The record-union., 1896-09-03
Ii Hung Chang Well Pleased With
His Visit to America.
Thinks the Chinese Exclusion Act
Unfair-Asks if Such a Law is in
the Interest of the American PeO-
ple-Cheaper Labor, He Says,
Would Enable the Larger Sale
of Our rIachinery in Foreign
Lands.

\
| NEW YORK, Sept. BY previous
arrangement Ii Hung Chang, the Chi
nese Embassador this morning received
a limited number of representatives of
the press in his apartments at the Wal
| dorf The newspaper men We're pre-
sented to the Viceroy by Edward B.
Drew, Commissioner of Royal Taxes in
China. The Viceroy's medical adviser,
DR.. Mark, acted as interpreter. The
much-described yellow jacket was not
in evidence during the interview, the
] Viceroy being attired in q costume Of
plum colored silk.
| The first question asked was: Your
excellency. since you have said SO many
good things about us, we desire to know
in what respect we have disappointed
| you?"
| The Viceroy replied: Il have no COM
plaint to make of my reception in this
| country. / do not think that l can say
anything very bad of you, unless it
were that you have too many political
parties. Cannot the newspapers unite
these parties?''
What has been most interesting to
you in American
II have been charmed with many
| things. In fact, everything has de-
lighted me SO much that it is hard to
say in which I have been most interest
ed. The big buildings are specially in
teresting. I have never seen such tall
buildings before. These structures of
twenty and more stories are great
works of architecture. They would not
do, however, in China, where We have so
many typhoons. But 1 have heard that
in this country you have no such wind,
and you are safe. The elevators make
| them accessible
| Have you any comparisons to make
between America and England?'
| No, 1 would not like to make any.
| The Americans came originally from
| England, and whatever you do here you
have learned from England. For that
reason it would be indeiicate to draw
comparisons"
What has impressed you most dur
| ing your receptions in New York, the
demonstrations of the common people,
such as you witnessed yesterday, or the
attentions shown you by the dignitaries
of the country"
| To this question the interpreter re-
piled: "The Viceroy says that he knew
something, but that he will keep it to
| himself"
do you look for repeal or modifica-
ton of the so-called Chinese exclusion
law passed by our Congress in 1892? 1t
has also been called the Geary Act"
II know very well that you are soon
to have and election, and perhaps a
change in the Government. For this
| reason / have not mentioned or dis
cussed the Geary Act with your Govern
ment officials. / desire the assistance
| of the press in an effort which will be
made later to do away with this law. l
know that the press is the most infiuen-
| tial institution of the country.
WAS the route through Canada de-
cided upon because of any antagonlsm
that might assert itself among the peo-
pie of the Pacific Coast States?'
At this point the Viceroy called for his
| official interpreter, Lo Fung Lu, 70
whom he made this reply: The cholce
| of the Canadian route was determined
unon for two reasons: First, while l
was High Commissioner of the northern
portio, of China [ received many COM
plants from our Chinese subjects IN TINS
country that they were not In possession
| of the rights to which they We're en-
titled here and invoked my assistance
| to secure for them their full nights
Your laws here now curtall these rlghtS'
and / did not care to go through the
States where the people had been most
| instrumental in bringing ABOUT these
restricting laws. Again, While am
good sailor, / am an OLD man, ana !
| have been informed that the steamers
sailing from Vancouver are much more
comfortable that those leaving san
| Francisco"
Without waiting for another question:
the Viceroy again turned ms attentloh
to the Geary Act: Ihe Chlnese EA-
clusion Act is most unfair. Competl-
tion is good for any country. Competi-
tion keeps the markets in healthy
| condition. whether this competition is
in the price of labor or commodity.
The Gearv Act was brought about by
the Democratic party and the Irish peo-
pie. because the Chinese are the rivals
| of the Irish laborers. Put aside the
fact that am a high official, and speak
/ ing as a cosmopolitan, let me ask II
| such a law is in the interest OF the
| American people? Is it good policy to
| exclude cheap labor? Would you eX-
clude cheap commodities? You are
proud of your ingenuity, you boast of
| YOUR liberty and freedom, but there is
| no freedom of labor. l cannot see the
| fruits and the effects Of this liberty.
You are not only people of great IN
ventions, but you are country OF large
| AGRICULTURAL resources and a country
of commerce and industry. England is
purely a country of industry. You make
better machinery and agricultural i'm
plements than any other nation in the
| world. but these manufactures are un-
| fortunately so expensive in foreign
| markets that their sale is limited. This
| is because your labor is so high. If
you let in cheap labor you can sell your
goods more cheaply. The Irish people
hate the Chinese because the Chinese
possess greater virtues"
what are the inducements offered to
American capitalists to invest in Chin
ese enterprises"
| THE Chinese Government invites
every one of wealth, no matter to what
nation he belongs, to come to China
| and invest in our enterprises. General
Grant was my best friend. and I shall