The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-04-20
Shall thcSChircse Come!
philadelphia Prcss.l


Mr.. John f. Swift, one of the American
commissioners that negotiated the last
Chinese treaty, takes issue with President
Arthur as to what was understood at the
time OF the negotiation by the word reason
able" He says: 1.-THE time of suspension
was thoroughly discussed, and II was agreed
that suspension OF thirty-three wears or
one generation would be necessary The
Chinese Government would not have con-
considered the faith of the treaty trespassed
on ifithad been fifty years" Another Commis.
sioner, Mr.. Angel, president OF Michigan
University. says he has no recollection of any
time being agreed to. Mr. Trescot the third
and remaining Commissioner, is absent in
south America, and probably If he should be
called upon his impression would be found to
agree with neither of his associates.
Thus 1t Is, whenever we 90 outside the re-
cord, we are landed in a maze of contradic-
tiops. There Is nothing technical nor OBJ
scure in the word reasonable. To endeayor
TO ascertain its meaning by an examination
of not very precise memoranda of conversa.
tions held before the treaty was concluded is
to Introduce rule of construction which the
courts would not receive. If the Commits
sioners had meant to restrict the period of
limitation to five years or less 1t was clearly
competent for them to have so expressed il
In the treaty. The word reasonable was used
subject q
Interpretation of Congress and the President
OF the United States. The former held that
twenty years was a reasonable time: the
President, though, thinks it is too long. The
new bill, which, if Il sufficient majority can
be rallied in its favor. will be put on its pass
age next Monday, susppnds Chinese immi-
grafton for ten years. If President Arthur
will be content to interpret an ordinary word
In its ordinary no will nj ~, IL
IN approving this bill, should 1t ever reach
him.
The opposition to Chinese Immigration on
the Pacific coast is not confined to the sand
lots. All classes and conditions have the
passage Of some prohibition bill very close at
heart. They feel sore over the veto. and
should no bar be placed upon the further
coming or the unwelcome Mongolian, they
VIII consider that that they are not treated
with Justice by their brethren of the east. IT
is not without reason that the people of Cali =
fornla arc united in their opposition to fur
ther chinese immigration. Before they had
experience of this alien race they thought no
less OF them than do so many In the east who
know nothing about them. 1t was ONLY after
they had had them around and among them
for years that they began to appreciate what
an undesirable element had been introduced
into their midst. They have had now thirty
years experience of these people. aud they
find them the same oriental pagan race
as at the beginning, having no interest in the
country or It's institutions except so far as
they enable them to mako a little money.
They come here without wife. without chill
dren, without any expectation or desire IN
stay. They are unlike all other immigrants.
an dthe very points in which they differ them
make them an undesirable population. w
Those who really believe In the principle OF
protection TO American labor cannot consis-
tently oppose the restriction of Chinese i'm
migration. They are the one race who sys.
tematically underbid our native workmen
and seek to usurp their places. According tc
the report of our Consul-General TO China
the average rate Of wages In the coast cities
OF China is twenty cents day. In the inte-
rior II said to he still lower Tho Chinese
nave by long custom Injured themselves to
nVlng an these small wages. They come tc
the Pacific States and offer to work, not for
twenty cents day, but Just enough below
the white race to secure the job. They con-
tinue to live about as cheaply as they do al
home, on rice, tea. fish and non-descript
meats, the refuse of the slaughter-house
They dwell twenty together in a room too
on shelves, one above another, like steerage
passengers, only in much closer quarters
Unencumbered with families, they are able
10 live in this way with an economy impos-
sible to an American or European work
The latter cannot compete with the Chinese
They have been driven by their chea per labor
out OF many occupations, and If Other
chinese continue to come, they must sur
render still further and further TO the cheaper
laborers. The public interest is not best con.
suited by encouraging this form of competi-
tion. There are other things of more value tc
the country than cheap labor. We have fol
years been guarding against it's influence, tc
the great advantage of our laborlng classes
and the general good of the county. We
should make no less provision against this
other form Of cheap labor which now mena-
ses and disqutets the people of the Pacific
States