Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-15
CHINA MAY RETALIATE.
Americans to Be Expelled II the Geary Law
is Executed.


The Rev. DIR. ]. s. Baldwin, for TWENTY-FIVE
years Meth odist missionary in China, and fol-
nearlya quarter of century secretary Of the
missionary board Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. which has large moneyed interests in
China, said yesterday in New York that he had
positive information from dignitaries Of the
Chinese government and from his own Chinese
missionaries that if the Chinese exclusion act il
carried into effect and Chinese are shipped from
this country to China, deported simply because
they are here without taking out certificates,
Americans in China will be likewise deported
from that country to the United States.
IF the law is declared constitutional by the
supreme Court" he said. II anticipate that
there will be a speedy exodus both of mission
aries and merchants from China, in retaliation
for our sending home Chinese from the United
States. Several years ago this course was urged
upon the Chinese government by one OF the
censors. who was supported in his memorial by
number Of prominent officials. Ii Hung
Chang, at present viceroy of Chuhu-Le and
Shagtung provinces, the great statesman of
China, whom Gen. Grant 80 heartily admired.
has been very slow to come to this view of the
case and very unwilling to relinquish his
marked friendship for the United States. But
there Is strong ground for believing that this
great statesman has at last come to the con-
and dignity of his own nation, in view of these
expected acts of oppressive legislation on our
part, and In view Of diplomatic action having
failed to produce any remedy, is to enter upon
the course OF retaliation and treat Americans in
China as Chinese are treated in America.
That the Chinese government is waking up
to more energetic measures is evidenced by the
fact that a short time ago, when the British
minister claimed for British residents in China
certain rights not conceded in the British
treaty on the ground that they were conceded
in the American treaty, and that under the
favored nation clause these privileges fell to
the benefit of British residents, the Chinese
government replied that the treaty with the
United States was no longer in existence. hav-
Ing been SO repeatedly violated by the United
States that no claim could be set up to its OBJ
servance on the part Of China. and, therefore,
the British minister could claim no right for
British citizens under the favored nation
clause as applying to the dishonored treaty.
This is the most perlous time in the rela-
ton Of China to the United States that has yet
been encountered. The Chinese are a forbear-
ing people. not disposed to take umbrage easily
and very reluctant to enter upon drastic meas
ures in defense of their rights. The Chinese
government. in accordance with its habit, has
quietly endured a series Of oppressive enact
ments against is people here, contenting itself
with continued and earnest circumstances by
their ministers at Washington.
"'These remonstrances have been UNDECIDED
and the last enactment exceeds all others in its
severity in dealing with the Chinese. There
was not much opposition to the extension for a
new period of years Of the restriction which has
been in force for the last twelve or thirteen
years. but there was very decided objection to
the requisition that all Chinese laborers should
register and take out certificates showing their
right to be here, which they should always have
about them to show when demanded by any
official. and also the requisition that white
witness testify to their residence in this coun-
try for the past year and to their right to be
here, which implies testimony to the fact of
their having been here for time prior to the
passage of the exclusion acts.
SIN the nature Of the case it is impossible in
very large number of instances to secure such
testimony from a white witness, and the very
requirement is itself an insult to the Chinese as
intimating that the testimony of their own peo-
pie is not worthy of credence. SO it has come
about that only few hundred out Of the
100. 900 in the United States have registered. 1t
is probable that the Methodist Church will
make an appeal to the Chinese authorities in
case the deportation is decided upon. in behalf
of the Methodist missionaries now stationed in
all of the provinces"
The Chinese consul in New York refused to
be interviewed on the subject.