Speech #450112680

I shall be through in a few moments. I say that experience shows to the contrary. If Senators had listened to the arguments on this question they would know that there is in the English treaty and also in the French treaty a provision somewhat similar in terms providing for the immigration of Chinese to the English and French colonies. and that in both there has been legislation under the pressure of the necessity which is felt in the Pacific States. In one case a large importation tax was levied upon the heads of these immigrants. which had the effect to prohibit that immigration. and. as Lord Carnarvon said in the British Parliament. the treaties provided for free immigration. but these statutes of Queensland and other colonies had prevented that immigration. The government of China has never broken up trade with England. and never has taken any step toward it at all. This condition of affairs has been going on for the last six or eight years. Judged by that example there is no reason to suppose that if we ourselves object to this immigration and take means to prevent it we shall be treated any differently than the governments of England and France have been treated by the government of China. But more than that. we are not the parties chiefly interested in commerce with China. We buy twenty million dollars worth of products per annum from Chinamen and we sell them $1.000.000.