Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-02-22
THE NEW TREATY IN CALIFORNIA
RIO VISA, Gu, Feb. 10. ISL.

a. tltN 10, apoui tfsVNN pNt w - F'feiN-
ton of scarcely SEA 600 They are making
themselves felt in every city aud village on
our COST, by steadily pushing the laooring
classes and small tradeSmen out OF their
proper channels and occupying their
places. California, particularly, Is an As
ylum for the criminal, the diseased, the
idle. and the mendicsnt classes from
China They are pouring in upon u Ike
Al irresistible avalanche, they are hllng
our factories and work shops they are
thronging our streets with heggarS, aud
crowding our poor houses and prisons.
For years, our people have been asking
that some provision be made for regulating
the Influx Of the Chinese upon our coast,
but 10 no avail The Eastern Pres de-
clare that at last we have a remedy IN the
New Treaty Let uS see. Now that ne
hsH text Of the new Chinese treaty has
been before the people long enough 10 OBJ
tain careful consideration, sensible people
are everywhere asking "HRdi has been
gained by it, This treaty with the Chinese
government. made by our Commissioners,
is not such an one a. can be indor>ed with
perfect feeling OF security by our people
IL seems a mere mass OF meaningless repe-
titions. with every thing in favor Of the
chinaman. and little or nothing 20 protect
the white man. II grants concession
that the Pacific States may be forced into
submitting 70. but which they will never
agree 10 otherwise OF course. Repuhii-
can organs and republican politicians, are
determined 20 see nothing but good In IL,
resolutely closing their eyes TO the fact
that IL has no provision forbidding the
naturalization ~ moRgoliGHS. The treaty
reads Ike this They, the Chinese.
shall De accorded al the rights, privileges.
immunitieS and exceptions which are &C
corded 70 the citizens or subjects OF the
most frror,d Nations. That ssvors very
much Of their becoming uaturaliEed and
voters. Citizens or subjects OF all other
nations. are conceded the right Of becom-
ing naturaliled aud with that. Of course.
naturally follows the exercise OF the elect
i've franchise The United States Courts
would De compelled TO interpret those
words in the treaty, according 20 their
plain intent and meaning. II i argued
that the new treaty i merely supplement
AIRY 70 the "Burlingame Treaty" snd that
the standardization clause OF the latter
Is still IN force. ~. however. under this
"Burlingame Treaty" numbers OF china
men were naturalized. this argument seems
. 20 have little or no effect. II uaturaliza-
ton De not expressly prohibited by the
new treaty, an no one believes that il i,
there j. nothing 20 prevent cinnamon from
becoming citizens in the same way IS other
foreigners. But. even granting that the
Burlingame treaty did prohibit naturaliza-
zion. what advantage have We gained by
the sew tresty: Il comedies 70 the United
States the right to regulate Chinese i'm
migration. Every member OF Congress
who was in favor Of the Fifreen-pasSenger
Bill, believed thst that body had this right
and il was generally admitted by the op-
pOnentS OF that bill. All that was contend
Ell, was that 20 exercise II without first
notifying the Chinese government, would
be grave breach ofinternational courtesy.
The fact j.. that the hate Presidential cam
paign put stop 10 the snti-ChineSe agita-
zion on this coaS, and elsewhere. 80 far a.
republican politicians were concerned.
They could not, in the face OF Gardeld's
known opposition 70 the Fifteen passenger
Bill, and hi declared pro- Chinese views,
continue TO urse that the Republican party
was the pro-ClineSe party. Let me tell
you, that here on the Pacific Coast, it i
still impossible for any pro-ChineSe party
10 Dc popular, and hence the anxiety ofthe
republican organs 10 make it appear that
the question has been finally settled by this
new treaty and that further agitation Is
both criminal and useless. But what can
We do i the query. or course nOn-inter-
course with, and a thorough commercial
embargo upon their goods, so 70 speak
are the only efectual methods that can be
suggested for their encouragement and
virtual expulsion. But, with all the noble
traits Of the Californian character. about
which we read so much, he has one trait
in common with the rest OF maukind-he
will BUY In the cheapest market He i
quite willing that everybody else should
discourage Chinese immigration by buying
expensive white productions; but II he
himself, can get Just as good chinese pro
auctions for less money, he is going 20 get
them, and he does This j. the situation
At the present day, in California, in regard
10 the Chinese. H.F.P P.
The above communication is fair rep
resentation Of the Western method of dis
cussing the Chinese question. They base
their arguments on the assumption that
Chinese have no right in this country /;
that they are no; to be treated like other
foreigners, and that their government
may be insulted with IMMUNITY.
The first complaint is that the Chinese
are crowding out American labor, and
filing the small trading posts. That is
doubtless felt by those who are thus
crowded. No doubt they keenly appreci-
ate foreign competition, and cry for re
lief from it, But they must not imagine
that they are alone suffering from such
cause In the Eas; foreigners are doing
the same thing In the South the Negro