Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-04
TO PROTECT THE CHINESE.
The Action OF the State Department-Gov
PennOyer's Reply to Mr.. Gresham.

Ahc <ACtlOL Oh inc St0Ie lepartnent-gSOy.
Pennoyer's Reply to Mr.. Gresham.
Secretary Gresham reasirmed his statement
Of yesterday that he had sent kilograms to gov
ernors of western states asking them to take
precautions against violence to Chinese when
the exclusion act takes effect He did not care
to state how many or what governors had been
asked to take action.
newspaper dispatch from Portland, Oregon,
stated that the following graphic correspond
ence passed between Secretary of State Gres-
ham and Gov. Pennoyer of Oregon yesterday ::
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. May g.
Gov. Sylvester Pennoyer, the Capital, Salem
Ore:
Apparently reliable reports indicate danger
of violence to Chinese when exclusion act takes
effect, and the President earnestly hopes you
will employ ali lawful means for their protec-
ton in Oregon. w. Q. GRESHAM
Gov. Pennoyer Immediately sent the follow
ing reply:
SALEM, OREG., May 3.
W. Q. Gresham, Washington. D. c.:
will attend to my business; let the President
attend to his.
SYLVESTER PENNoYER, Governor.
Gov. Pennoyer is reported to have said to
newspaper man: The Gresham telegram is an
insult to Oregon. l will enforce the laws of
the state. and the President should enforce the
laws of Congress. 1t comes with poor grace
for the President to ask me to enforce the state
law, while he, without warrant, suspends the ex-
cluson law
MR.. GREsHAMs COMMENT.
Mr.. Gresham stated today that the text of
the dispatch over his signature given out for
publication by Gov. Pennoyer of Oregon was
correct. Tho Secretary declined to comment
on the answer sent him by Gov. Pennoyer.
The kilograms speak Tor themselves" he
sold. II sent a perfectly respectful message to
Gov. Pennoyer and received in reply the dis
patch which has been given to the press. Rep
reservations had been made to the department
that violence might be done Chinese subjects
when the law went into effect and the dis
patches were sent as precautionary measures.
do not believe there is any prospect of trouble,
but the dispatches were sent, nevertheless, to
allay apprehension"
THE STATE LAWS AND TREATY sTIPULATIoNs.
The serious trouble in which the United
States became involved through the conflict be-
tween state laws and treaty stipuations over
the killing of italian citizens in New
Orleans, and also over the massacre of
Chinese in the west, urged the admins
tration to take every precaution to avert
violence toward Chinese citizens upon the
Inauguration of the exclusion law. Foreign
governments have always required great deal
OF explanation from the United States with ref
erence to the paramount authority of a state
concerning certain crimes committed within its
borders, even in cases where the crimes are in
violation of treaty s.ipuiatlons. The proposed
act of Congress providing for the trial of
offenders against the provisions of a treaty by
United States courts simplifies the matter. but
the State Department decided 20 leave nothing
undone with reference to the exclusion law, in
order to prove to the Chinese government IN
the event of trouble that every precaution had
been taken for the protection of Chinese
subjects
NOTHING FEARED IN SAN FRANCISCO.
A press dispatch from San Francisco says:
"A report telegraphed here from New York
stating that Secretary Gresham had been warned
of an anti-C Chinese outbreak. and had wired to
Governor Markham of California asking him
to see to the protection of Chinese residents in
this state. is said by those who know all about
the situation to be ridiculous. 1t is believed
here, also. that the story was intended solely to
influence public sentiment in the east"