New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-10
FAIR DEALING WITH CHINA.

The speech OF Mr.. WI Ting Fang in this city
on Thursday night was an impressive plea Tor
fair dealing with China. 1t was Impressive
partly through its shrewdly naive wording;
parity through its citation OF the precepts OF
Jesus and of Confucius in support of the prln-
ciple of reciprocity in international aHalrs'
partly through its cOgent logic, and partly, and
by no means least of all, through the facts of
record alluded TO by the speaker and well known
to all his hearers and to all who may READ the
report of his speech
Mr.. WI reminds us in the most delicate and
courteous manner that this Nation is by no
means void OF offence in its treatment of his
countrymen who come hither. They do not come
hither 10 disturb institutions. TO attack our
religion customs or TO preach any strange
doctrine but merely TO earn honest living by
hard work in fair competition with others Yet
on numerous occasions citizens of the United
States have robbed, assaulted, tortured and
murdered them And-A1r. WI did not say i,
but ii is the lamentable truth-such deeds have
been popularity regarded with a degree of ndf-
ference which. if exhibited by Cinnamon, we
should call the callousness of semi-barbarism.
And ministers of religion and officers of our
Government have consented to if they have not
actually connived at such deeds. If these things
are done here, with what grace can we denOunce
the Chinese nation for savagery if now and then
one of its mobs, even if led by priest and Tao
tai, does the same TO an American? OF truth,
Il may be questioned whether Chinese treat
"foregn devils" any worse tnan Americans treat
"Chinks"
Pertinent, too was Mr.. Wus comparison of
the WAYS in which atonement is made for such
outrages. A number Of unOffending Cinnamon
are butchered in Christian country, and after
long delay some money indemnity is made, in a
condescending fashion, as though more was be-
ing paid than the dead men were worth, and
China is expected TO be satisfied and grateful
at such munifcence On the other hand, a
Chinese mob kills a Christian missionary or
two. and what is the result? Why, the Chris
tan nation sends ships of war, bombards a city,
kills lot Of innocent Cinnamon and takes per-
manent possession Of port and tract of ter
ritory. At that rate, if the Chinese should kill
as many missionaries as Christian nations have
killed Cinnamon, the whole Chinese Empire
would be seized as indemnity
Mr. WI recognizes the fact that the United
States has not been guilty of such land grabbing
as the price of blood, and indeed pays this Ma
ton a high compliment In regarding its con-
duct toward China as more just and equitable
than that of any other. But his appeal for fair
ness of treatment at the hands Of America and
Europe is none the less effective. China is en-
titled 10 know what is TO be the policy Of the
world toward her. Is she TO be treated as a
sovereign Power? If so, her relations with
Other Powers should be governed by the prin-
cipIe Of give and take: in brief. of reciprocity
Other nations must demand no more Of her than
they are willing TO grant 10 her If not If she is
70 be treated as an inferior, with no rights that
Others are bound 10 respect. then that should be
understood. the pretence of treating her as