The morning call., 1894-03-26
THE PROPOSED NEW TREATY.

An apologist for the Chinese agreement
submitted to the Senate by the State De
partment says that the second section
must be considered in connection with
laws now on the statute book. This is not
so. The latest expression Of the will of
the people is the one that governs. As
the exclusion act of 1888 modified the
treaty of 1880, so will the treaty
of 1894 modify the laws existing when
the treaty may be confirmed. Ques-
tions will arise under the treaty for judi
cial interpretations, and the Supreme
Court will be bound by its own decision to
give the latest expression force when it
conflicts with previous expressions. 1t is
assumed that when the Government makes
new treaty with foreign nation. it makes
a new law for its people, except when the
old law and the new are in harmony. Ar
ficle second, therefore, which provides for
the return of Chinese laborers, must in
the event of the confirmation of this agree
ment be considered as the law governing
the return Of Chinese.
The first article agrees that, Except
under conditions hereinafter specified"
the coming of Chinese Iaborers shall be
absolutely prohibited. But the second
article affords instances where the excep-
tiOns are more important than the rule.
The Chinese laborers who may return under
the exception are. first, Chinese la borer
who has a lawful vile, child or parent in
the United States; and second, Chinese
laborer who has property or debts due him
to the amount of $1,000 There is an at
tempt made TO provide against the abuse of
these conditions OF return, but those who
have studied The methods of Chinese in
past years will regard this attempt as re-
sulting only in putting both the Chinese
and the American authorities to severe
trouble. The Chinese laborer who wants
to return will fnd way TO comply with
the conditions. The debt provision is
equivalent to an annulmens of the property
requirement. Any Chinese can secure
proof that he has $1,000 due him.
The third article secures the present
privileges enjoyed by officials. teachers,
merchants, students and travellers for curl
osity OF pleasure, TO come and go at will.
it also affirms the right OF transit of Chi
nese laborers.
The fourth article simply stipnlates for
the protection Of the persons and property
of Chinese residing in the United States.
This is only just 1t is not part of the
policy of the United States to withhold
from single resident, however undesir-
able, the full protection of law.
The fifth article recognizes the validity
of our registration acts and binds the Chi
nese Government not to object to the en-
forcement of them. The American Gov.
ernment on its part recognizes the right OF
the Chinese Government TO enforce similar
laws. 1t thus appears that the Chinese
Government has no objection to the regis.
tration OF its subjects residing in this coun.
try, but has exercised its ingenuity in
opening the way by which its subjects
may be lawfully registered.
1t should be borne in mind that every
industrious Chinese laborer in the United
States is a source of revenue TO China
He buys Chinese products, sends his saw
ings home. or, when he has gathered to-
gether enough to live upon, takes then
home with him. The only trouble the
Chinese Government now has is in getting
its subjects into this country. The pro
posed treaty does not throw all the bar.
down, but it lowers them so that enough
Chinese may leap over them. 1t is not tht
present purpose of Chinese to so crow(
the labor market as to greatly reduct
wages and thereby excite alarm.