Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-04-18
CHINESE EXCLUSION.

CHINESE EXCLUSION.
Thursday the senate passed the
Platt amendment N substitute for
the Chinese exclusion bill framed by
Pacific coast senator's and which had
already passed the house II had been
quite apparent for some time That
the senate would not pass the bill en-
acted By the house. Concentrated OPP
position was offered the Pacific coast
senator's bill from the outset, and It's
friends inside and ont the senate have
recognized for some time that the
platt substitute was about the very
best they could hope for.
The greatest objection to the house
bill was that some OF It's provisions
are alleged 10 cnntravene our existing
treaty with China. Drafted by Pael-
III coast representatives II was admit
tedly drastic measure; but that any
OF lis provisions violated treaty rights
was combated by many Of the ablcst
men in the senate. and Is, therefore.
Nh open question.
The Platt substitute Is nothing
more nor less than an extension OF the
present exclusion law and also apply
ing Ii to all insular territory under
the Jurisdiction OF the United States
A few amendments were added. but
Of a minor Importance. The senate
failed to substitute the enacting
clause OF the house bill for tn. senate
measure so that the bill will now go
To the hn,ise as an original measure,
and acted ON and treated the same as
though the house had not passed n
Chinese exclusion bill already. just
what the hu,,se wil! do with the SEN
ate bill Is predetermined. But II Is
quite safe to assume that there will
be one or more conferences before con-
fiicting opinions are reconciled and
the bill presented to the president.
Westerners are glad 10 note that
congress regards some Of our demands
respecting the Chinese question as
being just: they are glad that the
Monaghan is generally regarded rs a
menace 10 labor, and an element that
the laboringmen should not be forced
To compete with. And while the cx-
listing law does not meet the require
ments Of the case from westcrner's
point of view, yet he prefers 1t to nc
Law ut all along that line. 1t takes
time 70 educate people up to certain
standard and the people living on the
Pacific coast, feeling secure In the
rightfulncss of the advanced position
they have taken, are quite certain tie
day Is not far remote when the fullest
measure Of justice viii be melted out
To them.
This question Of ''treaty rights" Is Il
grave one and worthy the highest con,
sideration. And we beg To inform
not few Of those sage and puritani
cal senators who have been 80 loudl,
harplng on treaty rights, that the
average westcrner conception OF right
and wrong Is as acute, and his respect
for any Of our existing treaty obliga
tions ms profound, as that IL the citi
zen who dwels In tho east, north OF
south. First and foremost with onI
treaty ratifying body should be TIL.
consideration OF the rights and prlyi
leges of the American wage-earner, u,
compared To any privileges To he con
ferred upon the natives of China %
the subjects of any foreign govern
ment. whenever treaty comes bcfor,
IL for consideration. Might IL not b.
well for those treaty rights" sena
tors 10 bear that In mind hereafter
The laboringmen OF our country cal
not afford 10 sacrifice too much. The,
are deserving all the consideration
within the power OF legislative bodie
u confer. and In the abridgement .
their rights M treaties should ~
entered Into or legislation enacted.
For years the west has been iightin,
the Chinese vtnpus, and Ia that figh
they need the support Of all section
u the country. Our laboringn,en chi
not compete with the Monaghan an,
" h unjust 10 expect them Ia.