The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-10
CHINA AND MR.. BLAIR.
Inconsistency Of Refusal to Re-
ceive the Minister.
NO VALID OBJECTION RAISED.
All the Pacific Coast Senators Except
Dolph Are Disposed to Pass the Geary
Exclusion Act without Delay.

WASHINGTON CRY, April 9.-The full
text of the most important part of the let
ter written by Acting Secretary Wharton
to Minister DENLY on October 6, concern
ing the declination of the Chinese govern
ment to receive ex-senator Blair, has been
made public. 1t is prefaced with state
ment that the position which China
had assumed in the matter seems
TO require frank expression
OF the views of this government"
He says that, Mr.. Blair having peremptor-
lily resigned his Office. there is no question
OF his going to China. but that the objec-
tons of the Chinese government to his re-
ception are open to inspection, and a clear
understanding is necessary in the interest
OF international good will. He therefore
says that while the sovereign right of any
government to determine the acceptabiity
or non-acceptability of foreign envoy adj
mlttedly exists, tine courtesy of nations in
practice confines the exercise of this right
within well-marked limits. he commun-
1cations of the Chinese government in Mr..
Biair's case appear not to recognize this,
Tor the government of the United States
Is IN terms invited to admit the sufficiency
OF reasons adduced and to signify its ac-
quiescence by sending another minister
whose public record shall not be open to
the objections alleged against Mr.. Blair's
public record. So far as there objections
rest on allegations of facts in re-
spect of views concerning the Chinese
people and nation, which are alleged
to have been entertained and uttered in
legislative debate by Mr.. Blair, the gov
eminent of the United States cannot
admit their sufficiency. A careful examin.
alton of every public utterance of Mr..
Blair in the course of the debates attend
ing the passage of the Chinese bill in the
Senate conclusively shows that Mr..
Blair has been injuriously repre-
sented. In point of fact, the true
record of Mr.. Blair while in the
Senate shows him to have been, from
first and last. respectful to the Chinese and
just to her people. The objection to re-
ceive Mr.. Blair because he cast a vote for
exclusion is in reality an objection to re-
ceive any person as minister of the United
States who in his character as senator or
representative in congress has cast
vote for any measure which
is obnoxious to the. Chinese government.
1t must be conceded by the Chinese gov
eminent that there is no time to discuss
the propriety OF legislation which has be-
come the supreme law of the land, and
which commands the obedience of all per-
sons within the United States. Any per-
son who may be duly appointed United
States minister TO China is bound faith
fully to observe and aid in the ex-
ecution of the existing laws. This
ground of objection to Mr.. Blair the
president could not take into account in
selecting another envoy. 1t is, moreover.
illogical in this, that the objection of
China is avowedly against existing legisla-
ton rather than the legislator. Three
years of friendly intercourse have passed
since the law was enacted without China's
discovering that the existence of the
law was bar to the reception
of the envoy representing the
country which enacted it. If Mr.. Blair
may not be received as minister while that
law remains unrepealed and because of
its existence as law, this government is
not ready to reconcile that position with
the continued friendly reception of the
present ministers of the United States at
Pekin. In this aspect, as in every other
aspect, the position assumed by China is
inadmissable.
The correspondence closed with tele-
gram dated March % last from Wharton
to DENLY, directing him, if he has not al
ready done so, to communicate the above
dispatch to the Chinese government. The
matter has been discussed by the Senate in
executive session, and the attitude as
sumed by the Chinese government has
been roundly denounced on all sides, but so
far there has been no attempt at action,
as the subject is still IN charge of the de-
partment of state,