The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-12-09
ANNUAL REPORTS
ARE SUBMITTED
SECRETARY STRAuc WANTS CHI.
NEsE IMMIGRATION LAW
AMENDED.
This Country Lost Much Trade
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
Want geel Post on
rA II Rortrs.

reports Of Secrrtary Straus, OF the
Department of@Iommerce and Labor,
and OF Foqrth Assistant Postmaster.
hGeneral D8Graw, were given to the
public tonight The former devotes
much space to The discussion OF the
Chinese immigration which is the
principal pan of his report, Cn this
subject he says Ia part.
The present policy of the United
4 States with reference to Chinese inn
migration, as developed By both the
Legislative and executive depart
ments Of the government, is Of long
/ standing, having existed for nearly a
generation A governmental policy
so long pursued Is not lightly tp be
changed nor is any change proposed.
What | have to urge Is not only based
upon 9 full recognition Of the fixed
character Of the present policy. but is
entirely In furtherancc thereof 1t Is
net the policy Of the government with
| would criticise, but tho manner an
which Il il CT necessity carried out, by
reason of the way in which the laws
are framed. 1t has never been the
purpose OF the government. as would
appear from its laws and treaties, to
exclude persons Of the Chinese race
imefoly because they are Chinese. re.
SardleE3 rl the elias to which they be
tlong, and without reference to their
lagu sex, culture or occupation, or to
the object OF their coming or their
length oi stay. The real purpose OF
the governments policy Is tc exclude
& particular and well defined class
leaving otheF classes Of Chinese, ex
eept as they, together witls all other
foreissllegs. mas be- Included within
the prohibitions of the general iinmi
grafton laws, as free to come and 20
az the citizens cr subjects Z any 9th
er nation AS the laws are framed,
however it would appear that the
purpose was rigidly To exclude per
sons CT the Chinese race In general
and to admit only such persons OF the \
raco as fall within certain expressly
stated exemptions-as If, in other
words, exclusion was the rule and al
mission the exception | regard this
feature Of the present laws as unnec
essary and fraught with irritating con
sequences. In the administration OF
laws so framed, Notwithstanding the
care taken to treat persons OF the
Chinese race lawfully entitled TO al
mission with tho same courtesy and
consideration shown to ther foreign
ers, ii is impossible that persons who
have to endure requirements and for
malities peculiar 10 themselves should
fail to take offense, and to resent as
a humiliation the manner In which |
by law they are distinguished from
natives of other countries. Laws SO
framed can only be regarded as in
volving discrimination on account |
of race, aud it is needless 70 point out |
that discrimination on account Of |
race, color, previous condition. or re |
ligion arc alike opposed to the prin-
ciples of the Republic and to the
spirit OF its institutions.
1T is not surprising. therefore. that
both the Chinese government and the
Chinese people should feel aggrieyed.
and should i'm various WAYS manifest
their resentment and displeasure The
OF the Chinese government |
may be inferred from the fact that. in
1904, after the convention OF 1894 had
I.een in force for ten years. China.
availing herself Of right reserved.
denounced the treaty. thus
refusing longer TO be a party TO an
which. as carried into ef
'ect by legislation, was offensive 10
ie' national pride
In 1908 China held frst rank
sniong oriental countries as con.
sumer. of American products. In that
year her total commerce amounted to
l97 million dollars. OF which 32s mil
ions were imports. or these imports.
according 10 The Chinese official data.
he United States supplied 81 millions.
'r more than II per cent As the ex.
lcits OF tnc nifed states e. China
lad grown to these proportions BY
'apid strides-it amounted a. less
han 3 millions IN the seventies. aud
'nly reached ~ millions IN 1856 ~
Millions IN 1897 IS millions in 1899
md - millions IN 1g02-it was con
ideHtiy hoped that. as comm ercisi in
ercourse between the two nations
n creased. as the needs Of the Chi
lesc markets became better under
tecd. and as the character of Ameri-
an products bersmc better kaown.
american trade would continue TO
rogres IN the same ratio and larger
nd larger share % the foreign trade
: China vould accrue to the United
'tates- Instead Of tbst. however. the
xpcrts OF the United Staes tc Chit
fCfntiuded % Sxih PaEs) II