The record-union., 1898-01-25
Weather Forecast.
Northern California-Snow or rain Tues
day; southeasterly wind.
A SMALL CLOUD SHOWING UP.

The question is agitating commercial
German and Russian acquisition in
China recently has invaded the treaty
rights of the United States, and wheth-
er they prove a menace to our trade.
The New York Journal Of Commerce"
is the leader in asserting the affir1na-
tive. That we are entitled to equal
privileges in China accorded any other
Power is settled, but whether the re-
cent acquisitions threaten this equality
is debatable The Portland "Oregonian"
thinks that as yet we suffer under no
threat, but comedies the situation war
rants our representing to the other
Powers that in China we have trade
rights which must not be disturbed by
movements tending to curtail or dis
place them.
The Gushing treaty, our earliest with
China, was concluded in 1874. 1t pro-
vides that our citizens shall not be
subject to higher duties than required
Of the people of any other nation, and
that any additional advantages grant
ed by China to any other nation shall
likewise be granted to US also, and we
shall have equal participation in any
privileges granted any others BY the
treaty of 1853 it is declared that any
commercial, social, political, navigation
or other privileges conceded by China
to any other people shall in like man
ner and at once accrue to the people
of the United States also, nor shall we
be called upon to pay higher duties than
charged to the most favored nation.
In 1868 the Burlingame treaty re-
affirmed these declarations. as also dio
the Angel treaty of 1880. So it is
perfectly clear that no trade or COM
mercial concession made by China TO
any other nation can exclude us from
equal privileges, since all any other Sc
cures inures equally 10 US. China has
granted special privileges to Russia for
railroad rights Of way, and terminals,
for landing points and harbors, and as
these are detrimental to American
commerce we are entitled to claim equal
privileges, which we are not prepared
to do, as we have no railways to build
obviously in that section.
But we are prepared, or should be.
to assert our right to have discrim-
mating duties because of such railway
concessions knocked off at once. Thus if.
as Is reported, goods into China out Of
Russia, and out Of China and into Rus
sia by rail- are to move for 80 per cent.
less duty than charged at seaports, then
our trade rights are Disseminated
against injuriously. There are several
charges Of like character, one being
that goods for the interior Of China by
Russian rail are TO be exempt after pay
ment Of a certain transit duty from
all other impositions of tax, wherea,
imports by other means of transit VIII
not be exempted, etc.
Evidently England, which has treat
ies similar TO ours, is alarmed about
these matters, and. would gladly join
hands with the United States in a
firm protest to Russia and China,
though the latter is powerless TO give
rs satisfaction in reply. But if we got
no satisfactory answer we would have
the right to coerce China, and while
It would be a cruel sort of proceeding
TO thrash a miserable creature which
can make no defense it might be the
only way TO reach the difficulty But
if we make a show of force we viii
antagonize Germany and Russia with
both of which we have important COM
mercial treaties, any interruption OF
which would work our commerce most
serious harm.
In good conscience, OF course, neither
Russia or Germany would have any
reason to retaliate upon us because we
demand our rights under the treaties
with China. They are presumed to
know what those treaties We're, and how
far they reached when they, Russia and
Germany. secured new concessions
from China. The whole matter may
be adjusted by concluding new treaties
with Russia and Germany. in which
for certain Chinese concessions we