Evening star., 1898-12-01
IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Chinese Minister Talks of His
Countrymen There,
THEIR CHARACTER Is misunderstood
Hopes the Exclusion Act viii Not
Be Applied.
NJ y ne GOOD CITIZENS

Mr.. WI Ting-fang, the Chinese minister,
was interviewed by a Star reporter this
afternoon on the proba bility of the enforce
ment of the Chinese exclusion law in the
Philippines when those islands come into
the possession of the United States. MIR.
WI said:
1t affords me great satisfaction to learn
that the American and Spanish representa-
tives a Paris have reached a conclusion III
their arduous work of trying to arrive at
peace agreement. 1 am glad that the
war between Spain and the United States is
ended As a representative of the Chinese
imperial government deprecate war The
recent conflict which you have witnessed
proved to be a terrible thing indeed, and
there should be universal rejoicing at its
conclusion | am opposed to human strife
In its every form. War costs many lives
and thousands of dollars. 1t is not only the
varduished that loses, but the victorious
as well war between nations may be
attended by the acquisition of a great deal
OF territory by the victor, or the conquered
nation may be forced to pay an immense
money indemnity to the winner, but these
addltl"ns to power wealth and prestige co
not compensate for the loss of life suffered
IN the conflict Some OF our best men are
lost to the world in battle and no amount
OF money or territory can replace them. l
think that all international differences
should be submitted to an arbitration
tribunal for settlement.
The Chinese Exclusion Law.
BY the terms of the agreement which
has been reached at Paris, as 1 understand
1t. the United States Is to come into the
possession of the Philippine Islands Before
tney are taken possession of officially L
wish to appeal to the American people not
to ont. J.
those Islands. BY doing so a great injus-
tlce Will be done my countrymen and the
many opportunities of a prosperous and
happy life will be denied them.
There are a great many Chinese in the
PhilPDlHes and ali of them are a credit
TO the archipelago. The Chinese popuLa-
uon there IS entirely different from that in
your western countries. in the Philippines
my countrymen are engaged in every walk
of life. There are innumerable artisans
farmers, stOTekeepers. merchants traders
and III fact business men of every legiti-
mate character. The Philippine Islands
are so situated that they offer splendid in
duCements for the Chinese. The mainland
OF our empire is conV nVeniently situated and
the manners, customs and habits of the
people III the islands are so agreeable to
SUBJECTS OF the imperial government that
an extraordinary inducenent is offered for
their immigration there. Some of our best
citizens have left the empire for the Philip
pines and have found happy homes III the
islands.
Msconception of Chinese Character
There is general misconception of the
Chinese character in the United States and
the people of America know very little of
the traits of my countrymen. To know the
true Character of the Chinese in the Philip
pines however, one must devote a study to
them. They are thrifty, frugal, energetic
Industrious. honorable, seIf-respecting and
. I ll+
CATION the people Of the United States will
not be averse to receiving them in all the
channels of business life. There are many
rich Chinese there, some of them being
rated financially in the millions 1t can be
seen therefore that the Chinese population
there is entirely different from that OF the
western world.
To deprive my couutrymet of ell me
privileges accorded other residents Of the
Islands, / would deem somewhat of an in
justice. The Chinese have inhabited the
Islands from time immemorial and they
have contributed great deal TO their gen
erai prosperity and intellectually. To bar
them therefore, after they have been ac-
custOmcd to being allowed all the freedom
accorded other nationalities would be to lrut
a damper upon their progressive spirit and
to discourage them in their avowed inten-
ton to rank with every other civilized "a
ton on earth. Spain has always been kind
10 our people and has granted them free
and unrestricted immigration and all the
lmmunitieS allowed other inhabitants. I'm
der the Spanish regime our people there
have prospered. They have been diligently
at work for years, have founded business
interests and have accumulated fortunes
by hard work and strict attention to their
duties, religious and governmental. In fact
they have made ideal citizens and I naye
never heard serious complaint against them
from any Spanish resident of the islands
The s. anish people have realized that ny
cOuntrymen have been of great value to TIE
of inc hai iYo-
migration they have been inclined to en-
courage it.
Confidence in American LegisIation.
I have no doubt that this subject will
not be handled by the American legislators
until fun opportunity has been given to
study the situation. In fact | am informed
that already American statesmen have be-
gun their Investigation Of the social con-
ditions Of the islands with a view TO enact
lES suitable legislation. ! am confident that
when the true facts have been secured there
Will be no serious effort made to bar the
Chinese from the islands Their value in
citizenship will be recognized and their
good standing among the other inha abitants
OF Inc archipelago will appeal to the sense
OF justice Of every American laWmaker. L
wish that members of the American Com
gress could visit the islands and talk with
the people there regarding my countrymen.
IAey would find that there would be moth
ing but praise said of their qualities When
they get at the facts they will learn a
great deal more about the Chinese people
than they know now, and viii be somewhat
surprised, TO doubt.
My government will await with great
anxiety the disposition of this question.
IT is undoubtedly anxious that the Chinese
ShouId be allowed every possible license in
the philippines, although it will not ask
anything unreasonable. nor will it ask that
the chinese be accorded privileges which
are not granted others. All it desires is
mat our people shall be dealt with justly
ana fairly. j think that the broad Amer
ican mind will exercise itself as Ii does
IN all cases of equity. and that China will
not be the sufferer through the transfer
CI his valuable archipelago from Spanish
domain To American sovereignty"
To Meet Our Competition
Consul Boyle at Liverpool has sent the