The record-union., 1896-10-16

but bow instantly to the edicts of a
foreign Power. It has Seen the criti-
cism Of our Eastern brethren for years
that If the laws were not enforced
against the Chinese, it was because Of
our incompetency or unwillingness.
Our friends now have before them an
object lesson that dissipates their criti-
oism. For it is fact that the San
Francisco authorities have done more
than we'll In the effort to crush the
hatchet men organizations It was
found to be almost impossible, however,
to collect evidence sufficient to warrant
such procedure as was necessary. In
the raids made when some headquarters
were destroyed there was not full war
rant for the act had the Chinese owners
seen fit to sue the city Of San Francisco
for damages.
So secretive, on-communicative and
unreliable are the Chinese in such mat
against them only with greatest diftl-
Guilty. Now, however, that an author
ity they recognize has interposed and
ordered the law of place to be observed
and the warfare to cease between the
contending factions, the entire Chinese
community, outside Of the groups OF
offenders, steps forward and proceeds
to take the law in it's own hands and re-
store peace to Chinatown, standing for
once on the side Of the police.
But this very readiness to do the
right thing, contrasted with the year and
half of stupid refusal to aid the au-
thorities, sharply illustrates the diff
Guilty of dealing with our Chinese pop
ulation and their contempt for the law
which obtains among the greater num-
Der of them. The incident is of value
as proving to our Eastern friends what
we have so long asserted, and Of which
they have expressed their disbelief.
The stories Of orders being issued to
the gunboat Bancroft to force the pas
sage of the Dardanelles are repeated,
but lack confirmation. They do not
command reason In support Of them.
It may be that there is something In the
rumors. but we much doubt them. If
the United States resolves to send a
boat to the Sea of Marmora to receive
possible refugees, there Is no necessity
for sending a ship of war. Any other
ship will do as well, since such a boat
as the little Bancroft could make no sort
Of defense in case of a conflict. If we
are ever to force a. passage of the OAR
danelles we will be apt to do 1t with
sufficient naval force. The treaties with
the Powers and many years of custom
recognize the Dardanelles as inland
| waters, wholly the property Of the Turk
ish Empire, and not to be invaded by
ships Of war Of any nation in time OF
peace. Though the Turk has no busi-
ness In Europe and should be driven out
boot and baggage, it is not in the mean
time our office to violate the recognized
privacy Of Turkish waters with ships OF
war. 1t is opposed to the policy Of our
Government to mingle with any of the
entanglements Of the Eastern question
and we cannot see what we have to gain
by stirring up trouble with the Turk
without formally protesting our belief
that he Is a consummate rascal. needs
Furnishing, and that we propose tc
undertake the job. It is possible tina,
q IN M Mill n rc
below, the Bancroft may convey oul
Minister to Constantinople, but we ap-
prehend that it will be done after asking
and gaining consent of the Porte, and
not in a way to suggest hostile atti-
tude toward Turkey, since to this date
we have no national cause upon which
to base an unfriendly act.