The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-30
THE REJEcrEp MINISTER.

The press of the whole country, irespec-
tive of political leanings, is dispnsed to make
fun of Mr.. Blair in the discontinue which
has lust befallen him in the intimation from
the Chinese Government that he will not be
received as the representative OF the
United States at Pekin. II is slyly
asserted by a number of journals that the
Chinese Government has taken this position,
not so mich on account of the record of the
late Senator on the Chinese question. as on
account of his distinguished reputation as a
bore, character which he has earned by his
persistent advocacy OF the famous Education
bill with which his name is so intimately as
ISOLATED in the minds of the American people.
Without indulging in any comment on the
point whether Mr.. Blair deserves the reputa-
ton which he has won in this particular or
not, we are disposed TO think that his rejec-
ton by the Chinese Government is very far
from being to his discredit when the ground
for this rejection is impartially considered.
What is this ground? 1t is that Mr.. Blair
while member Of the United States Senate
took q very earnest and active part in passing
the law that restricted the immigration OF
Cinnamon TO the United States. In pursuing
this course, he was not influenced altogether
byj conclusions which he had reached by the
mere examination of printed matter bearing
on the general question of the ACCESSIBILITY OF
excluding the Chinese. but he had made
personal investigation Of all the points in
volved by visit TO the Pacific coast, where
he had seized every opportunity for the most
direct and practical observation OF every
phase of the Chinese problem as presented in
tire general social and industrial condition Of
California.
Is it remarkable that Mr. Blair should have
formed the opinions which he afterwards en-
tertained on the subject, and that he should
have been public-spirited enough TO take
bold and decided position in connection with
1t? No country was ever threatened with
greater evil than the Pacific slope was before
the passage of the law restricting Chi
nese immigration, and II was largely
due 10 the influence of Mr.. Blair that this evil
was averted His whole course on this ques-
ton was one which the Southern people could
clearly appreciate and respect, for they had
long suffered from that condition of affairs in
their own communities which would have
been precipitaied upon the. communities of
the Pacific coast if the Chinese had been per-
mitted TO pour into them like an engulfng
wave
A number of Mr.. Blair's associates of his
own party in the Senate took the ground that
the United States was open to all races, how
L. l. ,I,.t of
lean civilization. With this extreme opinion
the Senator from New Hampshire, al
though New Highlander, had no sym
patty, and he was not content to show
his opposing sentiments by his vote
only There is no part of his political career
which more justly entities him TO respect than
his hostility to Chinese immigration. and if he
has been rejected as Minister to China by the
Government of that country. he has been re-
jected for reasons which should advance
rather than lower him in public esteem.