Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-10-11

without respect to race. sex. nationality OF
] 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 be had in any court OF justice in the
United States by subject of China, whether
OF the laboring or any other class. No disabil
| ity accrues from non-residence of plaintiff
whose claim can be enforced in the usual way
by him or his assignee attorney, in our
courts OF justice. In this respect it can not be
alleged that there exists the slightest discrim-
fnation against Chinese subjects, and 1t is a
| notable fact that large trading firms and com
panies, and individual merchants and traders
| of that nation are prof1tably establish d at nu.
merous points throughout the United States
in whose hands every claim transmitted by ar
absent Chinaman 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 retard its prosperity or are
detrimental to the moral and physical health
of its people must be regarded as recognized
canon Of international law and intercourse.
China herself has not dissented from this doc.
tr:ne, but has by the expressions to which ]
have referred led us confidently to rely upon
su CHI action on her part in cooperation with US
as would enforce the exclusion of Chinese
laborers frum our country. This cooperation
has not, however been accorded US.
Thus from the unexpected and disappointing
refusal of the Chinese Government to confirm
acts of its authorized agents and to carry into
effect an international agreement, the main
feature of which was voluntarily presented
by that government for our acceptance, and
which had been the subject of long and careful
elaboration, an emergency has arisen in which
the Government of the United States is called
! upon to act in self-defense by the exercise Of
its legislative power. I can not but regard the
expressed demand on the part of China for re-
examination. and renewed discussion of the
" NV final nv
stipulatIons, as an indefinite postponement
and practical abandonment OF the
objects we have in view to which
the Government of China may Justly be con-
sidered as pledged The facts and circum-
stances which have narrated lead me. in the
performance Of what seems to me to be my off,
cial duty. to join the Congress in dealing Iegis.
latively with the question of exclusion of Chi
nese laborers in lieu of further attempts to ad
just il by international agreement. But while
thus exercising our undoubted right in the inter-
ests OF our people and for the general welfare of
our country, justice and fairness seem to require
that some provision should be made. by act or
Joint resolution, under which such Chinese
laborers as shall actually have embarked on
their return to the United States
day approved, and are now on their way, may
be permitted to land, provided they have duly
and lawfully obtained, and shall present GER
tiflcates heretofore issued permitting them to
return in accordance with the provision of ex-
listing law: nor should our recourse to legis-
Iative measures of exclusion cause US to retire
rom the offer we have made to indemnify such
Chinese subjects as have suffered damage
through violence in the remote and compare
lively unsettled portions OF our country
at the hands of lawless men. Therefore /
recommend that without acknowledging le-
gal liza bility therefor but because it was stipu-
lated in the treaty which has failed to take ef-
feet, IN sp' :. OF humanity BETTING our Ma
ton, there be appropriated two hundred and
seventysix thousand six hundred and nineteen
dollars and seventy-five cents. payable to the
Chinese Minister. at this capital, on behalf of
his government, full indemnity for all
losses and injuries sustained by Chinese sub
jects, in the manner and under the circum-
stances mentioned. GROVER CLEv ELAND.
Executive Mansion, Oct. ], 1893.