Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-24
HISTORY OF ANTI-CHIEEsE LEGIsLA-
TON, AND THE LATE REVOLUTION
AEY ACT OF THE ADMINISTRATION

dlSIUh1 Ot ANI1-ChlEESE LEGl6Lh-
TON, AND THE LATE REVOLUTION
AEY ACT OF THE ADMINISTRATION
While official notice has not been re-
ceived, it may be taken as definitely asoer-
tanned that the Bayard Chinese treaty has
been rejected by the Chinese Government.
And now arises a singular and altogether
interesting dIspele, 10 whom 10 tIls rcsliit
chargeable?' Examined from the stand
point of Judicial inquiry, and looked at in
perfect calm, the dispassionate mind can
arrive at but one result, to wit, that while
the Republican majority is anxious and
willing to assume the entire blame, and
take pride in it, the bunging and disgrace
full part of the business is chargeable to the
President and his Cabinet.
The American citizen, in our estimation,
is wanting in sensibility who does not find
in this matter of the Cleveland -Bayard
treaty cause for humiliation and shame for
his country Let us look at the matter
precisely as the facts present it.
Year after year the Pacific Coast Repre-
sentative in Congress have labored, ire
spective OF political faith, to secure legis-
lation upon the basis of the AngeIl-Swift
treaty of 1SS0-modifying preceding con-
ventions-that would effectuaIly check the
tide of Chinese immigration. That treaty
provided that the United States might
leeislate to :" limit or suspend" Chinese
immigration, but "should not absolutely
prohibit it," In 1882 an Act passed sus-
pending the immigration for twenty years,
but President Arthur vetoed it on the
ground that such term of years was not
reasonable according to the meaning of
the treaty, and because transit of Chinese
through the United States was forbidden.
A second bill, reducing the term to ten
Years, was passed, and was signed by the
President May 6, 1882.
Under the Act it was found very diff
cult to get satisfactory results, and the law
became so involved in judicial interpreta-
tion that it afforded but little relief. In
May, 1884, Congress considered and passed
an amendatory Act intended to clear the
way of the obstacles raised to the enforce
ment of the former one, but it afforded
only temporary relief, and very soon de-
veloped defects quite as grave as any pre-
ceding it. One Cf the most serious him
drances under it grew out of the ruling of
President Cleveland concerning Consular
certificates of identification of intending
etnigrants.
In June, 1886, bill passed the United
States Senate to amend the Act of 1882 as
amended by the Act of 1884. 1t is popu-
4arly known as the Fair bill, and was
duplicate of bill introduced by Mr.. Nor
row in the House 1t was straightfor-
ward, brief, and effective measure and
would have cleared the way for, and have
enforced precisely the restriction of Chi
nese immigration demanded by the Pa
cife coast. 1t was this bill that the COM
mittee Of Benjamin Harrison reported
favorably, and for which Mr.. Harrison
promptly voted in the Senate. 1t went TO
the House, was referred to the Foreign
Relations Committee, of which Mr.. Bel
mont was Chairman, and was by him
smothered and never reported, On the
ground that the Administration of Mr..
Cleveland was then negotiating treaty
with China calculated TO cover the whole
matter
After a long delay, and abrupt and in
sulting breaking off of correspondence by
the Chinese Minister ON several occasions,
and to which Mr.. Bayard submitted with
loss of honor to the country, the treaty
came from the President TO the Senate 1t
was found by the Republicans to be weak
in more respects than one, and the Senate
accordingly proceeded 10 make amend
ments to it. These were moved
by Mr.. Stewart, of Nevada, and
accepted, and related mainly to "prior
residents" and to Cinnamon holding
certificates. Without this amendment the
treaty was merely milk and water, neither
the one nor the other, for under the GER
tifcate regulation the Chinese poured into
California practically unchecked, since the
fear of forgery, perjury and false persona
tion was no obstacle. Notwithstanding the
new treaty, the Pacific coast delegation did
not relax its efforts to secure better legis-
lation upon the Chinese question; but the
pending treaty stood in their way, and
operated to defeat all efforts, except so far
as they related to the passage of pro
forma bill to carry out the provisions of
the new treaty in case the Chinese Gov
ernment ratified it.
Suddenly, and without the slightest inti-
nation of intention or any expressed ex-
cuse therefor, the dominant party in the
House of Representatives manifested the
utmost soiicitude TO pass an absolutely
exclusive and uncompromisingly hostile
bill to Chinese immigration. This bill was
born of political alarm in California. 1t
was forwarded from here with hot haste 10
the Cabinet II was considered by the
President and his advisers in night session,
end jurist of eminence was called into the