Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-10-11

Article 2 wasFwholly Of Chinese origin and to
that alone owes its presence in the treaty. And
It Is here pertinent to remark that everywhere
in the United States laws for the <collectfon Of
debts are equally available to all creditors
without respect to race, sex, nationality or
place of residence. and eQually with the citi-
zens or subjects of the most favored nations
and with the citizens of the United States re-
covery can bf had in any court OF justice in
the United States by a subject of China,
whether of the laboring or any other class.
No disability accrues from <non-residence
OF plaintiff whose claim can be en-
forced in the usual way by him his assignee
or attorney in our courts of justice. In this
spect 1t can not be alleged that there exists the
slightest discrimination against Chinese sub
jects, and 1t is notable fact that large trading
firms and companies and individual merchants
and traders of that nation are profitably estab-
hshed at numerous points throughout the Union
in whose hands every claim transmitted by an
absent China|man OF a just and lawful nature
could be completely enforced.
The admitted and paramount right and duty
of every Government to exclude from its Dor
ders all elements of foreign population which
for any reason retards its prosperity or are in
imical to the moral and physical ideas OF its
people, must be recognized as a canon of inter
national law. China herself has not descended
from this doctrine but has by the expressions
to which I have referred, led US confidently
90 rely upon such action en- her part in CO.
operation with us as would enforce the
cACluSlOu u OulucSc 1dOOf0TS lrOm our
country. This cooperation has not,
however, been accorded us. Thus from the I'M
expected and disappointing refusal of the Chi
nese Government to confirm the acts OF its
authorized agents and to carry into effect an
International agreement, the main feature OF
which was voluntarily presented by that Gov
eminent for our acceptance and which had
been the subject Of long and careful delib-
Grafton, an emergency has arisen in which
the Government Of the United States is called
To to 1A<n <Iaa ~nsc
of its legislative power. can not but regard
the expressed demand the part of China
for REORGANIZATION and renewed dis.
cussion of the topics SO completely covered by
mutual treaty stipulations, an indefinite
postponement end practical abandonment OF
the objects we have in view to which the Gov
eminent OF China may justly be considered as
pledged. The facts and circumstances which I
have narrated lead me in the performance OF
what seems to me to be my official duty to join
the Congress in dealing legiSlatively with the
question of the exclusion Of Chinese laborers,
and make no further attempts to adjust it by
international agreement.
But while thus exercising our undoubted
rights in the interests of our people and for the
general Welfare OF our country, justice and fair
ness seems TO require that some provision
should be made by act or joint resolut on un-
der which such Chinese laborers as shall actu-
ally have embarked on their return to the
United Sta ties before the passage OF the law
this day approved and now on their way,
may be e1mitted to land, provided they have
duly and lawfully obtained and shall present
certificates heretofore issued permitting them
to return iii accordance with the provisions of
existing law
Nor should our recourse to legislative meas-
ures of exclusion cause US to retire from the
offer we have made to indemnify such Chinese
subjects As have suffered damage through
violence in the remote and comparatively un-
settled Oprtlons of our country. There
fore, I recommend that without acknowl-
edging legal liability therefor because it
was stipulated in the treaty, which has failed
to take effect, and in spirit of humanity beht-
ting our Nation there be appropriated the sum
of t276, 919I73 payable to the Chinese Minister
at this capitol on behalf of his Government as a
full indemnity for all losses and injuries sus-
| tanned by Chinese subjects in the manner and
under the circumstances mentioned.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion. October /, 1888.