Year: 1879

practical results in the diffusion
throughout that great population Of
our arts and industries, our manufac-
lures, our material improvements, and
the sentiments Of the government aud
religion which seem to US so important
to the welfare of mankind.


The first clause Of this article secures
this acceptance by China of the Amer
ican doctrines of free emigration to
and fro among the people and races of
the earth. The second clause, how
ever, in its reprobation of ''any other
than an entirely voluntary emigration"
by both the high contracting parties
and in the reciprocal obligations,
whereby we secured the solemn and
unqualified engagement on the part of
the government of China, to pass laws
making it penal offense for citizen
Of the United States or Chinese sub
jects to take Chinese subjects either to
the United States or TO any other for
eign country without their ''free and
NOAiotAtulCS liiC
great force and value of this article.
Its Importance, both in principle and
in its practical service towards our
protection against seryile importation
in the guise of immigration, cannot be
over estimated. 1t commits the Chi
nese government to active and efficient
measures to suppress this Ubiquitous
system, where those measures are most
necessary and can be most effectual;
it gives to this. government measures,
and the means and opportunity, of in
sisting upon their adoption, and of
complaint and resentment at their neg
lect. The fifth article, therefore, if 1t
falls short Of what the pressure of the
later experience Of our Pacific states
may urge upon the attention Of the
government as essential to the public
welfare, seems to be in the right direc-
tion and to contain message which
once rellnquished cannot be easily re-
covered.


The second topic which interested the
two governments, under the actual
condition Of things which prompted
the Burlingame treaty was adequate
protection, under the solemn and def
mite guarantees of treaty of the Chi
nese already in the country, and those
who should seek our shores. This was
the object, and forms the subject Of the
sixth article, by whose reciprocal en-
gaRement the citizens and subjects
of the two governments, respectively
visiting or residing in the country of
the other are secured. The same privi-
leges, immunities or exemptions there
erj j,yed by the citizens or subjects Of
I most favored nations. The tr-a' y
of 1858, to which these articles are
made supplemental. provide for IA great
amount of privilege and protection,
b 'th of person an pr operty, To AMIR
can citizens in China. but it is upon
this sixth article that the IN lin body of
the treaty, rights and securities of the
Chinese already In this country depends.
Its abrogation, were the rest Of the
treaty left in force, would leave them
to such treatment as we should volun-
tarily accord them by our laws and GUS
toms. Any treaty obligation would be
wanting to restrain our liberty of action
towards them, or to measure or sus-
tain the right of the Chinese govern
ment to complaint or redress in their
behalf.


The lapse of ten years since the me-
gotiation of the Burlingame treaty has
exhibited to the notice of the Chinese
government, as well as to our people,
the working Of this experiment Of i'm
migration in great numbers Of Chinese
laborers to this country, and their
maintainance here of all the traits of
race, religion, manners and customs,
liabitation, mode of life, segregation,
here and the keeping up Of the ties of
their original home. which stamps
them as strangers and sojourners, and
not as Incorporated elements Of our
national life and growth. This expe-
rience may naturally suggest the recon-
sideration Of the subject as dealt with
by the Burlingame treaty, and may
properly become the occasion of more
direct and circumspect recognition, in
renewed negotiations of the difficulties
surrounding this political and social
problem.


1t may well be that to the apprehen-
sion of the Chinese government, no
less thad our own, the simple provisions
of the Burlingame treaty may need to
be replaced by more careful methods,
securing the Chinese and ourselves
against IA large and more rapid infusion
of this foreign race than onr system OF
industry and society can take up and
assimilate with ease and safety, this
ancient government, ruling u polite
and sensitive people, distinguished by a
high sense of national pride, may prop
erly desire an adjustment of their rela-
tions with us, which would in all
things conform and in no degree en-
danger the permanent peace and amity,
and the growing commerce and pros
perity, Which it has been the object
and the effort of our existing treaties
to cherish and perpetuate.


regard the very grave discontents OF
the people of the Pacific states with
the present working of the Chinese i'm
migration, and their graver apprehen-