Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-06
A NATIONS DISGRACE.
Pittsburg Presbytery Strongly Con-
demns the Passage of
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION BILL.
A Serious Injury to Mission Work and
American Commerce.
DELEGATES TO PORTLAND ELECTED

The Presbytery of Pittsburg held very
important meeting in the Presbyterian
Church, of Williamsburg, yesterday. The
attendance was extraordinarily large, about
20 ministers and 60 elders attending.
The sessions were opened with an elo-
quent sermon by Rev. 1. NJ. Mercer, the re-
tiring Moderator. Rev. L. NJ. Mercer
was elected Moderator.
One of the principal features of the meet
ing was the election of Commissioners to the
approaching meeting of the General Assem-
blv. which convenes in Portland, Ore,
on the third Thursday of May. The follow
ing were elected ministers: Revs. A. NJ
Nealy, w. P. Shrom. L i. Beacoun and H.
a. Werner
After this election very interesting dis
cussion was held on the recent action of
Congress in the passage of the Chinese ex-
clusion act. The subject was brought be-
fore the Presbytery by paper
presented by the Rev. E. R. Donehoo,
which severely reprimanded Congress for
attempting to pass a law in disregard OF all
the principles OF Christianity. Mr. Done
hoo introduced his resolutions with an ad-
dress, in which he arraigned Congressman
for shirking their responsibilities. He re-
fected in strong language upon Representa-
tives Dalzell and Stone for not raising
their voices in earnest protest against the
iniquitous measure.
Would Have to Abandon Mission Work.
He declared that the passage of this bill
would force all the American missionaries
to abandon their work in China, and, in fact,
all American residents, he said, would be
driven from that country. The Chinese
Government would undoubtedly adopt re-
taliatory measures which would react dis
astrouslv upon this country.
sRev. G. w. Chalfant heartily seconded
the resolutions presented and argued that
the effect of this piece of legislation would
be far more hurtful to the trade of the
United States than it could possibly be to
China DR.. Chalfant has two sons now
laboring in China in missionary work. He
knew that that country was at the present
moment arranging to enlarge its trade with
this country and that one single province
in China would be able to consume all the
nails, glass and steel that the manufactures
of this country could produce. The bill was in
gross violation OF all treaty regulations and
deserving of reprcbation by every Christian
in America.
Representative Craig, of Washington
county, was in pleasing contrast with the
Representatives from this county.
DR.. Sutherland characterized the conduct |
OF Congress in the passage of this bill a |
shameful violation of treaty obligations
DIR. S A. Hunter, missionary just home |
from China, made an address in which he |
said that the action of Congress would act |
disastrously on the cause of missions in |
that country.
The Resolutions Adopted.
The Presbytery were in full sympathy |
with the proposed action presented in the |
paper by a unanimous vote and adopted it |
as their feeling on the subject, and directed |
the stated clerk to transmit copies of the |
resolutions to the Representatives from |
Washington, Allegheny and Beaver coun-
ties in Congress, and also a copy to the |
President of the United States. The fol- |
lowing are the resolutions as offered by Mr.. |
Donehoo:
Resolved, That this Presbytery hereby ex-
press their Indignation and enter their earn
est protest against the action of the House
or Representatives of the United States in
passing the unjust and unchristian bill |
known as the "Chinese exclusion act"
which, IN the estimation of the Presbytery |
Is out of harmony with the civilization of
the nineteenth century, at variance with all
the principles OF freedom and the rights of
Ilan on Wnlcn our National government
rests, in shameful violation of the treaty
rights which this Government is solemn
ly bound to observe, is antagonistic
to the will of our Heavenly Father |
who, in His word, has declared |
that He has ''made of one blood all nations
of men to dwell upon all the face of the
earth," and who has commanded us as His
servants to 'go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature" and
that the effect vii be, should it become
law to work Gisastrously to all missionary
laDors IN tho vast empire of China.
Resolved, Tint our representatives in
Congress he urged to use their utmost en-.
cea rors TO prevent this bill from becoming
aw, and that the President of the United
states be urged TO prevent our national dis
grace by vetoiny this iniquitous measure.