Speech #470036827

To regulate itnmigration and prescribe the terms upon which we will admit mn of forein birth to the exercise of civil and political rights is one thing. bt their prohibition or exclusion in whole or in part is quite another. To make such regulations aswill protect theinterests. nrals. and safety of our people against foreigmers is both our right sandduty. and in the exercise of a sound discretion I do not see that we may not distiminate among the nations and exact terms and conditions frem the people of one country that we do not deem necessary as to others. We have always made this discrimination with regard to the rilit to become citizens. of permitting none but white persons to be naturalized. As to all other rights of foreigners coming to our shores to work or trade or manufacture and acquire property. we have never made any distinction. To do that now would be a great innovation open the policy and tralitions of the Government. and would be a long step in the denial of the brotherhood of man and the humanitarian policy inangurated by our fathers. While Senator Morton recognized the right of this Government to take such steps as would prevent crime. pauperism. and disease. as well as other things. his conclusion was that to attempt to exclude them altogether. or so restrict immigration as would practically amount to exclusion. would be an innovation upon that which we had regarded heretofore as one of the great rights or pillars of our Government. I am for this bill because it will restrain crime and prevent pauperism and disease. I do not understand that the bill before the House is obnoxious to the points made by Senator Morton. It is not a bill to exclude Chinese altogether from our shores. but is a bill to so restrain Chinese immigration. to place around it such bulwarks and barriers as will protect our citizens from the very things which are mentioned in the report. And if this is the purpose of the bill. as I understand it to be. I am entirely content to give my voice and my help to such protection as I am convinced the people of the Pacific coast need against undue Chinese immigration. We are confronted. then. at the threshold of theinvestigation of this question with this fact to which we cannot shut our eyes: the population of the Chinese Empire has been variously estimated by various people at front 300.000.000 to 435 000 000. Upon that subject I read an extract from the statements made before Senator Mortons committee in 1880. by Mr.