Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-03
a NEGLECTED REMEDY

in 1877 a committee of the Senate of
California, with Senator Creed Raymond
as Chairman, investigated the Chinese
question and took large amount of testi-
mony. The State ordered 10000 copies of
the report to be printed, and it was dis
ereetly circulated throughout the East. 4
copy was mailed, for instance, to every
newspaper Of any considerable Importance
in the land, and copies were sent to all
Congressman, Governors and Mayors. The
investigation was thorough, covered all the
territory of the debated subject, and exam
ined into all phases of the question. That
committee presented TO the Senate a me-
mortal to Congress and an address to the
people of the United States on the evils of
Chinese immigration, and the Senate
adopted them and directed them TO be for
warded and circulated. We reprint the
Memorial " this morning and invite at
tention to it as specially applicable to the
revived agitation of to-day.
1t will be observed that the majority of
the committee of the Senate were promi-
nent Democrats, and that the report was
made at time when the Republican party
was being charged with the responsibility
of Chinese immigration because of the
Burlingame treaty That committee re-
ported that neither total nor a partial
abrogation of the treaty would afford the
relief desired. The public appear to have
overlooked this fact in the renewal of the
demand for the abrogation or modification
of the treaty. The Senate committee
found, and its findings were fortified bv
indubitable proofs of the fact. that the
policy Of the Chinese Government is ex-
elusive; that 1t desires to keep its people
at home, and discourages their emigration.
But the mass Of the immigration comes
from the port of Hongkong, British
colony, Of which the Government of China
has no control, and therefore no
treaty stipulations with China would
serve TO check the passengers output from
that port. The committee arrived at the
conelusion-and no subsequent develop
ments have been made that affect that
Judgment-that the Chinese Government
would in all probability cooperate with
our own Government to prohibit the emf
grafton Of Chinese subjects, and that such
result would in nowise affect our COM
mercial relations with that country.
A remedy for the evils complained of
was suggested by the committee, and had
1t been acted upon, there is reason to be-
lieve that long ere this the whole trouble
some Chinese question would have been
laid to rest, and that very different and
far more prosperous condition Of the coun-
try and of the laboring classes would now
be manifest. The remedy proposed was
an appeal to Great Britain to cooperate
with us prohibiting the trade in men and
women, and such convention with the
Chinese Government as would secure Joint
and friendly action of Great Britain and
the United States with the Empire of
China in the ahrogation of all treaties be-
tween the three nations permitting the
emigration Of Chinese to the United
States.
The whole subiec; is So familiar to our
readers that we do not deem il necessary
to refer to it at much greater length. 1t
Will be recalled that no steps have been
taken, however, to secure the friendly CO.
operation Of Great Britain in the matter.
The reasons for such an appeal to the
Queens Government are as forcible TODAY
as In 1877, and even more so. and that Con-
gress has not had the necessity for such
action kept before it, is the fault of the
people of California. The report referred
10 contains matters Of proof and opinion
50 pertinent to the present agitation that
We shall take early opportunity to present
their salient points. For instance, there
appear the resolutions adverse TO unre-
stricted Chinese immigration, adopted bv
the General Association of the Congreca-
tional Churches and Ministers in Califor-
MIA; the address before that body of Rev.
S. V. Blakeslee. in opposition to Chinese
immigration; and the papers of John H.
Boalt, H. v Clement, DR.. john W. Draper,
Professor Goodwin Smith AMI Hon. Edwin
r. Meade on the same subject.