New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-05
THE CHINESE BILL VETOED
Continued from First PaR'

Continued
to point ont some other features of the present act
The classes of Chinese who still enjoy the, protec-
tion of the Burlingame Treaty are entitled TO tho
privileges immunities and exemptions accorded to
citizens and subjects of the most favored hauon:
We have treaties with many powers which permit
their citizens and subjects to resi- lie within the United
States and carry business under the same laws
and regulations which are enforced against ctlzenss
of the United States. think it may. be doubted
whether provisions requiring personal registration
and the taking out of passports. which are NOT I'M,
posed upon ,,,i natives can ne ~ re epn;on
on that point may invite the attention of Congress
to the fact that the system of personal registration
and passports is undemocrate ana hoSte TO ' nf
spirit Of institutions. | doubt the WISDOM vi
putting an entering wedge of this knd mo our
laws nation like the United States jealous OF
the liberties of its citizens, may we'll nestr octoio
1T Incorporates into its polty system which last
disappearing in Europe before the progress Oh no-
era Institutions wide experience has shown nov
futile such precautions are. and how easily pass,
ports NAV be borrowed, exchanged, or even iorgeu
by persons interested TO do So IL 1t Is never.noos
way for identifying the Chinese entitled to the
protection of the BurlinSgapns t tSey ourbt
10 Be required TO register. 1t is certainly our duty
under the Burlingame Treaty to make their stay III
The United States ~ the oPerPn pi own CITIZENS as
we can consistently with our rlght TO smut on! tne
laborers. No good purpose is served III requiring
Nv attention has been called by the Chinese Min
iser to the fact that the bill rs stands makes no
provision for the transit across the Onteo o1 u
Chinese subjects now residing in foreign couu'Ico'
think that this point may well claim me at'en'ion
of Congress i'll legislatlng on TINS SUBJECT
THE LESSONS OF EXPERIENCE.
Ihavc said that good faith requires us to suspend
the immigration of Chinese laborers for a less
period than twenty years. now add that good
policy points in the same direction.
Our interc ,urse with China of recent date. Our
first treaty with that power is not yet forty years
old. 1t is only since we acquired Cali1ofnia, alu
established a grca seat of commerce on the RACINE,
that We may be said TO have broke down
the barriers which fenced in that ancient mon
archy The Burlingame Treaty naturally followed
Under the spirit which inspired it many Chinese
laborers came to the United States. No one can Say
that the country has not prohted by their WORK.
They were largely instrumental IN constructing
The railways which connect the Atlantic WIN inc
Pacds The States of the thi Pacing i0au spRe
Enterprises profitable alike to the capitalist and TO
the laOorcr of Caucasian origin would nave been
dormant but for them time has now come w n y,
1t is supposed they not needed, and when u Is
Thought by Congress and by those most acquainted
with the subject that it is best TO try to get along
without them There may however be 0thcr sec
tons of the country where this species OF LABOR may
be advantageously employed without lnteTierl ing
with the laborers of our In making the
proposed experiment it may be the part OF wisdom
well as OF good faith to Tx the length Oh 'he eA
pEbOs 9 ba thee to Gds S Of the East
is the KEY to National wealth anu influence
The opening of China TO the commerce OF the
the States OF our own Pacific slope The o'aie %, Oh
California, and its great maritime port especially
have reaped enormous advantages from tndS SOao1
blessed with exceptional climate, enjoying an
unrivalled harbor, with the riches OF great agI-
cultural and mining State In It's rear ana inc Wetf
OF the whole Union pouring into 1t over It's INES OF
railway san Francisco has before II an lncalculaDe
future if our friendly and amicaDie relations win
Asia remain undlsturbcf IL needs no argument ~
show that the policy which we now propose 10
adopt must have direct tendency to repei ORIENTAL
nations from us and TO drive their trade aud com
iuto frlp
the great and paramount Interest OF protecting our
labor from Asiatic compe luton JuStiles us III per
manent adoption of this policy. But II Is wiser In
the first place TO make shorter experiment win a
view hereafter of maintaining permanently only
such features as time aud experience may comlicnu
transmit herewith copies OF the papers relating
TO the recent treaty with China which accompanied
the confidential message OF PRESIDENT hayes u e'S
Senate of the 10TH OF January. 1881, ana
also a copy of memorandum respecting the
act herewith returned which was nan Heino 90
Minister in W Washington CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
E1e.utire Mansion. y Washington, April L. 1857.
MEMORANDUM.
F;rst-The time fixed in the bill. namely twenty
wears. is unreasonable" The language of Article
/. that "laborers" shall not be absolutely pro-
hibited from coming to the United States. and that
the Suspension shall be reasonable" we'll as the
negotiations indicate that brief period was in
tended. The total prohibition OF the Immigration
of Chinese laborers into the United States Tor
twenty years would. in my opinion be unreasonable
and violation of the meaning and intent OF the
treaty ,,, :. =,
Seoond-The inclusion Of skilled labor" in the
bill Is ali addition to the words and inteit OF the
treaty. IL will operate with harshness upon CLASS
of Chinese merchants entitled 10 admission 10 the
United States under the terms OF the treaty. Inc
shoe merchants and cigar merchants OF emma man
ufacture the goods they sell at Their places OF Ousl
ness and 10 shut out the " skilled labor they need
Would practically shut them out as well, since IL
would prevent them from carrying on their busl-
ness in this country. The laundTynlan who Keeps
his shop and has small capital with Which 70 pros
ecue his trade cannot III any sense be Included IN
the class of "laboreTs"; and the merchant tailor
comes III the same category.
Ibird--The clauses OF the bill relating TO regstra-
ton and passports are a Vexatlous DISQUALIFICATION
against Chinese residents and immigrants when
Article H. provides explicitly that they shall De en-
tited all the privileges conceded TO the SUBJECTS OF
the most favored nation. The execution OF these
provisions of the bill viii cause irritation and III
case of the loss of the passport or certhcae OF reg
istraOn Chinese residents entitled 10 remain luay
1e forciby expelled from the country
Tourth-If the bill becomes a law II VIII leave the
immersion in China that Its Government strangely
misunderstood the character of the treaty. or tiat
the Congress has violated some OF It's prOvlSohs ana
this will tend TO prejudice the intelligent classes
against tue United States Governneht auu people,
whom they now greatly admire and respect
Hfk-lhere is provision In the bit Tor the
transit across the United States OF Chinese subjects
now residing i'll foreign countries. Large NUMBERS
of Chinese live in Cuba, Peru aud other countries
who cannot return home without crossing the terri-
tory OF the United States or touching at san iran
cisco 10 deny this privilege, II seems To me- Is IN
violation of International law and the comfy Oh
nations aud if the bill becomes law II VIII, Ill
this respect result in great hardship 10 many thOu
sands OF innocent Chinese in foreign countries
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