Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-01-25
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THREATEN RETALIATION.

THREATEN RETALIATION.
Chinese Have Grown Tired OF the
Exclusion LAW.
There Is serious hitch, according
to a Washington dispatch, in the leg
islative movement to re-enact the
Geary Chinese exclusion law. Secre-
tary Hay has brought to the attention
of several members Of the Immigra-
ton committee Of the senate the fact
that there is in existence a treaty with
China which prohibits the immigration
of Chinese laborers, and that the indefi-
mite extension Of the Geary law with
out regard to this treaty would be con-
sidered by the Chinese government as
grave affront. 1t would seem, there
fore, as If the action Of the present
congress can only extend as far as the
next two years, the period during
which the treaty will still be in force.
At the end Of that time the treaty
can be renewed and the exclusion law
be re-enacted.
When the Geary exclusion law was
passed in 1892 in violation Of treaties
with China, President Cleveland and
Secretary Gresham agreed that it
would be better to include the new law
in a treaty. so az to make the situation
less Objectionable from a diplomatic
point Of view. Secretary Gresham
thereupon framed a treaty which was
based upon and included the provis-
ions Of the law which had just been
passed. 1t took nearly two years to
negotiate, ratify, and proclaim this
treaty, 80 that the ten years during
which it was to exist will not expire
until December 7, 1904. According to
the last provision Of the treaty, the
document is to be regarded as in force
for another ten years, unless six
months before the expiration Of the
ten years, notice is given by either
government that its final termination
is desired.
After a statement Of the reasons for
the negotiation of the treaty, the first
article Of the document provides for
the absolute prohibition Of Chinese la
borers, as follows:
"The high contracting parties agree
that for a period Of ten years, begin
ming with the date Of the exchange of
the ratifications Of this convention. the
coming, except under the conditions
hereinafter specified, Of Chinese labor
ers to the United States shall be abso-
lutely prohibited"
The exceptions were such as were in
keeping with the terms Of the exclu-
sion law, as, for instance, the return
to the United States Of any Chinese
laborer who has a lawful wife, child,
or parent in the United States, or prop
erty here worth $1,000. The treaty also
contained the usual stipulation regard
ing officials, teachings, students, mer-
chants or travellers. The first article
of the treaty was important, because
in it the government Of China agrees
that it will not object to the enforce
ment of the exclusion act. This agree
ment removed the possibility Of any
diplomatic rupture between China and
the United States growing out of the
passage Of the act.
There Is suspicion In the minds of
the Pacific coast legislators who are
earnestly pushing the Chinese legisla-
tion," that this government has receiv-
ed an intimation from the Chinese for
eign office that 1t will denounce the
treaty in two years If America tries to
enforce rigid exclusion beyond that
time. This intimation naturally car
ries with it the suggestion that IL Chi
nese are excluded from this country
beyond that time, Americans will be
excluded from the Chinese empire with
identical strictness.
The announcement of this dilemma
has aroused grave concern among the
coast congressman. They knew the
conditions, but up to this time had as
sumed that this government was sc
willing to enforce Chinese exclusion for
take care of itself. Now they appre-
ciate that the representations Of the
Chinese government, if any such have
been made, will receive serious atten-
ton by this government. They also
begin to see that serious forces are al
work secretly against Chinese exclu-
sion. Steamship and railroad lines
would like to see the laws on this SUBJ
ject weakened instead Of strengthened
They also see that the cotton interests
would object to any course which
would keep American fabrics out OF
China.
This intelligence has caused a renew
ed effort to bring the labor organiza-
tions of the country to the front to op.
pose any notifications Of the provis-
ions. They claim that millions Of Chi