Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-02
THE EXCLUSION BILL SIGNED.

restriction bill. Since it is fact that the
bill was an Administration measure, it is
difficult to see how he could have done
otherwise than he has That it will cut
any especial figure in the campaign SO far
as to assist Mr.. Cleveland to reelection, or
to lessen the probabilities of the election
of Harrison and Merton, which is now as
nearly an assured fact as well as can be
before the the polls are closed, we do not
believe. On this coast there is no division
of opinion among parties as to the need for
such measure as that just approved.
The present bill, while originating with
the Democratic House, was passed by the
Republican Senate, and when Democratic
Senators sought to reconsider the action of
that body, Republican strength prevented
them from doing so. While there is gen
eral rejoicing upon this coast that the bill
has become a law, there is also surprise
that the President should advise Congress
to appropriate $4,000 to be paid over to
China as salve for supposed hurt she has
received by resson Of injuries Chinese in
this country may have suffered 7t the
hands of some of the people. The logic of
paying to China the sum provided for il
the treaty she has refused to ratify is not
Understandable, and will not meet with
the approval of this coast. If any claims
for indemnity are made, they would pre-
fer that they should be specified and
proved, and the facts ascertained in each
case. They have moral conviction that
If the sum recommended is paid over, not
one cent of it will ever reach any Chinese
who may have been the victims of injustice
in the United States.
As it is probable, or at least to be hoped
that this Scott bill is The elimination
of the Chinese question, it may be profta-
BILE to glance at the history of past anti
Chinese and pro-Chinese legislation.
In January, 1852 Governor McDougal,
Democrat, advised this State in his annual
message to adopt policy, in the disposal
OF tule lands, that would promote the i'm.
migration of Chinese laborers He went
further and extolled the worth and dwelt
upon the desirability of the new immi-
grafton.
In the Legislature of California in 1852
bill to legalize contracts for labor made
IN China was introduced by MIR. Peachy,
and supported by him, Mr.. Roach, Judge
Hager and all the leading Democrats in
the two Houses. Not long after that the
Democratic majority in the Legislature
refused to pass bill specially taxing
Chinese
Judge Hager, when in the Legislature.
introduced a resolution, that passed, to
send Commission to China to promote
commercial relations. In the year 1852,
alsc, Wing introduced bill in the Leg
islature to place head tax upon Chinese.
and the Democratic majority tabled the
proposition.
In 1886 the Democratic Legislature ap-
pointed a committee on the Chinese ques-
ton which reported that 'the Chinese
have done us no harm" In 1859 John z.
Weller, Democrat, and Governor of Cali
fornia, expressed to the State qualification
that China had Sheen duly subjected to
the law of nations" because of the ratif-
cation of the Reed treaty negotiated by
the Democratic Administration Of Presi-
dent Buchanan.
In 1862 Governor Stanford, the first
Republican Governor of California, in his
first message urged the prohibition of
Chinese immigration. w. II. Sears, Re
publican in that Legislature, offered hill
to protect white labor, but bill to levy a
miners tax took its place, and the
Supreme Court declared it unconstitu-
tional A later bill to levy tax on all
Chinese in the State was voted down by
the Democratic majority.
When the Burlingame treaty was ne
gotiated and Mr.. Burlingame and the
Chinese Embassy passed through San
Francisco, Governor Haight, Judge Hager,
General Rosecrans and other distin-
guished Democrats attended banquet in
their honor, where the treaty and the
Embassy were extolled, and Mr.. Bur-
Hgame congratulated. In 1869 the Demo-
cratic Legislature refused to attach con-
dition to a grant of tide lands, that the
beneficiary should not employ Chinese.
As early as 1861 Massachusetts Repub-
liean, Mr.. Elliott, introduced bill in Con-
gress to prohibit the importation of coolies.
The bin passed. and was signed by Presi-
deat Lincoln. Senator Sumner, Henry
Wilson, Senator Stewart and Mr. Sargent,
all Republicans, thereafter introduced bills
and resolutions striking at coolie importa-
ton and contracts for servile labor.
In 1871 MIR. Coshlan, Republican, offered
measure in Congress TO prohibit the i'm
portation of "Chinese coolies and prosti-
tutes" 1t became a law, Congress in both
branches being then Republican. In 1874
came the Page bill, and the same year and
the next President Grant urged upon Con-
gress the passage Of laws to prevent the
bringing in of Chinese coolies. In Janu-
ary, 1874, Representative Page, of Califor-
mia, Republican, proposed in the House
the abrogation of the BurliDgame treaty.
In the same month came Senator Sargent's
bill, forbidding naturalization of Chinese,
ard resolution to modify the Burlingame
treaty. In 1878 he secured the passage of
resolution looking TO negotiations for
modification of the treaty. SO as to exclude
Chinese Immigrants. Both be and MIR.
Page had already, in 1876, offered bills to
check the Chinese influx.
In 1873 Representative Davis, of Cali
fornia, Republican, proposed his ten-pas-
senser bill. Two years before, under the
action of Senator Sargent, Congress sent a
Commission to this coast to examine into
the Chinese question. In 1879 the Legis-
1ature Of California memorialiZed Congress