The Delta independent., 1888-10-09
EXCLUDING THE CHINESE.
An Executive Message Approving
the Action OF Congress In the
Matter,

| 'ueHt ecus tuo lolloWing message 10 Con
kres. to-day:
\ have this day approved the House bill
supplementary to an act entitled IAN act
10 execute certain treaty stipulations relat
ng.te the Chinese, approved May G, 1852. /,
seems to me that some sugge stions and
and recommendations may properly accom-.
pany my approval Of this bill. Its obieci
Is to effectually accomplish by Legislation
!he exclusion from this country OF Chinese
laborers. The experiment Of blending so.
,ial habits and mutual race idiosyncrasleS
I of the Chinese laboring class with those of
tho great body OF people of the United
states has been proved by an experience OF
twenty years and ever since the Burlin.
game treaty Of 1853 to bs in every sense
unwise. impolitlc and injurious to both na.
lions. With the lapse OF time the neces-
| sity for Its abandonment has grown in
force until those having In charge the gov
ernment OF the respective countries have
| resolved to modify and sufficiently abro.
gate all those features of prior conventional
arrangements which eRrtttBd the coming
OF Chinese laborers TO the United States.
iu the notifications OF prsx conventions
the treaty Of November Ia, 1850, was o,a.
cluded, whereby, In the frst article thereof,
II was assured thatthe United States should
twi'l regulate, limit or suspend the coming
OF Chinese laborers 10 the United States,
but not absolutely prohibit; and under
This article an act Of Congress, approved or
May 6. lsS2, amended July 5, 1854, spended
for ten years the coming OF Chinese labor
ers to the United States, and regulated the
going and coming Of such Chinese isborerz
as were at that time in the United States.
IL YVES, however, soon made evident that
the mercenaIy greed OF parties who vert
trading In the labor OF this class OF Chinese
population was proving too strong for 3
Just execution o: the law, and that the vir
tnal defeat OF the object and intent of both
the law and the treaty Was being fraudu
lently accomplished by false pretense and
perjury, contrary to he expressed will OF
both governments. To such an extent has
the successful violation OF the treaty laws
enacted for its execution progressed that
the courts in the Psclfic states have beer
for some time past overwhelmed by the
examinations In cases OF Chinese lRoorers
who are charged with having entered ouI
ports under fraudulent certificates OF re-
turn, or seek 20 establish by perjury the
claim of prior residence. Such demonstra
t.on OF the imperative and Inefficient condi-
tion Of the treaty and law has produced
deep-seaied and increasing discomfort
Anong the people OF the United States, and
especially with those resident on the Pa
cihc coast, This has induced me to omii
no effort 10 fi1d an efectual remedy Tor the
est popular demand for an absolute exclu.
sion OF Chinese laborers, having objects
and purposes unlike our own and wholly
disconnected with American citizenship.
The admitted and paramount right and
duty of every government 10 exclude from
Its borders all elements uf foreign popula.
ton which for any reason retar!s its
parity OF are detrimental to tho mora
and physical health Of lis people must be
regarded as a recognized canon ot inter.
national law and Intercourse. China her,
self has dlssentei from this ctrine, but
has, by the expressions to which have re
ferred, led us confidently TO rely upon such
action on her part, in cooperation with US
% would enforce the exclusion OF Chinese
laborcrs from our country. This co-opers
tion has not, however, been accorded us
thus, from the unexpected and disappolnt
ing refusal of the Chinese government tc
confirm the acts OF It's authorized agent ana
10 carry into effect an international agree.
mont, the main feature OF which was volun
tsrily presented by that government for
our acceptance, and which has been the
subject OF long and careful 6elibcra,iou, al
emergency has arisen In which tie govern.
ment Of the United States is called upon 70
act In self-detense In exercising the legis
lat!ve powers. cannot but regard the ex-
pressed demand on toe part OF China for q
REORGANIZATION and renewed discussion oi
topics so completely covered by mutual
treaty stipulations as an indefinite post
ponemeDt and practical abandonment OF
the objects we have In view, to which the
government Of China may justly be cunsid.
cred pledged.
The facts and circumstances which l have
narrated lead me, in the performance OF
what seems 10 me my official duty, 10 en-,
join Congress In dealing legislatively with
the question Of the exclusion OF Chinese
lnbprcrs, In lieu of further attempts, &c ad
Just Il by international agreement Bu,
while thus exercising our undoubted right
in the interests OF our people and for the
genera welfare of our country, justice and
fairness seem TO require that some piovis
ion hc made by an act or joint resolution
under which such Chinese labolcrs as shall
actually have embarked on thHir return to
the United States before the passage of the
law tbis dav appro we'd, and are now on the
way. may be permitted TO land, provided
they have duly and lawfully obtained and
slau present the certificates heretofore is.
sued permitting tdem Ia return III accord
nnce with the provisions of the existing
law. Nor should our recourse 70 legisia
tive measures OF exclusion cause us 10 re-
tire from the offer we have made to in
deInnify such Chinese subjects as have
suffered damage through violence in ~.
mote and comparatively unsettled portions
OF our country at the hands OF lawless men.
Therefore, recommend, without ncknow-
Lodging legal liability therefor, but because
IL was stipulated In the treaty which hal
failed to take effect, and In n spirit OF hu.
mnnity betitting our nation, that there be
appropriated the sum of &aT5, 5,6l0,75. pay.
able to the Chinese minister At TINS capital,
In behalf of his government, as full indem-
nifty for all losses and injuries sustained by
Chinese subjects in the manner and under
the circumstances wentioned,"
GROVER CLEVELAND