The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-05
Predicts a Democratic Landslide
on the Pacific Coast if His Bill
Is Not Passed by Senate.
RIGHTTO EXCLUDE FOREIGNERS
Says Constitution Gives Congress
the Right to Protect Amerl-
can Labor - Admits His
Measure Is Drastic.

Washington. April 4-The Senate to-day
! BEGAN consideration C: the Chinese eXclu-
! sion BILL Mr.. Mitchell OF Oregon. making
| the opening speech. He pointed out force
FULLY the necessity for the exclusion Of
| Chinese laborers and carefully and elabor-
ately analyzed the bill He said hat 1t
| had been constructed the basis OF eX-
| listing law. in the light Of experience and Of
| the decisions OF the courts. While its pro-
visions were drastic. the bill. he said. in
! some respects was more liberal than the
| Geary act.
The Indian appropriation bill was under
| consideration for time but was not COM
pleted.
One of Great American Policies.
Senator Mitchell said that the policy of
the Chinese exclusion had become one OF
| the great policies Of this country, acqu-
esced in by all political parties and as
firmly fixed as the Monroe Doctrine. 1t is a
! policy based on the general welfare. the
projection to American labor and on the
doctrine of protection against noxious in
I'cuon OF those Institutions which consti-
tute American civilization
Inc basic principles Of the pending bill
were embodied in existing legislation, and
! such additions had been proposed as were
approved by experience and were in accord
with The decisions of the courts. The franz
trs Of the measure had endeavored to make
II as effective as possible as a restrictive
measure. while keeping steadily in view all
necessary means OF protection against
fraud. An effort also had been made to lib
eralize those provisions relating to the ex-
empted classes. No radical departure was
proposed from the statutes now in opera
tion. the bill being virtual codifcation OF
the existing laws and regulations concern
Ing the admission to this country of Chi
nsse persons
Tho aim OF the trainers was carefully tc
avoid anything which might give just cause
for offense TO the Chinese Empire and to
an extent. at least. 1t was a more liberal
measure. so far the exempted classes
were concerned. than that which is now on
the statute books
COnstitutionalityO of Bill.
Mr.. Mitchell expressed belief that the con-
stitutionality of the proposed measure could
not be challenged successfully 1t is in
lire said he. with the overwhelming SEN
timent of this country. 1t is not, when
viewed from the proper standpoint, in con-
tiict with any existing treaty stipulations
between the United States and China Even
if it We're. this could be urged only as pol
icy objection. and not one that for a mo-
ment would go to any lack Of power in
Congress. under the Constitution. to enact
law. 1t is legislation not only In line with
public sentiment of this country. but also
with the established policy OF this Gov
ernment.''
He pointed out that China had assented
to the policy of exclusion. and had not re-
garded such a policy the part of the
United States as hostile to the Empire of
China.
Further along Mr.. Mitchell said that the
proposed legislation lis but another grand
step forward by this Republic in the ma
jestic and progressive march of true Amer
icanism, which looks to protection of Amer
lean labor and to the preservation, purity
and perpetuity of American institutions 1t
is grand step in the direction of freeing
our people and our institutions from the
corrupting and corroding influences OF
pauper labor, and those virulent and de-
structive vices so inseparably connected
with the lower classes of Asiatic serfdom.
and whose poisonous virus, II permitted to
permeate our body polite. inevitably will
lead to lamentable blight pitiable decay
and ultimate destruction.
Right to Exclude Foreigners.
No higher duty rests on the National
Congress than to guard with scrupulous
stand between US and foreign nations 10
the end that no classes of people of any ma
tion whatever pe permitted to enter, whose
presence, in the Judgment of the American
Congress. would be a menace to the virile
growth and preservation Of these institu-
tions, which go to make our Republic what |
il is to-day, the most healthy and vigorous |
morally intellectually and otherwise of
any nation that has ever lived since the be-
ginning of time.
THE right to exclude foreigners is one OF |
the highest attributes which attaches to |
American sovereignty. Indeed. 80 all con- |
trolling is this right that no treaty stipula- |
tion to the contrary can stand for one mo- |
ment against it,
Warning to Republicans.
In conclusion, Mr.. Mitchell warned the |
Republicans of the Senate that. II they
failed to pass the proposed bill. which had |
been agreed upon by nonpartisan commit |
tee. and insisted on forcing the passage OF a |
statute which 10 inadequate and inefficient.
then. at the coming election, look out for ,
such a vote of condemnation of the Repub-
lican party on the Pacific Coast you
have never heard since the overthrow OF
the Republican party in 1854"
Senator Jones Cordially Received.
When Mr.. Jones of Arkansas appeared
on the floor of the Senate to-day. after
protracted absence. during which he
passed through a warm and unsuccessful
contest for reelection. he was surrounded
all anxious to learn the details of the con-
test. He was given q most cordial greet
ing by Senators on both sides of the
chamber.
business. proceeded to the consideration of
the Indian appropriation bill
Exhibition at Art Museum.