The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-25
Customs Officers Forbid den "a
Hunt Mongolian Peasants.
THE WHITE PEOPLE PRorEsrrn.
Minister Tsui Kwo Yen Complained to
the Secretary of State.
Inspectors Cobiensz and Jaeklin As-
cused OF Abusing Yellow Farmers
But They Don't Do IL Any Nor.
Since They Heard From Blaine.

PoRr TOWNSEND, Nov. A.-[Special.l-
There is much feeling on the part Of
Chinese officials and Chinese merchants
on account of alleged i'll treatment of Chi
nese on WILDLY island. Last summer
when the anti-Chinese agitation on Wild
by island was of its tiercest point pc
ton was circulated by prominent local
Mongolian merchants. The paper, signed
by n number of business men at various
points on the Sound, was forwarded to
Washington City. The contents of the
petition were kept secret at the time and
nothing further was heard of the IN after
until few days ago, when bundle of Of
fetal documents was received at the cus-
tom-house, among them being the follow
ing.
sEATTLr. Aug. ., 1sgl.
To His Exceileney tae CbInese Minister, Hashxlo-
ton, u. O., The undersigned, white rcsidentaaf
WILDLY island, in the state of Washington, e.
string TO see justice done TO the Chinese pecna6
residing in our midst engaged in agrieultuni
pursuits, having leased lands for the purpose ok
cultivation from the owners thereof; that many
of these Chinese are laborers who have been on
gagged in railroad building aud similar pursuit8
and have not formed any acquaintance VIZ
white people so that white people could idoE
tify them: that the officers of the United stat
connected with the treasury Departments aroil&i
the habit of going among these Chinese with0u|
any warrant issued by proper court or withou
any proof other than mere suspicion, srrestl1
them and without any evidence whatever ta
ing them before United states comuisson(
and there requiring them TO furnish satisfaetoflk
white evidence that they are lawfully in G.
United States, and upon failure to do so q
commissioner orders them deported to Chin(
Many Of these Chinese arrested have no reau
whatever to employ attorneys and are constaut1X
harrassed and annoyed by these unwarrante1
arrests. Believing that injustice is being done
to these Chinese we desire by this means to cali
your attention to the same that the matter may
be properly laid before the president aud oabt-1
net that the evil may be remedied.
This was sent TO Tsui Kwo Yen, the Chis|
nese minister at Washington City, and by
him referred to Secretary Blaine in the
following letter:
CHINESE LEGATION,
WAsHISGT0N CITY, Oct 26s
Hon. James G. Blaine, Secretary of state--sirs
enclose herewith copy of paper which has
been received at this legation, signed by a num-
ber of citizens of the United States residing on
WILDLY island, in the state of Washingturs
representing that injustice is being done to tho
Chinese subjects in that locality at the hands,
OF the officials of the United States treasury de-
partment, and the United States Commissioners
of that district
This legation has no disposition to encouraEo1
any violation of the laws of the United State
on the part of the Chinese subjects, but Il feed
that ii can rely upon the federal governments q
the United States to see that justice is extendo1
TO the Chinese residents who are lawfully fnI
the country, and that the treasury Department.
will be pleased to direct its officials in the oc6
ity mentioned in the accompanying papers ~
to violate the universally acknowledged princE
pie OF law and evidence-that persons accuse
OF crime must be proven guilty; and that s61
officials should not harm peaceable persons d
illegal arrests.
Accept, Mr.. Secretary, with this new occssio1
the assurance OF my most distinguished consfd
Grafton. TsUf Kwo YEN, Chinese Ministsr.
The upshot of the above has been tha1
Chinese Inspector Coblentz has becnI
warned to be more careful. He and VIII
lam Jacklin were the inspectors COM
planned of. 1t is said that both were inI
the habit of cutting and ill-treatineI
Chinese prisoners. Jacklin is now out q
the service and Coblentz has been releaso6
from duty on the islands, InspectQl
Mum and Fox being now located there
The treasury department will not desi1
from further enforcement of the law, but
inspectors are cautioned to be careful and
under no circumstances to overstep their
authority