River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-09-06
1HE RESTRICTION RILL.
Absurd ~ Of the Latest Democratic At
tack on General Harrison.

Absurd ~ Of the Latest Democratic At
tack on General Harrison.
The attaol. made upon General Har-
rison's Chinese record during the dis
cussion Of the Restriction bill, led of
by Mr.. Vest in the Senate and prompt
ly followed up by Mr. Bynum and
others in the House. shows that the
Democratic party is hard up for ma
terial out OF which to formulate
charges against the Republican candl-
date. So far as the principle OF Chi
uese restriction Is concerned, II was
settled longagO and with General Har-
rison's acauiescence. 50 far as the
practice Is concerned. that is now
Eettled. for twenty years TO come at
least. also with his hearty acquies-
cence. In his speech to the Decatur
County Ind) delegation he said:
I'VE should protect our people against
competition with the products Of
Cndarpaid labor abroad as well as
against the coming TO our shores Of
paupers, Iaborers under contract and
the Chinese" The Chinese question
was substantially settled long ago so
far as this country Is concerned, and
ii Is now settled satisfactorily TO the
Chinese Government. To dig il up
now and TO hold candidates respOn-
sible for any position they have taken
in the past is as absurd as it would
be 10 revive the old slavery issue.
General HarrisOn's attitude towards
this question Is well enough UNDER
stood. and Is thoroughly honest and
consistent. In the original cOnsidcra-
ton of the matter Of restriction during
his term Of service in the Senate the
record will be searched in vain for any
.dcnce that he publicly defended
chinese immigration or favored the
competition Of cheap Chinese labor
with American labor. Ills voice was
silent, but his votes acre given in con
fOrmity with what he believed was our
National duty under the Obligations of
the then-eXi-ting treaty. and in com
pany with numerous Others in both
parties. Tie believed. q they believed.
that the pending measure, which was
an right a. an abstract principle, and
which was for the ultimate good of
labor and benefit Of the country, could
not be enacted without involving the
National honesty and violating treaty
obligations with the Chinese Cow
eminent. When. however, he found
that the treaty was systematical-
Is cvaded on the Chinese side he IA
vored restriction. lie was forced
into his former position by a sense of
honor When that obligation was no
longer binding he at once favored the
policy in which he believed The Re
striction bill which has Just passed,
and which gives vitality to the new
treaty. has had no more Jealous sup
porter than General Harrison. The
fact that his most ardent defenders
against this demagOgical attack by the
Democratic members were the mem
beers from the Pacific slope shows that
his record is satisfactory. and that
those who have suffered the most from
Chinese immigration. and who are
TIE best qualified to Judge, are the
most conteuted with his position. If
they are satisfied no one else has the
right to complain. The attack Of
the Democratic members Is not only
mean. contemplate and absurd but
il IS an absolute Justification Of his
position. He il not in favor Of Chinese
Immigration and never has been. but.
like many other good men, both Re
publicaus and Democrats. he was on
pod many years ago to any legisla-
tion which would impugn the National