Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-13
THURSDAY. .sEPTEMBERlS. 1888.
MIR. Harrison and the Chinese.

Mr. Harrison and the Chinese.
Mr.. HARRISON will not admit that the
Democrats mean what they say when
they declare that they are not for free
trade. He maintains that their actions
and principles lead to free trade. Very
well. Let us measure Mr. HARRISON by
the same standard. lie says in his let
Ter of acceptance;
"The objections 10 Chinese immigra-
tion are distinctive and conclusive, ana
nre now 40 generally accepted as such
that the question has passed entirely
beyond the stage of argument The
laws relating to this subject would. if
should be charged with their enforce
ment DO faithfully executed. Such
amendments or further legislation as may
he necessary and proper TO prevent eva
fions 81 tho laws and to stop further
Chinese immigration would also meet
nv approval The expression OF the
convention upon this subject is in entire
harmony with my views
Mr. HARRISON Is on record ne being
opposed 70 bill in regard to tie Chi
nese. which. SO far as the question of
violating a treaty vas concerned, was the
same as the bill which the Senate passed
last week with only three dissenting
voices. This latter sntiChincse bill,
therefore, must be opposed by Mr. HAIR
plsov: and if he were President be
would be compelled 10 veto it or to aban-
don hs principles Let us look to his
record.
The last two sections Of the anti-Chl-
nese law Of 1852 as it now stands are IS
follows:
Section If. That hereafter no state
court or court Of the United States shall
admit Chinese to citizenship AMI all
laws in conflict with this act are hereby
repealed.
Section Is. That the word "Chinese
laborerS" wherever used in tins act,
shall be construed to mean both skilled
and unskiled laborers and Chinese EN-
ployed IN mining.
In the Senate Mr.. HARRISON voted to
strike ont section IA, and in the Com
mittee OF the Whole voted to strike out
section IL. Mr.. HARHtsoN also voted to
amend the bill so as to make 1t read:
"And the words Chinese i0bOrecs
wherever used IN this act shall be con
strued 30 mean persons usually engaged
in mauual labor" SO that Mr.. HABRI-
son voted in effect to admit skilled la
borers from China into this country to
compete with skilled American laborers
On tho passage of the bill Mr. HARRI-
son voted in the negative.
Mr.. HARRISON is reported in the Con-
oress5onaI Record of April q, 1882, as
follows
"MR. HARRISON The question l
asked fhe Senator Is whether II the
treaty and the law in the section TO which
ne refers are in conflict, he still believes
in passing the law and driving the treaty
to the wall, or in other words, trampling
upon our treaty Obligations
1t is evident that a great change must
have come over Mr.. HABRIsoN's mind If
he now is actually in favor Of law
trdmphnq upon Our treaty Obiigd-
Gons. " and If he would. as he says he
would. execute that law faithfully.
What has caused this change OF opinion ?
Nothing except his candidacy. He IS at
heart Just as much opposed to the law of
1882 as he was when it passed, and is
also opposed to the bill which passed the
Senate last week.
Senator MITCHELL, Of Oregon, a Re
publican, apologized recently-but be-
fore the bill of last week was passed
for Mr.. HARRsoE's votes in favor of the
Chinese and excused those votes upon
the ground that he was opposed to vlO-
lating the existing treaty with China
Mr.. MITCHELL said that he had been led
TO make careful examination Of the re-
cord, and to make inquiry of senators
who served with General HARRISON In
the Senate during the early part OF his
term, and found that he voted against
two measures providing for the prohibi-
ton of Chinese immigration.
We quote Mr.. MITCHELL further:
al talked with General Harrison about
the matter, and he gave me the grounds |
on which he objected TO the proposed !
legislation, which were that the measures /
were III direct conflict with existing trea- /
ties. He held that before we passed sta
tutory laws we ought TO abolish the ex-
listing treaties, SO as to avoid conflict.
IL MIR. HARRISON still holds that the /
United States ought to have waited for
the abolition OF the existing treaty with
China before passing the bill Of last
week. he would have voted againt this
bill. Mr.. MITCHELL quotes MIR. HARRI-
son as saying to him:
GAS d lawyer could not afford to vote !
for laws which l knew to be IN direct |
conflict with the existing treaties, and |
which | knew could not stand even the /
test that they would be subjected to in !
the lower courts. | did not want TO |
make myself ridiculous by voting for a /
measure which would conflict with a
treaty placed upon the statute-b books /
during my own term OF public life.
Is II not a clear case that American 4
laborers ought not 10 trust the execution /
OF our anti Chinese laws to man who |
believes that in executing them he would I
be tranpling under foot a treaty?
7. AS there are at present city councils in
the several cities OF Virginia whose
members have for only two months been