Smyrna times., 1892-04-27
EXCLUDING THE CHINESE,

There are no differences of opinion
IN the public mind about the propri-
ETY. or the necessity of not only repu.
lating but restricting Chinese immigra.
ton. No one wishes that this countrv
should be overrun by the Coolies,
whose habits and customs are demoral.
lzing, and whose competition in the
field of labor is undesirable for the rea-
son that it would reduce the wages Of
labor far below that wholesome stand
ard which makes the position and con-
dltIon of the American workman su.
perior to that of any in the world.
But those of good judgment will and
do make a distinction between this and
the comprehensive exclusion of the
Chlnese provided for in the Geary bill
which was passed by the House of
Representative with such haste and
without adequate consideration or dis
cussiOn on Monday of last week. This
measure as was shown by Representa-
tive Hooker, aims to practically ex-
clude any and every Chinaman ex-
cepting alone the Chinese Minister,
the members Of his suite or other Off
cIal representatives. Not only that.
but 1t provides that, though Cinnamon
who are now residents of the United
States may not be deported, all those
who voluntarily leave the country
shall not be permitted to return to it.
The proposed penalty to be inflicted
upon any Chinaman who disregards
the law in this latter respect is that of
Imprisonment for not more than five
years, and subsequently, his return to
the cou"try whence he came. 1t is
extraordinary, in view of the solemn
treaties the United States has entered
INTO with China, that a bill of such
sweeping, stringent character could
pass the House by so large q vote as
l79 yeas to 42 nays. 1t was clearly
pointed out by Representative Hit. of
Illinois, that this measure was in direct
violation of the provisions of our trea
ties with China, and especially of the
liberal spirit Of the Burlingame treaty.
by which China made such imDOrtant
ana valuable concessions to the United
States. The Geary bill, if it should be
cOncurred in by the Senate and an
proved by the President, would abro.
gate those treaties and place this coun-
try in a most humiliating position be-
fore the civilized world. Under the
provisions of the Burlingame treaty the
United States enjoys the distinction of
having been placed in the forefront of
the most favored nations. Since its
adoption the spirit of China has been
especially friendly toward this country
and any intractiOns of it, especially in
fractions so fragrant as those contained
In the Geary bill, are grossly insulting
to China and dishonorable to the
United States.
The Chinese Minister has already
made strong, just and earnest protest
against this measure of exclusion. and
has lntlmated that, should it become
law, its first effect would be that of
severlng all diplomatic relations be-
tween his country and this. and to that
warning he has added the suggestion
OF the like exclusion of Americans from
China. Why should not the Chinese
Government resent in kind so gross
an indignity as the Geary bill would
put upon it? Retaliation would be
obviously the first weapon to be used
In striking back. China has recog-
nlzed our right to protect ourselves
by discriminating against the immi-
grafton hither of the undesirable
classes of her population, but she nat
urally resents the exclusion of all Chi
uese, except those coming in official
character, solely because they are Chi
nese. She demands that reputable
Chinese, such as students, merchants
and others against whose coming no
adequate reasons can be presented.
should have the same right of admis
sion to the United States as is freely
conceded to the unobjeotionable i'm
migrants from other countries. The
Burlingame treaty distinctly provides
for the admission of all such China
men, and until that treaty shall be
formally abrOgated this Government
is bound in regard to its own dignity
to respect it. If it should set the |
treaty aside in an informal manner it
would simply dishonOr itself before
all those countries of the world that
do respect their solemn treaty obliga- |
tiOns,--PhiIGdelphia LedQer.