The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-24
II CAN BREAK A TREATY.
That Power Possessed BY the Legis-
lative Branch Of the Fed
eral Government.
So the Way Is Clear for Com
pletely Shutting Out
the Chinese.
Good Reason for Barring the OrIsntals
That Do Not Apply to Any
Other People.

Other People.
WASHINGTON, April 23.-The Chinese ex.
clusion bill was taken up aud Teller ad.
dressed the senate. There could not be, ht
said, any dispute touching the rejection OF
the United States minister to China. II
was an elementary principle Of intetna-
tional law that a minister must serve rs
such with the consent of both nations.
Both nations had to consent before he coold
be minister; in other words, he must be re-
ceiyed as we'll as sent. He therefore had
no fault to find with the Chinese govern
ment because it rejected Blair. 1t had a
right to reject him, even upon absolutely
false premises or without any premises
whatever. Coming to the question of the
abroeation of treaties, he held that every
nation which had agreed with another ma
tion did SO with tho understanding that
thew might retire from it at any time they
saw fit, and it might do so, notwlthstand-
ing the fact that there was a provision in
the treaty tina it should continue for q
limited period of time. Legislation by a
national legislature would set aside any
treaty inconsistent with it. Morrill,. while
inclined to believe congress had the power
to pass q law superseding the treaty, asked
Teller whether he thought other nations
had the same power. Teller thought he
had stated explicitly that nations had that
power, and said he would have a very poor
opinion of any nation which would surren-
der that right.
Morrill, remarked that Japan had for
wears underworld to get a release from her
treaty with Great Britain and had not sue
ceeded. Teller said a reason for that might
be that Japan was not willing to create fric-
ton with Great Britain. The United States
had been trying q great many years to get
rid Of a treaty with great Britain. and got
rid Of it by the action of Great Britain in
violation of it. He referred to the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, and said it never had been
in such a condition Of affairs that either
nation wanted to propose its absolute re-
peal or violation, yet neither Great Britain
nor the United States respected it's terms.
But it was very evident the people Of the
United states would insist on the abroea-
ton of that treaty whenever it should APP
pear inimical to the interests of the great
mass of the people of the country.
Revsrting to the peculiarities Of Chinese
immigration, Teller remarked that the
American would never assimilate with the
Chinaman, because even If the American
would, the Chinaman would not. In the
whole catalogue of nations there IS no such
personality as the Chinese. Their civiliza-
tion was to them infinitely superior no the
civilization of Europe and America. The
Chinaman would, in contact with the civili-
cation of Europe and America, remain a
Chinaman, and therefore reason existed for
keeping them out of the country, which did
not exist for keeping other people out.
Cinnamon come to the United States simply
to take money out of the country and re-
turn to their homes. They took 70 part in
building up the society in which they lived.
The lowest immigrant that came from
Europe, whether convict. pauper. or other
wise. contributed something to civil soci-
ETY.. His children went to the public
schools and the great mass of them con-
tributed materially to the prosperity of the
country, but the Chinaman contributed
simply his cheap labor, and in that he came
in competition with the American laborer
and deprived him of his opportunities. He
(Teller) was in favor of the restricted
immigration of all classes of people. al
though he confessed that if it were left to
him to determine how it should be lone he
would be unable to arrive at any plan that
would be acceptable to himself. Still, in
relation to the Chinese, congress could not
afford to pass halsh and unreasonable
laws.
heller said the Cinnamon legal in the
country are entitled to domioile. but the
United States had a perfect right to say no
bLOulo OluC IL Jill lac SAl6b-
ence of great trade with China, which was
spoken of, and said American exports to
China last year were not half what they
wers five years ago.
Hiscock did not favor the violation of
treaty obligations until diplomacy had ex-
haustsd itself in effortsto amend the treaty.
Morgan favored the senate substitute. Frye
said the Pacific coast senator's. in the river
and harbor bill. are asking large appropti-
stions, holding that Puget sound will be
the sent of an enormous oriental commerce.
Nov" said Frye, if the people of the Pa
cifc coast build a Chinese wall by insulting
the people and government of China, what
is the necessity of any further improve
ment of the rivers and harbors of the Pa
cifc ~coast?'
Mitchell said that inasmuch as the
United States paid over $500, O0O, 600 in gold
and silver to China in the last twenty years
for trade balance, he asked the senate.
from Maine whether he thought China would
break off trade with us if we pass an exolu-
sion bill. Frye said if the house bill becomes
law and the emperor of China does not in
less than sixty days declare his ports closed
to all United States m and with
draw diplomatic representatives from the
country, he was entirely mistaken about
the emperor and his ministers, Sanders
favored the house bill.