The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-07-06
CHINESE EXCLUSION.

For the moment the largest issue in
American politics Is that relating TO
Chinese exclusion. President Roose.
welt has just given an Interpretation
OF the exclusion law which IS direct
and simple enough TO be understood
by the officials who are intrusted with
its enforcement. The heavy part OF
the enforcement OF the Chinese pro-
hlbition devolves on the consuls AT
the various Chinese ports, and their
course Is laid down for them in Ian.
guage which they will understand
Under the laws Of the United States,
says the President, and In accord.
ance with the spirit OF the treaties nc.
gotlated between the United States
and China, all Chinese OF the coolie or
laboring class--that is, all Chinese
laborers, skilled or unskilled--are abb
solutely prohibited from coming to the
United states" He adds however
that the United States governments
purpose "is to show the widest md
hearticst courtesy ,owaro all mer'
chants, teachers, students and travel.
erB VINO may come TO the United
States, az well as toward all Chinese
officials or representatives In any ca.
paclty OF the Chinese government"
This is the exclusion laws letter
and spirit. 1T is an Interpretation
that interprets," says the Globe-Dem.
ocrat. mo immigration Official or
any other representative Of the gov
eminent whose business Is to enforce
the law IN any stage has any excuse
hereafter II he makes q mistake as TO
the laws purpose. II has been sus'
pected that the Chinese prejudice
OF California has had much TO do
with the manner In which the law
has been enforced heretofore. The
great bulk OF the Chinese VINO come
10 this country in any capacity come
by way Of San Francisco. Even
where the immigration officials at
that port are appointed from other
places, the local feeling has much In.
fuence over their attitude toward the
law. The head OF the department OF
commerce and labor, Metcalf, Is a
Californian. TheBe Things will ac'
count for the stupid and absurd In
depreciation which has recently been
given TO the exclusion law by many
Of It's officials. They explain why II
is that restrictions have been placed
In the way OF the entrance OF Chinese
merchants, bankers, students and 9th
ers who were exempt by the law from
the application Of the prohibition. The
president, however, has Interviewed
with a promptness and an emphasis
which viii END all violations Of the
law hereafter.
"The very section which mad been
clamorIng to put the bars still higher
against the Chinese has been fright
ened by the menace OF Chinese retail
iatlon and has been urging the Pres
ident TO ward off this peril. The Chi
nese boycott threatened 10 assail the
trade OF the PACING coast. In ten
years Americas exports TO China and
Hong Kong have more than tripled
increasing from s7000,O0O In 1896 70
$4,000, 900 in 1904. They were s275
OOO, 900 in 1903 and $4,000, 900 in 1902
showing heavy reduction in the past
two years. This filing of is attribut
ed, In a arge degree, TO the unfair
treatment OF Chinese merchants and
others OF the exempt classes at our
norta. But sthIg retaliation was mild
compared with the organized and syg
tematlc warfare against us which has
been threatened in the past few
weeks. This has aroused the Pacific
coast TO the injustice Of It's course
and has sent appeals TO the President
to save IT from the consequences OF
its folly. The President has acted
with his accustomed ylgor The
abuse at our ports OF which China
complains will be brought to sudden
stop. While the laws against the i'm.