Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-14
THE CHINESE TRANSIT QUESTION.

THE CHINESE TRANSIT QUESTION.
The consideration of the new question
Of the transit of Chinese across the terri
tory of the United States of necessity car
ries us back to the passage of the Scott
Exclusion Act. 1t is wholly unnecessary,
however, to recall the legislation upon the
Chinese question prior to that, since the
Act in view is the most emphatic legis-
latiye expression made by the National
Legislature, and Its constitutionality hav-
ing been affirmed by the Supreme Court
of the nation, it has practically settled the
whole question of the limitation of Chi
nese immigration and made exclusion the
settled policy of the United States Gov
-ernment.
1t must be kept in mind that the later
treaties between China and the United
States recognize the right of either ma
ton to regulate the incoming of the peo-
pie of the other in degree, and all the
treaties, and the rulings under them, have
uniformly conceded the right of the peo-
pie of either country to travel in the juris-
diction Of the other, subject to such local
restric,.s.is and regulations as either
might adopt. In pursuance of the spirit
of such treaty agreements the United
States has always been more liberal than
the Government of the Empire of China.
Nor, when the differing civilizations and
traditions of the two countries are taken
into consideration, is it very surprising
that China has adhered to an exclusive
policy and has granted but meager priyi-
leges Of travel to our citizens within the
Empire. But the American policy on
this question never has been fashioned
after the customs of foreign nations, for
there is no country on the face of the
globe where the stranger is accorded such
perfect liberty of movement as is guaran-
teed in the United States, fact that has
been our uniform boast
1t is well known to all that passage of
the Scott Exclusion bill was action that
might have been taken by the United
States Government at any time prior The
affirmation of the right to pass the act, in
the face of treaty obligations, establishes
this truth. The bill, or similar one, one of
equal rigor, might have been made the law
of the land at any time for the Supreme
Court has said it in so many words. The
RECORD UNION was one of the agencies
that was tireless for many years in labor
ing for the restriction Of Chinese immigra-
tion, and it has no reason to regret its
activity in that respect. Its record on the
Chinese question is unmistakable, and
has uniformly been that Of active friend
ship for the cause of Caucasian labor,
against the assaults of Chinese cheap labor.
We are therefore entitled to speak with
freedom upon this question of the transit
of Chinese across American territory.
As we have said, the Scott Act settling
the Chinese immigration question might
have been passed within the legitimate
powers ofthe legislative arm of The Govern
ment ct any time heretofore, but ii re-
manned for the fear of party advantage to
seize upon the question and rush through
bill with demagogic haste, that should
have been enacted into law years ago, and
for which the people of the Pacific coast
had long petitioned. The administration
party under President Cleveland thought
1t saw the opportunity to save the
Pacific States to the Democracy by the
passage OF the measure, and the Republi-
cans in Congress, not TO be outdone in
securing campaign advantages, supple
mented the action.
Now the question being settled as to the
residence of Chinese in the country, and
the inhibition 81 new immigration being
the established policy of the nation, the
Chinese question proper is taken out of
the field of politics, and cannot be pro-
jected into il again until some attempt is
made to recede from that policy. The
question OF the passage of the Chinese
through the country is not, therefore, re-
lated to the old Chinese question, except
so far as it involves the RISK of passengers
in transit escaping into the country to be-
come residents. But we do not look upon
that liability as great, nor probable In
deed, we are convinced, after careful ex-
animation Of the whole matter, that there
has been great exaggeration OF the fear
that the transit of Chinese might work the
destruction of the exclusion policy. The
fact is, if there is to be anything gained by
transporting Chinese passengers, the car
riers Of the country ought to reap the adj
vantage, which in turn is shared by all in
.dustries.
One of the constant arguments advanced
against the Chinese as residents has been
that they shipped the money results OF
their labor back to China that they left
nothing of their earnings in the country.
If now they choose to travel by cur routes,
they must drop some money in the
country in compensation for that which for
thirty years and more they have been
shipping away. The opportunity to profit
10 that extent should not, without
thought, be rejected and made over 10
rival and foreign carriers. In passing
about the world the Chinese will take he
shortest and best routes and The mos eco
monte, aid in a great past Of the travel