Speech #470033390

And ending with this sentence: China for the Chinese! California for Americans and those who will become Americans! What can we infer from this except that this bill is intended forever to prohibit the immigration of Chinese laborers to this country? You call it a suspension. but no use of words can disguise the fict that it is absolute prohibition for twenty years. If the speeches which have been made here were not sufficient we have only to turn i tho dispatches which were laid befqre us yesterday describing the meetings in California and the resolutions which were there passed to show that the people of California understand that this bill is for an absolute suppression and not for the regulation or limitation or suspension of Chinese immigration. It is true that in San Francisco and some of the larger places. where people have become accustoed to the use of the words in which the intent of this bill is disguised. they speak of their opposition to unrestricted Chinese immigration. but when you get further back in the country. where they are not so well advised. where they speak what they mean. there is no nncertain sound about the nnderstandingof the people of California with regard to this bill. From Sonora. California. a dispatch says: Massmeeting ield. Tuolumne County is a unit in favor of the suppression of Chinese immigratin. and we respectfully urge Congress to pass the pending Chinese bill for our relief. From MercedeA great massmeeting is being held here today. The excitement on the delay of the Chinese bill is intense. They cannot wait for the discussion of it. Vigorous speakers of high social standing are addressing the people. and ringing resolutios. approving the course of our representatives and caling national attention to the danger of delay in suppressing Chinese immigration to dalifomia. have been adopted. And the common council of the city of San Francisco even. in a telegram under date of March 2 to the janior Senator from California. uses this language: Resolved That we rspeetfunlly and earnestlypetition Congress to enact the most stringent laws which ocr treaties with China will permit for the prevention of Chinese immiigration. I need only to allude to these dispatches and to these utterances of Senators on this iloerto show that. however much treaty commissionors. however much Senators may juggle with the words "regulate. limit and suspend." this bill means uttdr and entire prohibition.