All we ask is that the law be restored as it was prior to the change made by the committee. The gentleman from Vermont says that lie knows no reason why this correction should now be made. The fifth article of the Burlingame treaty is very explicit upon one point. that is. that nothing in this treaty shall be construed as conferring the right of naturalization upon any subject of China. As one of the reprosentatives of the Pacific coast. I think I can speak knowingly of the sentiment of the people of that coast upon this question of Chinese naturalization. I do not believe the Chinese themselves desire to be naturalized. they would only be uised for corrupt purposes by corrupt individuals. I think that any one who knows anything about the history of this class of Chinese upon the Pacific coast. and who come there in great numbers. (and there are nearly eighty thousand.) will adumit that the naturalizing of those people would be a great injustic to the people of Cablifornia. where so mmny of those Chinese reside. It was not the intention of the treaty to give that right. It was expressly stipulated in the treaty that the right of naturalization should not be conferred upon those people. The people of my State are very emphatic upon this subject. In reply to my friend from Vermont. I suppose there is no Chinaman in his State. while. as I said before. upon the Pacitic coast there are nearly eighty thousand. To permit this class of people to be naturalized would in my judgment be a great injustice. it would be demoralizing to those to whom it is proposed to extend the privilege. I hope the change as reported from the Committee on the Revision of the Laws will be sustained. When this question was discussed in the Senate some three or four years ago. upon a motion of Mr. Sumner to strike out the word "white" from the naturalization laws. the Pacific coast Senators at that time prevailed upon him to consent to amend the naturalization lats so as to include persons of African descent. whieh would exclude Asiatics. It seems to uie that the justice of this proposition must be evident to any person conversant with the history of the class of Chinese that come to this country. a class of people who. it is notorious. sell one another into slavery. and who sell their women for immoral purposes. as has been proved time and time again. and the evidence of which I now have here. and will at some future time submit to this House. It seems to me it must be evident to every one that they are a class of people wholly unworthy to be intrusted with the right of American citizenship.
Identified stereotypes
Chinese people are corrupt, sell each other into slavery, and sell their women for immoral purposes.