Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-11
Is the Chinese Question an Issue.

Is the Chinese Question an Issue?
Republican papers insist that the
Chinese question is not an issue, and
plaintively assert that there is no need
to draw party lines on it any longer. Let
them answer these questions according
to the facts, and then let the people Of
California Judge whether or not it is still
an issue:
Are the Chinese still here or have they
gone? If laborers are still robbed of
their employment by Chinese, Chinese
exclusion is still an issue.
Have we any law by whose enforce
ment they can be excluded?
The question stands now precisely as
it did in June last, and if not then live
issue, how came John ]. ingalls,, Repub-
lican United States Senator from Kan
sas, President of the United States
Senate, to write to his States delegation
to the Republican National Convention
then assembled at Chicago, advising
against the nomination of General Ben.
Harrison on the ground that he had a
record on the currency, the tariff and the
Chinese question that would be awkward
Here is ingalls, letter.
VICE-PREsIDENT's CHAMBER,)
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 10th.
Yours of 18th at hand. 1t does not
make much difference who is nominated
in my judgment. The candidates will
cut but small figure in the fight. We
can elect anybody or we shall fail. The
least conspicuous, and therefore the least
complicated man, will be the best
somebody like Hayes in 1875. Among
all the men named there is not one
leader; no one whose personal or histo-
rical relations to the people would
make difference Of 1000 votes in
the canvass. Sherman, Allison, Harri-
son, ETC., have records that would be
awkward on the tariff. the currency, the
Chinese question, etc. Depew's connec-
ton with railroads and corporations
would be a heavy load, especially in the
agricultural States. We might as we'll
nominate Gould or Vanderbilt at once.
My impression is that Alger or Gresham
comes nearer filling the bill than any of
the others, with some fellow like Phelps,
of New Jersey, who could reach the con-
servative forces of the East and get con-
tributions from the manufacturers and
Wall street. But you can Judge much
better than what is best after consult
ing with the delegates.
l have the use OF the wires during the
Convention, by the courtesy of the COM
pany, and you can therefore telegraph
me fully at all times if anything OF inter
est transpires. Truly yours,
JOHN J. INGALLS,.
If not then an issue, how came M. 81.
De Young, Republican delegate-at-large
rom California to that same Convention,
to take the same ground that Senator
Ingalls, did? He thought the Chinese
question an issue, and De Young said
General Harrison could not carry this
Coast. The question stands now pre-
cisely where it did in February last, when
Rev. J. B. Brandt, then Of st. Louis, but
formerly neighbor of General Harrison,
wrote to General Harrison and en-.
closed newspaper clipping concerning
his Harrison 81 position on the Chinese
question. If it was not then an issue,
how came Rev. Mr.. Brandt to send his
inquiry as if it was then an issue? How
came General Harrison to reply as if 1t
was an issue, and after admitting, as he
was obliged to, that he did vote in the
Senate against the Chinese restriction
bill, how came he in his reply, as if it
was an issue of Importance, to excuse
himself for his vote on the ground that
the great body of the Republicans in the
Senate also voted against it; that the
bill seemed to him then to be in viola
ton of our treaty with China, and that
it was little hard for him to let go of the
old idea that this was the free home of
all corners?
Here is General Harrison's letter:
INDIANAPOLIS Ind,
February 20, 1888.
ReU. j. B. Brandt, 81. Louis, NO.:
My DEAR SIR-Your kind letter of
February 2S has been received. l am
very much obliged to you for the kind
interest which you take in behalf. You
knew me we'll enough while here to
know that l am no schemer for place,
and Ihave- not fallen from grace in that
respect since you left here.
l did not vote with the great body of
the Republicans in the Senate against
the Chinese Restriction bill, as it was
called. 1t seemed to me then to be in
violation of our treaty with China, and it
was little hard for me to let 20 of the
old idea that this was the free home
OF all comers. think there has been a
very general change Of sentiment on that