Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-12
THE CONVENTIONS MEMORIAL.

So far as can be judged by hearing the
reading Of the Memorial Committees pro-
posed address to Congress- in behalf of the
Anti-Chinese Convention now in session
in this city, il is document that will
command respectful and thoughtful atten-
ton throughout the East, and appears to
treat all the points necessary 1t is useless to
recite our grievances unless we can fortify
them by reason. Historical parallels to
the menace to this people by the Chinese
invasion abound in the memorial, and es-
tablish beyond question the gravity and
the danger of the ills that afflict us, and
threaten the American system The his
toric proofs are abundantly cited in the
paper, and admirably marshalled estab-
fishing the fact that the homogeneity of our
race is at stake, and that the Chinese
assault is upon the foundation stones upon
which the whole fabric of free government
is reared. The vicious doctrine that this
country is the manhole through which the
slums of all nations may be poured in
upon our civilization to its degen-
ttion and ultimate destruction is Wig
gorously assailed. A refuge it is
for the oppressed, . beacon light for those
who struggle for liberty, present house of
comfort and lasting home to the victims
Of human oppression. But none of the
hanupn-hlact -
to extend to aliens, ever were or can be
vested rights in the foreigner until we ac-
cord them. There is no right, human or
divine, IN the man not of this household
TO dwell with us without our consent. A.
false and pernicious idea to the contrary
has obtained, but its hour has struck. The
people Of America are setting up the right
rule OF action, that the judgment as to
what elements may enter into the COMPOST
ton OF cur social and political fabric, re-
sides in the American people only, and is
to be by them alone exercised.
The memorial strikes hard blow when
it declares that the Burlingame treaty
was the result of cunning scheme
to advance personal ends by the
sale Of freeman's birthright for
a mess of Chinese pottage The his
tory recited in this connection is of the
highest Importance. While it will be a
partial remedy for the Chinese incursion
to secure the repeal of the Burlingame
treaty, it is true that it is not sufficient.
In 1873 Hon. Greed Raymond. as the
Chairman OF an investigating committee
Of the Senate of the State of California.
reported to that body, and il was adopted.
memorial to Congress, accompanied by
addresses and copies Of sworn testimony
taken by the committee. In that MEM
orial 1t was recited that neither a total
nor partial abrogation of the treaty
would afford the relief desired. This fact
appearing to have been overlooked by the
people in this debate, the REcoRp-UNIoS.
on the Sd of February of this year. re-
printed the memorial. We then took oc
casion to use language, which we repro
duce in this connection as peculiarly
applicable to the present consideration:
The Senate committee found. and its findings
were fortified by indubitahie proofs of the fact
that the policy of the Chinese Government Is
exclusive that it desires to keen its people at
home, and discourages their emigration B,lt
the mass of the immigration comes from Hong
kong. British colony, of which the Govern
ment OF China has no control, and therefore no
treaty stpulations with China would serve to
check the passenger output from that port
The committee arrived at the concusion-and
no subsequent developments have been made
That anect the judgment-that the Chinese
government would in all probability cooper
ate with our own Government to prohibit the
emigratlon OF Chinese subjects and that such
a result would in no wise affect our CONNER
ciai relations with that country. A remedy for
the evils complained of was suggested bv. the
committee, and had il been acted upon fbcre
Is reason 70 believe that long ere this the
whole troublesome Chinese Question world
nave been laid TO rest. and that a very differ
ent and lar more prosperous condition of the
country and of the laboSing classes would now
be manifest. The remedy proposed was an az
peal 10 Great Britain to cooperate with rs
prohibiting the trade of 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 abrogation of ali
treaties between the three nations permittinc
the emigration of Chinese to the United States