The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-11

recognized upon the Pacific slope for many years,
Welcomed at first As unique addition to the society
and valuable ally i'll the development of the ma
terial resources of their new home the Chinese, by
their sordid, selfish, immoral and non-amalganatory
habits, within very short time reversed the Judg-
nent in their favor, and came to be regarded as
standing to the social and political institu-
tons of the country. The State laws which had been
enacted having been declared unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court and every other means of relief
proving Intellectual 1t was finally determined
to appeal to Congress. Accordingly as early as the
22d Of December, 1862 ut the second session of the
Forty first Congress. an effort was made, but With
out success to secure restrictive legislation In the
Forty second Congress and also in the Forty third
Congress numerous memorials, resolutions OF pubic
meetings and petitions-onc of which numbered
over sixteen thousand sgnatures-were presented to
the effect and with the same result.
At the first session of the Forty-fourth
Congress these renewed appeals for relief met
for the first time with favorable response.
A joint resolution was introduced aud passed. calling
upon the President of the United States to open
gotiaons with the Chinese government for the pilr-
pose Of modifying the provisions Of the treaty be-
tween the countries and of restricting the
TO commercial purposes" subsequently,, at the
passed requesting the President to present
to the Chinese government AN additional article
to the treaty of July %, 1863 reserving mutually
to the two the right TO regulate restrict
prevent immigration to their respective countries
These authoritative requests on the part OF Congress
failed to secure the desired relief.
DANGEROUS PROPORTIONS.
In the meanwhile the question had assumed dan
gerous proportions. The conviction that Chinese i'm
migration was great evil was so deep seated and
unanimous that mob violence was openly Threatened
and in many instances the arm of the law seemed
powerless to protect Recognizing this ext
gency the Legislature of California APP
pointed special committee, whose report
familiar with the subject ably and graphically set
forth the objections to the Chinese Subsequent to
this Joint committee, appointed by the Forty
fourth Congress- collected yoluminous testimony
upon the same subject. and by majority report
for AN immediate change of the Burngame Treaty,
TO the end that such immigration might be restricted
or prevented. These reports: together with other
the present Congress.
ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE.
Your committee. in view OF the importance and
urgency of the question, after patient hearing OF
the evidence and argument both sides, at an early
date after its organization presented resolution
which. with slight modification, passed both
houses of Congress. This resolution again called
attention to the obnoxious features in the Burlingams
treaty and requested prompt action on the part OF
the Executive Department in securing its
change abrogation. In view of the almost
unanimous sentiment of the people OF the
Pacific slope the necessity such action, it
hoped that these resolutions of Congress-
together with the various petitions. memorials and
official data iii the possession OF the government,
would cause negotiations to be opened for that pur
pose. Such action would have been preferable
TO direct interference by Congress, inasmuch as
il would have been free from all doubt to
it's legality and would not have jeopardized tho
friendly feelings and commercial intercourse be-
tween the two countries. Moreover, when change
of the treaty was FIRST suggested by Congress, and
indeed up TO very recent date it is believed that
objection its policy opposed to the ennigra-
OF its citizens However desirable such result
have been II has thus far not been accomplished
The petitions local remedial legislation
presented within after the ratification of the
Bnriinsame Treaty. These were vigorously re-
newed at every subsequent session. until finally
in the Forty-fourth Cocnress the resolu-
ton already referred to, was passed. calling
tho attention of the Executive department.
tho necessity OF change in the treaty. This
luton was again presented to and passed in the
second session of the present Congress- but has not
f1r ney con m ~ lph
any practical effort at action. So long period of
nonaction proves either the unwillingncss or the in
ability OF the reaty-masing power to cope with the
question In either event your committee consider
that further bclay would work great injustice to
provided tho evils whereof they complain are well
founded.
RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION NECESSARY
That these complaints not wit hout cause cannot
upon the evidence, be doubted. Your committee in
report accompanying joint resolution II. X. No.
1913, at the second session OF this Congress, en-
dcavorcd TO present what seemed to them
insupcrabe objections TO Chinese irnmigr Aon
Further examination OF facts only confirms the
conclusions therein stated. This whole question
is not of right, but of policy. There Is no prin
cplc on which we are compelled TO receive into
our midst the natives OF ASIA Africa any
other part of the world. The character. and
extent OF immigration should be regulated and con-
different problems, economic and political. resulting
from the presence OF the red and black would
be renewed in moro aggravated and dangerous torn
by the yellow race. The Monaghan. unlike the
Indian is brought in daily contact with social
and political lite and, unlike the African, docs not
surrender any of his marked peculiaritics by
of that contact II is neither possible desirable
for two races ms distinct the Caucasian
and Mongolian to live under the same
government without assimilation. The degradation
OF slavery OF the one the other would be thc0n-
evitable result. Homogcnety OF ideas aud Of physi-
cal and social habits are essential to national har-
mony and progress.
THE INDUSTRIAL QUESTION.
Equally grave objections may be urged against the
Chinese from an industrial standpoint. Our labor
ing people cannot and ought not to be subjected to
competition which involves the surrender OF the sa-
cred and clevating influences of home and the sacri
fee of the ordinary appliances of personal cviliza-
ton. The question is therefore not OF COMPETE
ton hut Of q substitution Of one kind OF labor for
another.
No self-governing country afford to diminish
destroy the dignity. the welfare and Independence
of its citizens. Justice To the people of the Pacific
slope, the dictates of common humanity and be-
nevolence we'll as the plainest suggestions of
practical statesmanshp, all demand that the problem
of Chinese grafton shall be solved while IL is yet
within the Legislative control
Governed by these views. your committee present
and recommend the passage Of the bill accompanying
this report