The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29
CHINESE EXCLUSION.

hOt0AJ Ot0D i4udg tNChAAot AOHN"~N 800
scholarly talk on other topics by some
comments on the Chinese exclusion act.
AS might be expected from a cultivated.
broad-minded man, he regarded the pol
fey as proscriptive and unjust, though he
admitted the right OF every nation. to ex-
clude undesirable immigration. He gave
instances where educated Cinnamon who
had procured passports from American
consuls in the Orient, had been refused
admission to this country and sent back
home. OF course, such treatment makes
the victim lifelong enemy of the United
States and opponent of granting this coun-
try any trade or other concessions. The
speaker also mentioned the case of a Chi
nese boy who tried to get admission to the
United States for the sole purpose of learn
ing the English language. but who
turned back. 1t is within the knowledge
OF the Journal that a highly-cultivated
Chinese woman, now in the United States,
who recently gave a reception and talk
ct the home of a prominent woman Of
this city, was arrested on her arrival at
| San Francisco and was only released by
| the earnest efforts OF friends.
1t is probable such cases are more nu-
merous than any one knows. The law it
self is arbitrary and the officials who
| force it are generally prejudiced. not al
ways intelligent, devoid of sympathy and
with little sense of justice. The law is
| harsh enough without being made more
| so by unfair construction. Our treaty with
China, ratified in 1850. provides that "Chi-
| nese subjects, proceeding to the United
States as teachers. students, merchants
| or from curiosity. together with their body
| and household servants, shall be allowed
| to go and come of their own free will and
accord. and shall be accorded all rights,
privileges, and immunities which are ac-
| corded to the citizens and subjects Of the
most favored nation" The treaty provides
1 that If Chinese immigration should at any
time become threatening to the United
States or any part thereof, this govern
| ment might regulate and limit, but not
| wholly suspend it. Two years after this
treaty was signed, Congress passed a law
| suspendng for ten years the coming of
Chinese laborers to the United States. In
| 1888 law was passed prohibiting Chinese
laborers who had formerly resided in the
United States, but who had departed, from
returning. In 1892 the Chinese exclusion
act was passed, and last year this law was
amended SO to make it more stringent.
/ These various changes resulted in the
| rigid exclusion of Chinese laborers and left
the door still open to Chinese teachers,
students. merchants or coming from GU
riosity." The latter phrase would include
| all travellers of either sex coming to visit
the country with the intention of return
| ing. The term "laborers' is construed to
| mean both skilled and unskilled manual
laborers. peddlers and laundrymen, and
the term merchant a person engaged
in buying and selling merchandise at a
hxed place OF business and doing business
in his own name. The law of 1902 also
permits the entry of Chinese connected
with any fair or exposition authorized by
act of Congress, and such mechanics and
artisans as may be necessary to erect
buildings or install exhibits, but they are
only admitted under regulations prescribed
by the secretary Of the treasury providing
for their return. All the Chinese now at
| work preparing for the Chinese exhibit at
the ST. Louis worlds fair win have 10 re-
turn to China when their work is done,
or at the close of the fair. Mr.. Wong Kai
Kah can stay as long as he wishes to, be-
cause he Is not a laborer, but an educa-
ted Chinaman who has come to the United
States from curiosity and in connection
with important duties as vice commissioner
Of the Chinese commission at the fair.
All this exclusive legislation grew out
Of an agitation which, beginning with the
labor unions of California. spread to
other States until the politicians of. both
parties took the matter I'm hand and began
to enact laws on the subject. A large in
vasion OF Chinese cheap labor would be
very undesirable, but it is questionable
whether it would ever have amounted to
much. Besides. as soon as they get here
Chinese laborers, laundrymen, cooks, etc.
adopt American prices and charge as
much as anybody else. They have been a
great help to California, and those who
employ them there would not willingly
part with them AS class they are hon
est, industrious and faithful. From an
American point of view, they are igno-
rant and heathens, but China has a civil.
zation and literature which antedate ours
, by thousands of years, and her vast pop
ulation includes many millions of highly
civilized and cultured people. 1t would be
as unfair to judge the Chinese race a.
a whole as it would be to judge the Amer
, lean people by our lowest and most illit
crate class.
1t is not likely the United States will de
part from the policy of exclusion which 4
, has adopted, but continuance of tn,
policy will not aid in the establishment O
closer trade relations with China TIL,
' Chinese are a patient. taciturn people. blu
they are keen-witted and have long mem
v cries. When they finally become fully in,
. pressed with the injustice. from thei
: point Of view. of our exclusive legislation
j., they may resent it in way we shall feel
: A closed door to Chinese immigration vii
e not help an open door to American trad
Q in China.
SDnnT