Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-27
CHINESE MAY MARCH
Concession to MongoIians on the
Olympia.
NOT ALLOWED BY THE LAW TO LAND
Admiral Dewey Denounces the
Discrimination.
RES 1T UNJUS ST

| ship Olympia who will probably have no
special cause for rejoicing their tri-
umphant return to the United States are
the Chinese mess attendants. Under the
! inexorable laws of the land they are pro-
hibited from landing in this country. The
hardship of this statute seems especially
severe and uncalled for in the case of this
particular set of men, when it is realized
that they bravely risked their lives for the
American that illustrious May
morning and contributed their full share to
| the glorious victory which crowned Amer
lean arms in the first decisive battle of the
Spanish war.
| AT the earnest interceSSion of the New
| York Dewey celebration committee and as
special favor, the Secretary of the Treas
ury has decided that the Chinese members
OF the crew of the Olympia may be allow
ed to march in the procession Saturday
next with their brave comrades of other
nallonai1t1es. with the distinct understand
ing, however, that they return to their ship
at the dismissal of the procession and do
not attempt to remain i'll this country The
law Will be stretched to that extent for
their benefit in partial recognition of their
valuable services in Manila bay. Their par
ucipation in the Dewey parade will not be
considered by the immigration authorities
as admission to the United States
within the meaning of the law Con-
structively, the law will be fully observed
lnasmuch as they will be practically under
surveillance the entire time they are on
shore and otherwise will be treated in the
| same way as other Chinese laborers who
are excluded from the United States under
any ana all CIRCUMSTANCES unless they have
| certificates showing prior residence here
| with the legal right to remain.
Are Regularly Enlisted Men.
| These mess attendants are regularly en-
| listed in the navy the same as Iandsmen,
| seamen, etc, but the fact of their enlist
| ment does not, however, in any way re-
| leve them from the bar against Chinese
| laborers established by the Chinese excu-
sion act. This fact has long been recog-
| nized by officials of the Navy Department.
ana mas led to the practice of transferring
| to other ships all Chinese who may be at
tached to vessels on foreign stations order
ed to the United States. This practice ap-
plies only to Chinese, however and there
| is nothing in the law to prevent the ad-
mission to the United States of all other
| foreigners such as Lascars, Singalese,
| japanese, Africans, Maays etc. If there
be any such on the Olympia they will be
allowed equal privileges with the American
| men and naturalized Americans.
| Admiral Dewey has shown the greatest
| interest in the Chinese who took so prom
| lnent and credita BILE a part in the battle of
| Manila bay, and has made a personal an
peal to the authorities for the enactment
| OF legislation which will enable them to be-
come citizens of the country for which
| they fought and risked their lives There
| We're about fifty Chinamen with Dewey's
fleet in the battle Of Manila bay When
the hshtlng occurred they performed their
part with such fervor, devotion to duty in
| difference to danger and unselfish interest
| In the success of the American arms that
| II touched the heart and sense of justice of
! Admiral Dewey and the commanding Of
| lcers of the American warshps. They not
| only won the praise of their superior Off
GERS but also aroused among them a feel
ing OF shame that these who had
Iltt a no nicy,F g.,
| establish the sovereignty of the United
States in the east We're barred by the mere
TACT OF their nationality from the enjoy
| n-ent OF the honors and privileges won in
that fight by the men of every other ma
ton represented in the crews of the United
States WarshiDs.
| Admiral Dewcy's Request
Admiral Dewey's sentiments on the sub
lect are expressed in the following letter.
addressed to the Secretary Of the Havy:
''Fi-AG5HIP OLYMPIA,
May 81 1888.
''sir:-l. l have the honor to state that the
reports made by officers of divisions and
commanding officers upon the battle of May
| l, 1898 coLcul in the statement that the
Chinese servants and other Chinese upon
the ships of this squadron renueIed me
most efficient services upon that oc sion
and behaved in the most exemplary man
| ner.
''2. To my mind 1t seems unreasonable
| that men who have battled for our country
| should be excluded from il. These men
who have shown courage and energy in the
face of an enemy are at least worthy of the
| treatment acc'iari any CT zen ->4-f
| country who does not come to shores as
| a mendicant OF under labor contract.
| ''3. l would therefore, respeo fully call
| your attention to this anomaly, and urge
| that these men may be admitted to the
United states in case they desire to enter.
| Il. Should the matter meet with Your ia
| vorable consideration l will submit list
of these Chinese, amounting in All to lot
more than fifty. who have not the right,
under present laws, To enter port OF the
| United States.
Very respectfully: your ohedient servant,
| GEORGE DEWEY,
| Rear Admiral United States Navy.
| The authorities here Were impressed with
| the apparent justice of Admiral Dewey's
| representations. and the question of the id-
mission of the Chinese to the United States
| was fully cons -dered. No acton wa /" Ken,
however. until late in the fall, when case
arose which called for decision the
points at issue. All Soorg, a Chinese serv-
ant on the Olympia. whose term Of service
had expired, arrived at San Francisco and
| was prohibited from landing by the colec-
| tor of customs. He produced his honorable
! discharge from the navy, but said he could
not show his passport, for the reason that
| he had lost 1t. He claimed that he had been
| born in San Francisco, and was, therefore,
| entitled to re-enter the country, but he was
| unable, in the absence of official records. to
| convince the customs authorities of the
| trut.. of that statement. While his case
| under consideration Dy the Secretary
| of .,.e Treasury appeal from the de-
cision of the collector of customs at San
Francisco. a copy of Admiral Dewey's let
ter to the Secretary of the Navy was for
warded to the Treasury Department in
support of Ah Soongs appeal. with view
of having a decision the general prin-
ciple involved.
Action of the Treasury.
The action of the Treasury Department
is shown In the following letter to the Sec
retary of State:
.'WASHINGTON,D D. c., November p. 1898
1.-The Honorable, the Secretary of State:
"SIr: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of The 10Th
instant with which were incIosed cop e. Of
| letters frurn the Honorable, the Secretary
of the Navy. and Rear Admiral Dsxf..- IN
relation to the admission to this country of
certain Chinese now upon the vessels of the
Unite. States on the Asiatic station
I'm reply. and referring to the question
; of the renewal of the passport of All Scong
Il member of the crew of the flagship
, Olympia, l have the honor to inform yoi,
|