Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-03-10

The leading subject Of consideration in the
Senate this week has been the bill restricting
Chinese immigration to this country for a
term of years. The bill is warmly advocated
by some Western men, and has been opposed
in eloquent speeches by Hoar and Dawes of
Massachusetts,. 1t is undenably the case that
New England sentiment does not sympathize
with the restrictive policy toward the Chinese,
and it was something Of surprise, therefore,
when, on Tuesday, Mr. Edmunds made
speech defending the principle on which the
bill is based Mr. Edmunds said the funda-
mental prosperity of republic consists in
the homogeneity of its people that the Chi
nese here do not sssmilate socially or polit-
cally. and are not homogeneous with ourpop-
uation, and it does not now appear that they
can assimilate. The immigration of the Chi
nese has created discomfort and political dis
cord among the people on the Pacific coast,
and he believed it only right that the nation
should exercise its just power and suspend
this immigration until we have tried the ex-
pertinent as to compatibility with the Chinese
who are already here. Abiding to the human
itarian sentiment expressed by the Massachu-
sets senators, Mr.. Edmunds doubted whether
the people of Massachusetts, would desire, for
instance, to encourage the immigration of At
ricans. In his opinion they would not hun
ger for an Eruption of a million inhabitants
of Africa-not because they had any hostility
to the African, or did not desire his education,
growth or development, but because they did
not believe it was good for two races to be
brought together unfortunately in the same
place, unless their race tendencies were such
that, being together they would assimilate
and become homogeneous. Perhaps, he add
ed the Massachusetts senators will say their
people are hungering for African immigra-
ton. He could not speak for them, but he
thought he could reply negatively for the peo-
pie of Vermont, although with the disclaimer
that their opposition would not be based upon
hostility or ill will but solely upon the con-
sideration that it would not be for the interest
of either race. The race, religion, habits,
modes of thought and development of the
Chinese and of our own people, Mr.. Edmunds
said, are entirely different. If the two races
are not congenisl, it is within the competence
of the United States, as it is within that of
the Chinese empire, to say in the spirit OF
friendship and good will ut is not wise that
immigration should further proceed until we
have time to test what now, at best, seems SO
very doubtful-w whether the Chinese already
here are desirable accessions to our popula-
ton"
1t will be hard to cure New Englanders OF
the belief that Californian opposition to the
Chinese is founded in prejudice narrow jeal
ousy and intolerance; but the fact that Mr.
Edmunds takes another view of the question
will lead good many people to hold theil
views with more moderation and with little
less assurance that there may not be another
defensible side to the question.
On Thursday the bill finally passed the
Senate, Mr.. Edmunds and all other Republi
cans, except eight, voting against il because
the California senators would not consent tina
the limit of prohibition of Chinese immigra
ton should be cut down from 90 years to 10