Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-08-23
RIGHTS IN CHINA.
Why Uncle Sam Is Now Fight
ing Over There.
WHAT TREATIES GIVE Us.
Body of Rights We Have Gradually
Acquired.
CHINA MUST KEEP HER PROMISES.

Wo Want Not an Inch of Chinese Soil,
but China Must Make Reparation For
7 Wanton Murder of Americans. Pay
Damages For American Property De-
stroyed and Loss to Trade.
The United States government has
expressly disclaimed any design to OBJ
tain territory or sphere of influence
in China. All the powers concerned
in the Chinese imbroglio understand
this fully. The statesmen of China,
from LII Hung Chang down, look upon
the United States as the one power
without designs upon the integrity OF
the empire.
Why then, are we fighting in China
and joining the European powers in
the advance upon Peking, the Chinese
capital?
First, because our minister, with
his encourage, and number of other
Americans, are held by the Chinese in
the city OF Peking. They have been
attacked and some of the American
marines, sent there for the protection
Of our legation, have been killed. The
Americans are still in grave danger.
They are held with the other foreign
ers as hostages and threatened with
massacre If the allies move to attack
Peking. This of itself Is ample reason
for this government to send an armed
force to their relief-to rescue or
avenge them, and to demand and OBJ
tain ample reparation for the injuries
sustained and for the Chinese viola.
tion OF international law-as it is he!l
the highest duty of government tc
protect to the fullest extent the dplo-
matte representatives Of other nations
Second, our troops are there to ca
force a demand for reparation for
treaty rights violated by the Chinese.
Even were there no duty devolvins
upon US to resent and punish the out
RACES upon Americans, our men and
warships would be there to assert and
maintain our treaty rights.
How Our Rights Originated.
These rights have been increasing
for full half century-sfer since the
first treaty with China In 1874, by
which this country was given the right
to trade in her ports. We have made
other treaties meantime, which have
extended our commercial rights and
have granted other privileges. More
than this, our own treaties with the
empire contain favored nation"
clause-that is, a provision that, in
the matter OF duties to be paid, United
States goods shall pay none higher
than the most favorable rates granted
to any other nation. Hence we have
derived rights directly through Chinas
treaties with other nations, by the op-
Grafton of this clause We have rights
also, founded on international law, on
laws of congress, and on edicts issued
by the Chinese government, in pursu"
ance OF treaties.
what Our Rights Are.
This body Of rights, the results of
half century's intercourse with China,
based on treaties, includes many
things, the following enumeration con-
tanning those OF the greatest impor.
tance:
The right to import goods into Chi
ma, upon payment OF duties prescribed
by treaty, and to sell these goods to
the Chinese.
The right to navigate the inland
waters of the empire for commercial
purposes.
The right to trade with the people
of China and to employ them In any
legitimate service.
The right of American citizens TO
lease land and to reside at treaty
ports"
The right to build and operate man
ufacturing establishments at the treaty
ports, including the right to import
the machinery.
The right to travel, with a passport,
throughout the country, for business
or pleasure.
The rights of extra territoriallty."
Under this, no American citizen is un~
der the Jurisdiction of a Chinese court
or magistrate. II any charge is brought
against him, he must be tried before
an American consul, not before Chi
nese tribunal. This is a most valuable
guarantee in barbarous country.
The right to preach Christianity.
Under this treaty guarantee, American
missionaries in China may lease or
buy land, erect missions and schools,
and reside anywhere in the empire-a
privilege which is not given to Amer
lean merchants. The latter may only
lease land and reside at treaty ports.
The Treaty Ports"
These treaty ports" number IA, the
greatest OF them being Shanghai, the
center OF foreign trade with China.
Tien Tsin is another, which has come
into prominence through recent events.
At these the foreign merchants and
manufacturers set apart for them by
the Chinese government. Each conces-
sion Is governed by its own residents,
while the consular courts have full
judicial powers, civil as well as crimi-
nall Foreigners are judged by the
consul OF their own country, as stated
above; but when a case arises invelv-
ing a China,nan and a foreigner, it is