The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-24
Tho Chinese.

Inc Cn1nCSe.
The speakers at the anti-Chinese mass
meeting OF tonight in Cooper Institute
the object Of which is to urge Congress to
adopt an absolute Chinese Exclusion bill
will doubtless dwell upon the dangers that
would menace this country if the heather
hordes" should be allowed to rush here by
tho million. They will doubtless argue
that Congress must at once. and regardless
OF consequences. give US legislation that
will exclude them even more eflcctual-
ly than they are excluded by tho
act which has been in force for the past ten
years. and which expires in about forty
days from this time. The anti Chinese ar
guments which have been reiterated for u
score OF years. are familiar to everybody.
and the character OF the half dozen anti Chi
nese bills before Congress gives evidence
that tho strength OF the anti-Chinese pas
sion is as great as 1t was at the time Of tho
adoption OF the original exclusion net.
While we shall give due heed to tho
speeches that will be made this evening.
and while we are opposed to promiscuous
Chinese immigration. as to promiscuous
immigration of every sort, we cannot over
look few facts that the speakers in Cooper
Institute hall may fail to bring to the no.
tice OF their hearers. For example:
There are treaties between the American
and Chinese Governments that must be OBJ
served by both. There is an American
Minister in Pekin and there Is Chinese
Minister in Washington. which is evidence
that China and the United States are
friendly powers. and it is through these
-, hot I'll ir1D
Of the two Governments are conducted.
There are a good many thousands OF
Americans living and doing business in tho
Chinese empire under the protection OF tho
Chinese Government, which protection is
guaranteed by the treaties that have been
ratified in Pekin and in Washington. There
is a very considerable amount OF commerce
between China and the United States. and
there are good many merchant ships rum
ming between American and Chinese ports,
doing profitable business in carrying ex-
ports and imports. under the reg
ulations agreed upon in the CONNER
cial treaties that have been formed.
and that are maintained bv the mutual con-
sent OF tho signatories. There are many
American missionaries OF the Christian
faith In tho Chinese provinces. and the priv
ilege OF maintaining American missions
there has been granted by the Emperor
upon conditions that are enjoyed only by
those favored nations to which certain
special privileges arc granted.
We say that such facts and considerations
as these ought not to be wholly overlooked
by the speakers at the anti-Chinese meet
ing in Cooper Institute. In dcnouncing
Chinese immigration to tho United
States, it must not be forgotten that
there are inviolable Chinese-Amcrlcan
treaties. that the two countries have i'm
portant business relations with each other,
and that there are American interests in
China as well rs Chinese interests In the
United States. 1t should also not be for
gotten that England would gain great nd
vantages by the cessation OF intercourse
and there Is danger OF its cessation-be-
tween the United States and China. and
that she would not object to the exclusion
OF Americans from China as Cinnamon are
excluded from the United States.
What. then. Is the policy that our Gov
eminent should adopt?
There is no doubt that a Chinese Exclu-
sion bill. in continuance Of the Exclusion
net that is yet in force. will be passed by tho
present Congress. We know of at least four
of these bills that are now in committees OF
the Senate or tho House, and we think that
at least ten such bills have been intro
duced since the opening OF the present ses-
sion. The bil that seems to have the largest
measure of support. and that has been
favorably reported to the House by ma
iority OF the Foreign Affairs Committee. Is
the GEARY bill. introduced by Mr.. GEARY OF
California. 1t Is more absolute in lis terms
Of exclusion than any Of tho other bills on
the subject. and. II it should become law.
it will DO but few years before
there will not be Chinaman In
the United States. 1t permits the
Chinese Legation to remain here. but the
Minister himself has given it to be under
stood that no will take his departure from
Washington in the event Of the passage OF
the GEARY bill. Tho American Minister at
Pekin would then necessarily be recalled.
and. though there might yet be peace be-
tween tho two countries. there would GER
tainly be obstacles in the way of keeping
up commercial or amicable relations be-
tween Ihem.
The proper course for Congress to. take.
in dealing with the Chinese question. is
obvious. 1t must. in the first place. pro-
vide for the proper and faithful observance
Of the terms Of all existing treaties be-