The evening times., 1900-07-10
One Disturbing Element.

Gentlemen. 1 am bound 10 say that
there is one disturbing element but for
which there would be no question Of IN
qualified cordiality.
That is the Chinese immigration ques-
tion. That question has not been clearly
studied here. Our people have not been
thoroughly understood by your people
Your people judge OF NY cOUntrymen from
what they saw Of them in San Francisco
and hence the Chinese Exclusion acts have
F.. been enacted. Those acts have been in
force about fifteen OF sixteen years bur
am bound 10 say that The acts have not
/ been very satisfactory 10 either country
Z. Those acts We're intended 10 keep Chinese
!aborers from this country. but since the
measures have been in operation they have
been interfering not only with laborers.
but also with respectable classes Of people
TO whom they were not intended 10 apply.
ana TO prohibit them from coming here
In saying this l do not say il in any blame
OF those officials who are engaged in car
rying this law into effect.
They have been doing their duty. per
haps OverZealCUsly. but I do rot throw
any blame on them. But what I would
point out 10 you is that those laws do not
work satisfactorily and 60 not bring about
results aimed al by your legislature Hence
there is an idea in China that your people
dislike our people. | know that that is NOT
F.. the case. but yet such an impression ex-
lists in China. and I think il is worthy OF
your consideration whether IL should not be
removed Your people have such high no
/ tions OF fairness and business that once
the true facts are brought before you. yo
viii see whether il is worth your while T.
modify them. Once the Objectionable law
is modified. then our people will embrace
you with open arms. and then there w:II ba
no coubt of our real friendship and cordisl
relations.
''As 10 tire character OF our people. can
refer you Cniy to those who have been n
China. / will refer you TO the opinion OF A
man who for a great many years was in
China at the head of the Hongkong and
Shanghai Bank After twenty-five years
service he resigned and on the eve OF his
departure he was given a banquet BY for
eigners. not by Chinese. mind: and in the
course Of his speech he went out of his way
tc speak of his relations with Chinese mer-
chants As I remember. the substance or
his speech was that during all those years
in China he had had dealings with Chinese
merchants aggregating hundreds Of millions
OF dollars. and he said that large as were
those dealings he had never lost a cent
| through any Chinese merchant. That tes-
timony was given unsolicited BY a man
long resident in China. and shows undis-
Now that you have become our neigh
bor and If you want TO deal with China.
here is the class of people you have to
deal with. and If you see your way clear
10 modify the only obstacle that now stands
in the way of respectable Chinese coming
here and doing away with the false inn
preston in the minds of our people, have
70 doubt that such a step would rebound
10 the benefit and advantage of both par
pCl NJ frrrr hass
by your consuls or by our customs returns
you will find that your trade in China has
IL creased to a remarkable degree. China
Il constructing a railway from north 10
south. and she is practically an open door
to you for your trade purposes. Their. j.. :
great field fer you there. and with a 0C
people favorably disposed toward you.
am sure you will receive further bepGnts
through the means OF still further ;nJveas-
ed trade"
Chfna's Civilization.
The next notable address of Minister WI
was delivered at the closing session Of the
American Academy of Political and Social
Science. held in Philadelphia on April S
1899. his subject being "China's Relations
With the West" Among his utterances on
that occasion were the following:
THE different nations in the West have
within the present century advanced so
much In science knowledge. and wealth
that it has become the fashion to speak of
them as the most civilized nations on the
face OF the earth. and to consider the ma
tions in the East as much below them in
civiliZation-in fact. as b2rbarous or semi
civilized. 1t has been too much the habit
to ignore the good points the Eastern Da-
tionS possess and TO leave out OF account
what they have done. This is hardly just.
The East also has a civilization OF its own