The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-02
SEATTLE, sArURDAY. APnL 2.
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION BILL.

The plea for the pending bill in congress
Forbidding the admission Of any Chinese
20 this country, excepting diplomats, is
that the existing laws fail to accomplish
their purpose. Under the existing laws
We now forbid the coming of oil Chinese.
excepting former residents Of this coun-
try and travellers with proper certificates
from United States consuls in China The
advocates of the pending bill urge that the
exceptions practically nullify the present
law: that under the guise of former resi-
dents and travellers immigrants from
China come through the Pacific ports, in
addition to those smuggled over the Cana
dian and the Mexican borders. The pend
ing bill is direct violation of our treaty
agreement with China which provides for
the admission OF Chinese merchants,
scholars and travellers, excluding only
laborers.
The existing law is also in violation of
this treaty, since 1t excludes merchants
and scholars unless they had already
gained residence here before the law
passed. The abrogation of the treaty
should have preceded the passage of re-
strictive legislation in conflict with it. 1t
is said that China is quite willing to abro-
gate the treaty and ready to cease diplo-
matte relations with this country at any
time, and is sure to do so If the pending
exclusion bill passes. The termination of
friendly relations with China would be
followed by some not altogether pleasant
practical results. There are several thou
sands of Americans living and doing bust
ness in China under the protection guar
anteed by the treaties ratified between
Pekin and Washington City.
There is considerable commerce between
China and the United States; there are
good many American merchant ships
running between China and the United
States, doing profitable trade. There
are many American missionaries in China.
II the Geary exclusion bill becomes q law
the Chinese minister has given it to be I'M
derstood that he will leave Washington
City. This would compel the recalling of
the American minister from Pekin, and
oil our commerce or amicable relations
with China would come to an abrupt
termination. The proper course for the
government should be to refuse to pass
any legislation inconsistent with the
proper and faithful observance Of all exc
listing treaties between China and the
United States.
In other words the United States should
deal with the great empire of China in the
spirit of courteous and just respect for ex-
listing treaty rights as she does in dealing
with the great empire of Germany or Rus
Ella. The truth is that the total exclusion
of Chinese immigration which comes to
this country from the British port of
Hongkong via Victoria, B. c., is practi-
cally impossible. Chinese can come from
Hongkong. British port, to the ports of
British Columbia, and can take out spa
pers" in Canadian courts which will enable
them to go to the United States as ''British
subjects" An agreement with England
and with Canada concerning Chinese i'm
migration is the only practical way to
secure total exclusion of Chinese from the
United States.
Just so long as the British government
permits the expectation of Chinese from
the English port of Hongkong to the ports
of the Canadian Dominion there will be
Chinese smuggled over the border. and if
the Chinese on arrival in Canada are
allowed to take out papers in the courts as
british citizens" in order to go to the
United States as British subjects, 1t is not
easy to see how total exclusion Of Chi
nese" could be enforced.