The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-05-12

From the Oregonian, Portland.l

From the Oregonian, Portland
There is at present so much demand
for labor on the Pacific slope that the
presence of Chinese excites less popu-
lar opposition now than for long time
past. No person now who wants to
work seeks employment in vain. 1t
is railroad building, chiefly, that
causes unusual demand for labor. All
classes of labOrers, white and Chinese,
who can be engaged for work, are
eagerly Sought From San Francisco
and Portland all Chinese laborers have
been drawn away, and thousands
more are wanted. Scattered so widely
as they now are the presence of the
Chinese is not so much noticed. and
as there is at present work for every
body, their competition is not felt.
Hence there is at this time less agita-
ton of the question and less DISPOSE
ton to assert that the Chinese must
60, than at any period for many years.
AS a consequence there Is not now so
much interest in the ratification of the
treaty for restriction Of Chinese i'm
migration as there would have been
even year or two ago. But the de-
mand for railroad labor will not con-
tinue long at the present rate. In
couple of years the hurry of railroad
building will probably be over, and
then the Chinese will be back again
in the towns, where their concentra-
ton will revive the old opposition,
start anew the remonstrance against
their presence, and precipitate upon
us the old "agitation" in all its famil-
lar forms.
For these and other reasons we are
glad that the senate has. ratified the
treaty which permits our government
to restrict the immigration of Chinese.
1t is hardly probable that Congress
will permit a single session to pass
by without enactment Of measures to
make the restriction effective. AL
though the Chinese now in the United
States are not to be required to depart,
or otherwise disturbed, yet any mod
erately restrictive measure will pre-
vent the increase of their numbers
among us; and should Congeess to-
tally suspend the immigration Of Chi
nese labOrers, AS it may under the new
treaty, their numbers will rapidly di-
minish by death, and by return to
their own country.
This treaty contains only four sec
tions. The first section provides, in
substance, that whenever, in the judg-
ment of this country, Chinese immi-
grafton shall affect its interests injuri-
ously, our government may regulate,
limit or suspend such immigration,
but that such restrictions shall be
reasonable and shall apply only to
Chinese who may come to the United
| States as labOrers, meaning, OF course,
coolies, other classes not being in
cluded The second section provides
that Chinese subjects, whether they
come to the United States as teachers,
students, merchants, or from curiosity,
together with body or household ser
wants, and Chinese labOrers now resi-
dent here, shall be allowed to go and
come OF their own free will, and shall
be accorded all rights, privileges, inn
munities and exemptions which are
accorded to citizens and subjects OF
the most favored nations. The third
provides that the United States gov
ernment shall protect all Cinnamon,
either permanently or temporarily re-
siding here from maltreatment. And
the last provides that when our gov
ernment shall have adopted legislative
measures in accordance with the
treaty, they shall be communicated to
the Chinese government, and II they
work any hardship upon the Chinese,
then such hardship shall be consid-
cred by the representatives Of the two
governments with a view to its re-
moval. The sum of the treaty simply
is that the United States may at any
time restrict or stop the immigration
Of Chinese laborers, but shall afford
protection and guarantee just treat
ment to all Chinese who may be in the
country.
1t will hardly be necessary for DEM
agogues go into Mysteries in their de-
mand for election OF congress pledged
to carry into effect the restriction
which the treaty comedies. Members
Of both parties in congress, ever on
the alert to catch the popular gale,
will pretty certainly show alacrity
enough in providing the legislation
necessary to enforce the restriction.
>o-o-