Saint Mary's beacon., 1904-10-27

ed good deal of agitation in cerfa;n
strongly anti Chinese circles. To
clear up apprehension which seems
% exist On their part that dse Presi-
dent proposes 20 open wider the door
70 Chinese immigration into the
United States. it's stated on authority
that there is nosuch intention. The
subject was referred to II the cabi-
net meeting today and it was AFTER
ward stated that the State Depart
ment and the Department Of Com
merce aud Labor, the latter charged
with the execution Of exclusion laws
and treaties. are working ia perfect
harmony and in consultation with
the Chinese minister here 10 frame
Q treaty that shall be cast upon the
lines OF the existing treaty, confinu-
ing the present rigid exclusion Of
coolie labor and simply moderating
the conditions under which Chinese
merchants and scholars NAV be ad
mitted 70 the United States. Some
thing Of that kind Isl regarded as
necessary in view of the fact that by
direction Of his government the
Chinese minister lastBnring formal
ly denounced the Chinese exclusion
treaty. That notice will take effect
December z next, and there will be
no treaty relations between the two
governments governing that subject
until Q new treaty is agreed upon
Il u true that the PalFident has de-
cided 20 epforce the existing Chinese
exclusion laws after the abrogation
OF the treaty. but there is lust
sufficient doubt In the official mind
as TO the extent OF the powers that
may be employed legally TO effect
the exclusion that a new treaty il
regarded as desirable.
The treaty of 1894 contains a pro-
vision that it may be terminated at
the end Of ten years from the date
of the exchange OF ratification, il
either party shall give six months
notice therefor. Ratifications OF this
treaty were exchanged December z,
1894. The Chinese government
gave the required notice that the
treaty would be terminated Decem.
Der z, 1904.
Congress was not then in session.
and unless called an extra session will
not meet until the 9Th of next Decem.
Der.
The treaty of 1894 contains the
following liberal provision in its
third article.
THE provisions of this convention
shall not effect the right at present
enjoyed, of Chinese subjects, being
officials, teachers, students, mer
chants or travellers for curiosity Oh
pleasure, bat not laborers. OF coming
to the United States and residing
therein.
A new treaty could do no more
except to admit Chinese Of other elaSsci
,okO are nO,0 e1cIHdef. The motive
for new treaty must therefore bt
10 secure some advantage not com
templated in the present treaty or in
existing law. The people will moi
know what il contains until it has
been considered in secret session,
behind the closed doors of the Sen.
ate. And yet it is to replace all
existing law on the subject.
1T is an extraordinary attempt to
secure by hidden methods, what
should only be considered in open
session by both houses of Congress,
More than this: It is an attempt d
secure legislation by The treaty. making
po,cer, which has repeatedly been
refused by the House Of Representatives
Our only hope is that thirds
of the Senate can not be dragooned
into such a scheme, for the modifica-
tion of the Chinese exclusion law
demanded only by the Chinese gov
ernment, and by the American ad-
vocates of free trade iR Chinese ldb0t.
We are assured by the State De-
partment that the new treaty will
continue in force ''the principle of ex-
clusion of Chinese Coolies" The
existing treaty says nothing oil
Coolies. It speaks of Chinese
laborers" in all cases. III only
Coolies" are to be excluded il
would be easy for the executive de-
partment to construe the word TO
mean unskilled laborers only. In
deed, that is it's commonly accepted
meaning. All classes of skilled la
borers could then be admitted. Or
every Chinese laborer of whatever
class might find that under the new
treaty he could, upon his own state
| ment, be classed as a scholar, stu
dent, teacher. traveller or other high
class" Chinaman.
Forewarned is forearmed. Letev-
cry wage Garner watch the officials
who sit in secret conclave with the
Chinese minister to replace all ex-
isting laws" on the subject of ex-
clusion, with a treaty satisfactory
to the Chinese government, and TO
its allies in this country. Appeal
to the Senators from your respective
States to oppose such treaty.
CHAs. A. EDWARDS.
a