The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-12-02

tion in certain strongly anti-Chi-
nese circles. To clear up appre-
hension which seems to exist on
their part that the president pro-
poses to open wider the door to
Chinese immigration into the
United States, it is stated on au-
thority that there is no such in
tention. The subject was re-
ferred to at the cabinet meeting
today and it was afterwards
stated that the state department.
and the department of commerce
and labor, the latter charged
with the execution of exclusion
laws and treaties, are working in
perfect harmony and in consul
tation with the Chinese minister
here to frame a treaty that shall
be cast upon the lines of the ex-
listing treaty, continuing the
present rigid exclusion of coolie
labor and simply moderating the
conditions under which Chinese
merchants and scholars may be
admitted to the United States.
Something of that kind is re-
garded as necessary in view of
the fact that by direction of his
government the Chinese minister
last spring formally denounced
the Chinese exclusion treaty.
That notice will take effect De-
cember 6 next and there will be
no treaty relations between the
governments governing that sub
ject until a new treaty is agreed
upon. It is true that the presi-
dent has decided to enforce the
existing Chinese exclusion laws
after the abrogation of the treaty,
but there is just sufficient doubt
in the off1ciul mind as to the ex-
tent of the powers that may be
employed legally to effect the
exclusion that a new treaty is
regarded as desirable"
The treaty of 1894 contains
provision that it may be termi-
mated at the end of ten years
from the date of the exchange of
ratifications. if either party shall
give six months notice therefor.
Ratifications of this treaty were
exchanged December 7, 1897.
The Chinese government gave
the required notice that the
treaty would be terminated De-
cember z, 1904.
Congress was not in session
when this notice was given and
unless called in extra session will
not meet until the 5th of next
December.
The treaty of 1894 contains the
following liberal provisions in it's
third article:
The provisions of this conven-
tion shall not affect the right at
present enjoyed of Chinese sub
jects, being officials, teachers,
students, merchants or travellers
for curiosity or pleasure, but not
laborers, of coming to the United
States and residing therein"
A new treaty could do no more,
except to admit Chinese of other
classes who are now excluded.
The motive for new treaty must
therefore be to secure some ad-
vantage not contemplated in the
present treaty or in existing law.
The people will not know what it
contains until it has been con-
sidered in secret session, behind
. the closed doors Of the senate.
And yet it is to replace all ex-
isting 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: 1t is
an attempt to secure legislation
by the treaty-making power,
which has repeatedly been re-
fused by the house of representa-
tives.
! Our only hope is that two
thirds of the senate cannot be
dragooned into such a scheme,
for the modification of the Chi
nese exclusion law demanded
only by the Chinese government
and by the American advocates
of free trade in Chinese labor.
Wa ara ooa,,xal L. Al ~A-Iz