Jrom any portion OF
the eonnh1 Ma, "a. NAV undertake the prtunfion Vfhe
~iqration or immigration Of the thinaman TO ms
cvantry."
This passage will be found in the Congrrs-
sional Record OF Sept. 7, 1885, on pnge s,s75
OF volume 10, part o.
Mr.. BLAIR's theory, here stated with the
brutal irankness OF narrow prejudice, Is that
the duty and power Of our Government is to
troat the subject of ths Chinese Emperor as
II no were pestilential disease like the yell
low fever or the cholera. or eprosy. and that
n N
pest under the necessary police powers OF
the Federal Government, without regard to
tho requirements OF international good
fa,th or treaty obligations
Mr. BLAIR bases his opinion OF the pesti-
lentinl character VI Chinese civilization upon
his own personal observations OF the race.
On page 1867 Of the same volume Of the
Record hs explains his position:
Invent through china,ow In san Francisco a few
yeas ago MY knowelge Of the Chinese situation 10
Of comparatively slight, but from the moment
saw that aesinx roaring blood cmrdlng curse China.
town Sur IrAnc,sc" felt as though there had been
planted the vitas ~ American civilization the seeds
of death uuess the upis plant could Ls rooted up and
eAtrI a:eL'
These are the sentiments which Mr..
BLAlr. OF New Hampshire will carry with
him to China "n n mission OF the highest
dignity, deliracy ana importance. Inc
record of his publicly uttered views on the
subject will precede or accompany him
thither.
As a private citizen. or as Il legislator, Mr..
BLAIR is entitled to think and speak as lie
peasrs concerning China aud the Chinese;
but what reception as Al diplomatic repre-
sentative awaits him ut the capital OF the
country which he has insulted in this whole
sale way? Would our Government receive
the credentials OF foreign Minister who at
home had compared the entire American
people to a pestilential disease. to be
stunned and shut out under the powers OF
sanitary police at any cost
There never was moro extraordinary
choice Of a Minister sent to nation OF ex-
treme scnsitiveness and acumcn, and
charged with duties requiring above all
things tact, discretion, courtesy, and per-
feet comprehension OF the amenities OF
diplomatic intercourse.