Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-09
THE CHINESE LAW,
Rev. Mr.. Reid Seeking a Modification
of the Geury Act.

OF the Geury Act.
Rev. Gilbert Reid, who Is at the Ere
donia, Is a missionary returned from China,
who is credited with a familiar acQuaint-
ance with the feeling Of the ruling classes
in that land. He has been in Washing ton
several times to work in behalf of a modi-
ication of the Geary law. Speaking to a
Star reporter today Mr.. Reid said:
'Of course / cannot speak authoritatively
for either the administration or for Con-
gress or for the Chinese. but believe there
Is willingness on the part of many to re-
store the friendly feeling of the past and
so modify the law as to remove all the
harsh features and be acceptable to China.
When asked what he thought of the
problem as 1t now is Mr.. Reid replied: L
regard the problem as a very intricate one
and needing the soundest diplomacy, or
some one viii suffer by ignoring the car
dinal principles Of right.
LAS treaties have existed between China
and the United States ever since the year
1874. and as the Chinese residing in the
United States are still the subjects vt
China, any legislation dealing with the
Chinese should be governed by a spirit Of
friendliness, in harmony with the princi-
Piles Of international comfy. The one OBJ
tect. therefore. to be insisted on is not any
particular scheme. but the maintenance Of
friendly relations between these two friend
THE wishes and demands Of our fellow
American citizens especially concerned with
this problem should be carefully considered,
and as far as possible met and observed.
There should be an agreement on the main
intent and the ostensible object of our
late legislation dealing with the Chinese
problem. For the sake Of preserving The
good order Of certain sections of our coun-
try and the character of our institutions
there should be for at least time re-
strtctfon of Chinese immigration to the
number already here. Then there should
be laws regulating the coming or residence
of the Chinese. Measures should also be
taken to prevent the clandestine entrance
of those who by law are excluded; and all
be punished. and If possible removed from
our territory. Finally all aliens. and the
Chinese included, must learn that our laws
must be observed. so long as they reside
within our territory.
Now. for the other side also a duty. AS
treaties have been concluded by the United
States with China, they should as far as
possible be observed and not violated, while
in the case Of difficulties which have since
arisen they should at the earliest moneD t
be automatically settled by an harmonious
agreement between the two countries and
supplementary treaty. For the sake If
the credit and fair name of our country
we should not unnecessarily break a solemn
compact made between our government
and another For the sake of the effect Of
western and Christian civilization on the
civilization of China all the essential and
recognized principles of international in
tercourse should be carefully maintained;
and for the sake Of the security and well
fare Of Americans, and. in fact. all for
eigners. residing in China, nothing should
be done to weaken the force of treaty
rights and treaty protection. Finally. u
the favored nation idea Is to accrue to the
advantage Of Americans In China, 1t should
also accrue to the benefit of the Chinese in
the United States. So also II the principle
of ex-territoriality clearly established for
Americans in China by the treaty Of 1880
is deemed a necessity, because Of the m
justice of Chinese law, then Just and equtt-
able legislation should be maintained by
our government that ex-territoriality RAY
be seen to be unnecessary in our land.
Here. then, is the problem. and the wise
method is to harmonize these principles
and not ignore them. If action should now
be taken clearly one-sided. woe unto the
nation that countenances II. Some will
suffer. and they may be innocent American
citizens deprived of the protection which
treaties heretofore have extended them IN
China. Let something be done recognizing
all claims rights and obligations. There IS
a splendid chance for us to put ourselves
right. and possibly We may recklessly fore
go our chance"