The sun., 1890-01-31
Hew Ehss phifty sna vnrtfnssplea psn.s-
eeEue Hsstsaeate Cess Bhasas UPen the

The correspondence between the Chimes
State Department and our Government. from
Oct 10 1883 to Dec 10. 1889. which the Presi-
dent transmitted to the Senate yesterday. re-
calls one OF the most diegraceful episodes ol
the canvass Of 1888. whom both the Executive
ana Congress were endeavoring 10 make poli-
ttoal points at the sacrifice. not simply Of the
national interest but Of the national honor.
Under tho treaty with China. adopted Nov. II,
1880. which gave to this country the right 10
regulate. limit, or suspend the coming Of Chi
nese laborers to this country at will, but not to
prohibit 1t absolutely, laws were passed May
o. 1882, and July s, 1884 forbiddlnR the admis-
sion OF newcomers from China for ten years
and regulating the going and returning OF Chi
nese lAborers then in this country. 1t was
found that the prohibition against newcomers
was OF little avail. as they did not hesitate to
make the necessary oaths to establish their
claim to former residence here. and provided
themselves with certificates OF Identification
purchased from Cinnamon who had returned
to the Celestial Kingdom from America.
AS the demand for the absolute exclusion Of
the Chinese was made very urgently by the
people on the Pacific coast the Senate on March
l, 1888. passed a resolution asking the Presi-
dent to negotiate q treaty with China provid-
ing for such exclusion. AS the policy OF China is
against the emigration Of its people. there was
no difficulty In preparing such treaty, and in
deed tho Department OF State had already got
through with all the preliminary discussion OF
the isubject. Therefore the draft OF treaty
was submitted to the Senate March 16. with
message from the President Mr. Cleve-
land and an explanatory letter from the Sec
retary OF State, Mr. Bayard. The Senate
mads two amendments to the treaty and
then approved Of It, One Of those amendments
was as follows: Aud this prohibition OF the
immigration Of the Chinese shall extend to the
return Of Chinese laborers who are not now in
the United States whether holding return GER
tillcates under tho existing law or not" II
was not thought that the Chinese Government,
having gone so far as to favor absolute proht-
bition of emigration for the future. would hesi-
tate over the rights Of former emiRrants: but
the event showed that there was limit even
to Chinese complaisanee.
The treaty. as ratified by our Government
May 7, was at once transmitted to China for
ratification: and everything was taken 80
much for granted that the legislation neces-
sary to carry out the provisions OF the treaty
was tadopted by Congress- But on Sunday,
Sept 3. despatch from London appeared in
the morning papers to the effect that China
had rejected tho treaty. There was no official
notification OF any such action. and. as it
turned out no such action had been taken;
but on Monday morning. Mr.. Scott Of Penn
sylvanla, one of the Presidents closest friends
and most trusted political managers intro
duced in the House OF Representatives what
Is fknown as the Scott exclusion bill, It |
supplements legislation adopted under the |
treaty Of Nov. II. 1880. and provides that "ie |
shall be unlawful for any Chinese laborer, who |
shall at any time heretofore have been, or may |
nov or hereafter be, resident within the |
United States. and who shall have departed or
shall depart therefrom, and ehall not have re-
turned before the passage OF this act, to return
to or remain in the United States." 1t declares
that no such certificates Of identity as were
authorized in the original act shall hereafter
be issued, and that those already issued shall
be void and Of no effect. This law, bad In
ITSELF but utterly contemplate as framed to
meet newspaper rumor, was described as
The work of the kitchen cabinet" and
was probably drawn up at the White House on
Sunday. The Republicans In the House were
100 cowardly to offer any opposition to It; it
was considered by unanimous consent; it was
1ot referred TO any committee; 1t was accepted
Is an Administration measure: and IL was
passed without objection. It went to the Sem
lte promptly and was passed by that body on
Sept. Z, though 1t was then known that the
Ihinese Government had not rejected tho
reaty but was still considering It The Presi-
lential canvass was then very hot. and tho |
'emagogues in the Senate were anxious
est the demagogue in the White House
hould score q point. But tafter the pas
age Of this measure Republican leaders
Ike Edmunds and Sherman, and Democratic
eaders like Morgan and German, Were
shamed of It and undertook to have the vote
n its favor reconsidered. There was strong
A1ak AkAn ~ a.. IL.
ept. IT, the motion to reconsider was only lost
y the narrow margin Of 20 for it to 81 against
=; Fourteen Democrats and 6 Republicans
oted for the motion and Is Republicans and 6
democrats In opposition to It.
The measure then went back to the House
ommittee on Enrolled Bills, and that COM
littee hold on to 1t, apparently with the design
giving the President chance to wait for the
ction OF China on the treaty before being
allied UPON for veto or an approval This
lece OF cunning was exposed through the
ourse Of Mr.. Morrow OF California, who offered J
resolution that the measure be sent prompt .
to the President In discussing the subject I
4 Sept 81 the Post Express said that these in Z
rences might be drawn from all the circum- t
ances OF the case:
/. That the President and his political man a
yers were anxious to increase Democratic
opularity on the Pacific coast
2. That although they had no official news as
tho action OF China. they accepted as con-
usive newspaper rumor that the treaty had y
Zen rejected. and prepared bill to take its q
ace. in a measure at least. and rushed Ii
rough the House, and that the Republicans
ere guilty OF aiding and abetting this piece Of =,
:,
B. That it was also pushed through the SEN L
Q without adequate consideration. (,
/. That after the bill reached the House Com "
lttee on Enrolled Bills. the President, or his II
ends In his behalf asked that 1t be DELAYED. Il
J. That this delay was desirable because the o. .
esident did not wish to sign bill which was
signed to take the place OF q treaty which
d not yet been rejected. since this would be 1t
act OF almost unprecedented dscourtesy Ia
ward friendly nation; and he did not dare ="
veto it because Of the danger Of losing pop "a
arity on the Pacific coast In other words, ~ ~
) President. through his own foolish haste "a
d that OF his political lieutenant, Mr.. Scott,
got himself into very embarrassing posi-
N. and delay on tba mart NJ tba oopon,itkao dt