Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-04-12

AT subsequent conference the yAnlericans
said the Chinese Commissioners have in their
project explicitly recognized the right OF the
United States TO use some discretion, and have
proposed limitation rs to timo and nduber.
This is the right to regulate limit or suspend.
In one OF the conferences the Chinese asked
the Americans whether they could give them
any idea OF the laws which wonl6 be passed to
carry these powers into execution The Ameri-
cans answered this could hardly be done that
the United States Government might never
deem II necessary TO- o-excrcise this power. It
would depend upon circumstances. If Chinese
immigration concentrated in cities where il
threatened public order, or if it confined itself
10 localities where it was an injury to the inter-
ests Of the American people, the Government OF
the United States would undoubtedly take
STEPS to prevent siich accumulatidns ~ Chis
nese. II, on the contrary, there was no larger
immigration. or II there were sections OF the
country where such Immigration was clearly
beneficial. then legislation by the limited States
| undsr this power would he adapted 70 such
circumstance. For example, there might be q
demand for Chinese Labor in the South and
surplus OF such labor in California then Con-
gress might legisiste IN aceordancs with these
facts. In general, the legislation would be IN
view OF and depend upon tho circumstances Of
the situation ct the moment such legislation
became necessary. S NJ z4
The Chinese Commissioners said this ex-
planstion was satisfactory that they hsd not
but for some general idea Of how the power
would be exercised. What had just been said
gave them an explanation OF what they wanted.
With this entire accord as to the meaning Of 1
the words they were about to employ, aud the
OBJECT OF the legislation which might be- hsds
in consequence, both parties signed the treaty.
la ariicle ], in which the Government OF
China agrees that the Government OF the
United States may regulate, limit or suspend
sucb couasng or residence but may not abso-
lutfty Prohibit il, IL is stated the limitation or
sHst ersion shall be reasonable, aud shall apply
I - iaberers, other iasses not being included IN
the linitapoi5% The legislation taken in regard
ito Chinese taf orers will be OF such character
\ only asis nIcessary 10 enforce the regulation,
| hnits<iolf OF Suspension of immigration The
| frstsecton Of the act provides that from and
afterthe expiration OF sixty days next after the
passage of this act, aud until the expiration OF
twenty years next after the passage OF this act,
/ the coming OF Chinese laborers shall be- and
the same is hereby suspended and during
such suspension IL shall not be lawful for any
Chinese laborer TO come, or, having so come
after the expiration OF said sixty days. 10 re-
main IN the United States Fz-sra a
The examination which have made OF tie
treaty and OF the declarations which its me-
( gotiators have left on record Of the meaning
| of its language leaves no doubt in mysmind
| that neither contracting party, In conc!uduis
| the treaty Of 1880, contemplated the passage OF
! an act prohii iting immigration for twenty
years, which is nearly generation, or thought
4 .sst saoti period would Ss 81 sfss5onsbe sJsPois-
! sion or limitation, or intended to change the
| provisionsof the Burlingame treaty to thatex-
| tent. regard this provision OF the act as
| breach Of our national faith, and, being unable
10 bring myself in harmony With the views OF
I .Congfess on this vital point the honor OF the
country consraias me TO return the act with this
objection to its passage = Ax, es
Deeply convinced OF the necessity OF some
| legislation ON this subject, and concurring
fully with Congress with any OF The objects
| which are sought to be accomplished, will
avail myself OF the opportunity to point out
| some other features OF the act which in my
opinion can be modified to advantage. The
classes of the Chinese who still enjoy the
| protection Of the Bnrlingarne treaty are
I entitled TO the privileges, immunites and
| exemptions accorded the citizens and sub
| jocts Cf the most favored nation- We have
| treaties with many powers which permit their
| citizens and subjects to reside within the
| United States and carry on business under
| the same laws aud regulations which are en-
| forced against citizens of the, United States.
| l think it may be doubted whether the pro-
visions requiring personal registration and the
taking out Of passports, which are not imposed
upon natives, can be required Of the Chinese.
| without expires sing an opinion on that point
| may invite the atteition OF Congress TO the fact
| that the system OF personal registration and
passports is undemocratic aud hostile to the
spirit of our institutions. j doubt the wisdom
OF putting an entering wedge Of this kind
into our laws. :, A nation like the United
States jealous of the liberties OF i.s Citizens
may well hesitate before II Incorporates
into its policy system which Is fast
disappearing in Europe before the progress OF
liberal institutions. Wide experience has shown
how futile such precautions are, and how easily
passports may be borrowed, exchanged, or even
forged by persons interested. IL 1t Is, never
theless, thought that passport Is the most
convenient way for identifying ths Chinese en-
titled to the protection OF the Burlingame
treaty, it may still be DOUBTED whether they
ought to be required TO register. IL u certainly
our duty under the Burhngame treaty to make
, their stay In the United States and the opera
ton OF the general laws upon them as nearly
like that of our own citizens as we can conss-
| tently with our right to shut out the laborers.
No good purpose is served IN requiring them to
register. y, 10
NY attention has been drawn by the Chinese
Minister TO the fact that the act, rs II now
stands makes no provision for the transit across
the United States Of Chinese subjects now re-
siding In foreign countries. i think this point
may well claim the attention Of Congress in leg
islating upon this subject. haye said that
| good faith requires us TO suspend the imm gra-
ton Of Chinese laborers for q less period than
twenty years. ! now add that good policy
points in the same direction. Our intercourse
4 with China is of recent date. Our
first treaty with that power is not yet
forty years old. It Is only since We
acquired California and established the great
seat of commerce on the Pacific that we may
be- said to have broken down the walls which
fenced that ancient monarchy. The Bur-
lngame treatv naturally followed, and, under
the spirit which inspired II, many thousands OF
Chinese iaborors came to the United States. No
cue can say the country has not prohted by
their worS. They were largely instrumental IN
constructing the railways which connect
the Atlsnlic and Pacific. The States
of the Pacific are full OF evidences
able to the capitalists and TO tue la
borers of Caucasian origin would have
been dormant but for them. The time has now
come when 1t is supposed they are not needed,
aud when is thought by Congress and by
those most acquainted with the subject t9at
is best to try 10 get along without them. There
NAV, however, be other sections OF the country
where tins species OF labor may 10 advantage
ously employed without interfering with the
laborers OF our own race. IL may be part OF
wisdom, as we'll as good faith, TO liz the length
OF the experimental period with reference to
this fact. Experience has shown that tho trade
of the East is the key 10 national wealth
\ and influence Tho opening of China to the
commercs Of the whole world has benefited no
section OF II more than the States OF our own
Pacific slope. The State OF Cansornia ana its
great maritime ports especially have reaped
enormous advantages from this source.
Blessed with an exceptional climate, enjoying
I an unrivaled harbor, with the riches OF . great
agricultural and mining state at It's rear,
and the wealth Of the whole Union pouring
into il over its lines OF railways, San Fran
cisco has an iacalculable future, IL
our friendly and am,cable relations with
Asia remain undisturbed. II needs no
argument to show the policy which
we now propose TO adopt must have direc,
tendency 10 repcl O ientsl nations from IN, and
l.driye their trade and commerce into more