Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-03
WHAT THEY THINK.
Cslifornians Favor Complete Prohibitory
Law

Cslifornians Favor Complete ProhIbitory
Law.
WASHINGTON, September 1.-Calfornia
representatives in the house were all much
inter- sted in the news published this
morning to the effect that the Chinese
Government had refused to ratify the new
truSty with the U. S.
They are disposed, however, upon adj
vice from the State Department to await
confirmation of the original dispatch be-
fore taking steps TO meet the emergency.
Mr.. Morrow said that the Senate amend
ment to the treaty submitted by the Pres
ident Was vital, and without il the treaty
would be Ineffective. Il was this amend
ment which had caused the rejection OF the
treaty by the Chinese Government.
Yet il was inserted to meet the decision of
the Supreme Court, and the amendment
was in the very language Of that part of
the decision, which pointed out the stipu-
lation necessary to exclude Chinese from
the United States-that no person should
be permitted TO enter the United States
without the certificate provided for in the
treaty. Ii had been the purpose of Con-
gress to prevent the prior residents" from
returning to the United States for other
wise all China might come in under
claim of prior residence, which il would
be impossible to disprove. Mr. Morrow
added that If the news of the rejection of
the treaty should he confirmed, the Cali.
fOrnia members would ask Congress TO pass
bill requiring the President TO give SIX
months notice to the Chinese Government,
that thereafter no Chinese, except Diplo-
matte, Consular and other officers of the
Chinese Government will he permitted to
enter the United States. That notice
would amount to the revocation and abro-
CATION of all asserted rights of the Chinese
to enter this country.
Mr.. Morrow did not appear TO fear retail
iation by China sayIug that there we're but
62l Americans all told residents in that
country. He believed that while the
Chinese Government regarded the amend
ed treaty as unduiy strigent, the most
potent reason for the rejection of the
treaty was that it had probably been
caught in the revolving wheels of diplo-
negotiations between China aud Great
Britain. The Chinese Government had
protested strongly against the action of the
British Government in returning a ship
load of Chinamen from Australia, as an
upfriendly act, and it was probable that in
the ensuing negotiations, the English Gov
eminent had dragged into the discussion
the policy of the United States, question
ing the justice Of the protest against the
exclusion Of Chinese from Australia, while
the Chinese Government was about to rati-
fly treaty permitting the United States to
reject such immigrants
In Mr. Morrow's Judgment the rejection
Of the treaty would be advantageous to
California in the end, as it would result in
such legislative action on the part of our
Government a. would effectually protect it
against Chinese invasion. Further legis-
lation would necessarily cover the defects
of the existing treaty and existing legisla.
| ton.
Mr.. Vsndever said it appeared that the
Senate amendment had caused the reiec.
ton of the treaty which had been ratified
before the amendment had been attached.
Undoubtedly British influence had brought
about the result.