Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-24
THE oEApF ACT.

While the Chinese exclusion act may
be crude. 10 advised, and possibly even
brutal in its operation, 1t is none the
less "good law"
The Supreme Court has decided it
constitutional aud tits not violation OF
our treaty stipulation with China.
While the Burlingams treaty provided
for free Chinese immigration, the later
treaty of 1880 with China has this
clause in it:
Whenever. in the opinion of the govern
ment of the United States, the coming OF
Chinese laborers 10 the United States or
their residence therein affects or threatens 70
Affect the interests Of the country, or 70 en-
danger the good order OF the said country
or of any locality within the territory
thereof. the government OF China agrees
that the government Of the United States
NAV regulate, limit, or suspend snch com
ing or residence, but may not absolutely
prohibit IL.
Even the Geary act does not, sppar-
emily, violate this treaty.
Chinese exclusion began in 1882,
when law was passed suspending i'm
migration for ten years. Two years
later the law was made more stringent.
But Notwithstanding the fact that there
could be no natural increase and that
many must have died and many others
returned home, the number Of Chinese
in America increased from los, 600 in
1852, to 1O7,5OO in 1890, according to
the last census figures. The number of
Chinese in the United States in com
parison to the population Of the coun-
try Is, Of course, trifing, but what
might it DO to-day had it not been for
the policy OF exclusion begun ten years
ago2 Az exchange puts the subject in
this strong light:
The population Of the Chinese empire in
round numbers is not less than 200, 100000.
The most populous province ia China,
with en- area no greater than the State Of
California, has population larger than the
whole United States. or 400 10 the square
mile The second province has near 40
OeO.000 population, or $50 70 the square
mile. packed in an area the same IS tnatot
the State Of Colorado. In forming judg-
rneut of the wisdom Of Chinese exclusion
laws. these facts must be borne
in mind, with the further fact
that If Chinese immigration is
encouraged or permitted the enterprise and
cupidity OF ship owners will maks &C
cess to this country across the Pacific
cheaper than over the Atlantic. The pack
ing Of Italians and Huugariaus on inmi-
grant vessels viii DO nothing to the way
these Chinese will stand transportation 70
escape from the poverty and privati0ns Of
their home life.
Ia the last census decade the immlgra-
ton from Europe to this country was D
CGo. coo. Remove the restriction of Chi
nese immigration and the demand in this
country for cheap labor, which stops at
nothing, and ocean ferries across the Pa
c1c viii pour Chinese iatO the United
States at the rate Of 100000 year, and
most OF the States of the Union would have
before them the problem California has
been struggling with. To those who
believe in nlhng up the country with
cheap aud servile labor this may De an al
Turing prospect, but not so with the mass
Of the American people, as they have -
peatedly and emphatically declared. It's
cll well enough 70 talk Of inhumani y (
the Chinese aud the Importance Of HISS
iooary work among them, but humanity is
also due 70 our own people Self-preserva-
ton is the frst law OF nations. as il is Of
individuals. Scatter Chinese over the
United States in the proportion they are
now in California and we would an
ticipate the conditions OF the Internal re-
gions- We would require . standing army
IS Dig as that Of Germany to preserve the
sSace and protect the AIongolian.