The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-03
China and the Exposition.

China and the Exposition.
It is cabled from Peking that there are
many bitter criticisms on the part Of the
Chinese press upon the treasury regula-
tions touching the Chinese exhibition and
visitors at the Louisiana Purchase Elk
position at St. Louis next year.
1t Is naturally Objectionable to the
Chinese to be treated as suspects when
coming to this country to visit the ex-
hibition as exhibitors Of the fruits OF chi
nese industry and art. or as observers OF
the attractive features Of what promises
to be the most effective and beautiful ex-
htbit of the kind, which the world has
ever seen. Determinations are made
against the Chinese, such as police super 4
yison over their movements; Photographic
Identification, ETC., to which no other ma
ton would submit. Possibly, the procur-
Ing cause Of the special regulations as to
the Chinese Is the fact that the Chinese
exhibitors will bring their Chinese labor
ers with them to attend to the setting up
Of their exhibits and caring for them dur
ing the show. On this occasion, 1t would
seem proper to waive our rigid laws
against Chinese laborers entering this
country. At any rate, 1t will not be very
good form to hustle these Chinese work
men out Of the country the moment their
work is done at the exposition. The Chi
nese exhibitors do us real service by
contributing to the attractions Of the ex-
hibit.
Meantime, the Chinese press will be
very foolish to continue its abuse Of our
country. Our government has done more
for China than has any other power. The
record Of the last three years places
China altogether in our debt. The firm
protests Of our government prevented the
European powers from partitiontng China
in 1soo-1so1. The voice Of our govern
ment prevented the imposition Of a war
indemnity upon China far in excess Of the
heavy sum China is now trying to pay
< While the other powers insisted upon
payment of the war indemnity in silver at
gold valuation, our government waived the
gold contract China had signed, and
agreed to ike its pro-rata In taels at silver
bullion valuation, because Of China's i'm
pecunious condition and backset on &C
count of the big drop in the silver bullion
market. Our government, moreover, has,
since 1900, sought to preserve the terri
torial integrity of China by earnest pro-
tests against the Russian rape of Man
churia. The United States has been the
only real friend China has had. We
sought to treat her as a self-acting power
and not a power only responsive to brutal
friendship and should treat our Chinese
visitors next year with reception conson-
ant with such declaration Of friendliness
It would be hypocrtical to assert that
we have always had friendly relations
with China. Great Britain opened com
mercial relations with China thru shot
and shell. and we followed and took a good
share of the privileges acquired. The
commercial idea, too, has been back Of
much Of our unctiousness as to China
When bluff Arson Burlingame headed the
first embassy China sent to this country
the brilliant group made a kind Of roya
I progress thru this land. Champagne
flowed like water and the delicacies Of the
& season We're literally dispensed. Ever
San Francisco did reverence to the vel
low men, and Burlingame was in clover
as the cementor Of the friendship of Asia
and America. Then came the nightmare
Of t'Asiatic INVASION" and the seconc
embassy China sent hither was damned
by American labor, and the politicians
ground out anti Chinese laws ad libitum
and the Wyoming massacre acentuatee
the rising racial anita gOnisn, atp