National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-07
Tho Chincsc Oncstinn.


The sincere opponents of Chinese inn
migration will not waste their energies
or time in Improbable complaints be-
cause the President did not approve the
Chinese bill. II is folly to say that he
was bound to accept the Judgment of
Congress as to what term of years should
be regarded as q reasonable time" for
the suspension of immigration within the
meaning of the treaty. The President
and the Senate are the treaty-making
power, and when the terms of treaty
are to be construed by an act of Congress
the President must be governed in his
official action by his own Judgment.
To say that it is for Congress to de-
eide for him in such n case is as
unreasonable as it would be to claim that
he could not veto q bill on the ground of
its unconstitutionality because that ques-
tion had already been decided for him by
Congress. II is the Presidents opinion
that twenty years suspension of immi-
grafton from China is harsh, unlriendly,
and inconsistent with the treaty. That
being the case, what would the friends of
the measure have had him do? Should
he have acted upon their judgment or his
own? When will the presidential APP
ploval ever be withheld from any meas
ure passed by Congress if it is the Presi-
dents duty TO accept the opinion of Con-
gress instead ofacting upon his own?
The message of the President is free
from dogmatism. He does not say that
the opponents of Chinese immigration
are wrong. 1t is obvious that he thinks
the exclusion policy ought TO be tried,
but for u less term than twenty years,
before adopting it as a fnality. That is
all. He clearly indicates his intention
Of approving measure so modiiiedlif
Congress shall pass one.
The Democratic party never did desire
the restriction of Chinese immigration
any more than certain hobby riders of
the Republican party wanted slavery
abolished, because they would thereby
be deprived of an issue. The Chinese
we're an unwelcome element in the popu-
lation of California eighteen years before
! the Burlingame treaty was made Never
did that party make a sign in hostility to
it until 1867, when they suddenly became
fierce enemies of the Chinese because ol
a mob attack on a party of Chinese labor.
ers at San Francisco. Had opposition to
the influx of the Chinese taken any other
form than that of violence and lawless.
ness in the first instance it would have
been better received, and its just
arguments would have been heard. But
with brickbats and clubs the main body
of the people of this country are not in
sympathy. The wrongs inflicted upon the
Chinese have prevented calm considera
ton of the main subject in the East
Sentiments of benevolence and sympathy
with the wronged individuals have
weakened the cause which might have
prevailed on its merits if it had not beer
unfortunate enough to number among
its advocates the lawless, the brutal, and
the depraved.
Wise rulers do not move faster thar
they can carry the people with them
The Republican party is committed to a
policy ofrestricton of Chinese immigra
tion. The majority of its representatives
in Congress consider suspension of ten
years a proper time within which tc
learn by experience what advantages will
accrue from such restriction. The Presi
dent agrees with this view. Other Re
publicans in Congress think the time
should be twenty years. Is this differ
ence upon the main proposition? Who
shall decide between the advocates Otter
years and those of twenty? VIII The
latter refuse to stem the tide
of Asiatic immigration for the mex
ten years because the ten years follow
ing that time are not also included
There will be five congressional elections
during those ten years. And five time
will one-third of the Senate be choser
during the same period. Must tht
; policy of this Matt On toward the Chinese
: / from 1892 10 1902 be settled aow? AnC
= if it cannot be, will the Democratic party
g dare to continue unrestricted Chimes
Y immigration during The nert ten years, il
/ the hope that they can saddle their owl
: obstinacy upon the Republican party an,
g its President?
The masses of the Democratic part
will know who is to blame if legislation
c on this vital question is now allowed l.
: fail. They will not blame the Prcsiden
d or those representatives who think witt
II him that twenty years suspension
n wrong, but they will blame their ow
II representatives who refuse to suspen
y the immigration for ten years, not be
i cause they think such measure wroni
but because they want to use the Chinf
q man'as continuing political issue. BE
i ware of political quacks, who keep tn
=. patient sick because the well need IL
: physician and pay no doctors bills. w
!. hope Senator Miller and Representative
Page will press their respective bills an
let their democratic colleagues oppos
l. them if they think the Pacific coast pc,
e pie would rather the influx of Chimes
l. should continue than have its first SUI
f. pension operate for ten years only.
Ir would be both cheerful and en-