The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-05-19
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
Elk Minis er Young Speaks Of Our Re
latiOns With the Yellow People,

latiOnS With the Yellow People.
Mr. John Russell Young, formerly
Minister to China, is in Washington on
visit to the Chinese Minister, with
whom he had long interview. In con
versation with the Washington cor
! respondent of the New York Times, Mr..
| Young said that his visit to the Chinese
Minister was personal, as they had been
friends in Pekin. He did not feel at lib
erty to talk about what was an essen
TALLY private conference.
The Chinese authorities, Mr.. Young
said, were disturbed over the action of
the American Government, not SO much
because it interfered with immigration,
but because of the contempt shown by
the American Government towards
China The difference between China
and the United States had never been
more than a mere matter of form. The
Chinese had an idea that the American
Government meant a policy of wantom,
deliberate insult. There had been no
agitation in regard to the American pol
icy Of immigration, except what came
from English merchants. who were as
anxious to preserve the profits of the
coolie trade Us they had been in other
years to preserve the slave trade. And
there never had been a time when the
Chinese would not have met the Ameri-
cans more than half way.
Mr.. Young could not say, even from
his conversation with the Chinese Min
lister, whether there would be an inter-
ruption of diplomatic relations. That
would depend upon the Premier, Lii
Hung Chang, and that statesman had
shown his temper by the summary res
fns;,l to accept hIr. Blair as Minister, I'M
der circumstances without parallel or
precedent in China, and which could
only have been intended as an affront.
The strongest argument that could be
made in talking with the Chinese
was this, that a suspension of diplo
matte intercourse would destroy the in
fiuence of those who, like President
Harrison, were at heart not hostile to
the Chinese
Mr.. Young said that the present Min
lister was u liberal statesman of an anna
bic, engaging character, who had formed
4 sincere attachment for the United
States, and was disposed to look at
events with a practical eye. -Four years
ago, WREN Mr. Cleveland signed the Elk
clusion bill, the Chinese Minister accred-
t,,l rs ~ 10
withdraw. By the influence of many
Americans who had the confidence of
the Chinese, this resolution was aban-
doned. The Chinese were then told to
trust to time and the generous impulses
of Harrison.
"Time,n said Mr.. Young, 'tstill fights
on the side of China, as it has for sixty
centuries, but am afraid he confidence
in Harrison has been dulled by the sign
ing of the bill. | think the Minister
sees the embarrassment of the President
that a political pistol has been presented
at his head in a Presidential year. 1t is
incredible that the Chinese question
should not be settled, beginning at the
beginning, by taking it up at Pekin.
The real issue is commercial, and the
stake is an empire. immigration should
not be an issue now any more than it
was under Burlingame. When we deal
with the Eastern nations, with an eye
upon the possibilities of our splendid
Pacific empire, there will be no immi-
grafton problem. Nor would there be
one now were our people less disposed,
in their heedlessness and sloth, to play
the hand of Russia and England