Speech #470037377

Speaker. this was the position by existing treatie: : citizens of the United States had all the rights and privileges of citizens of the most fivored nations in China. and the citizens of China had the right of free irarigration to the United States. Our commissianers sought to modi- the terms of those treaties. The Chinese comiissioers ncrc willing to negotiate for reasonable modifications iu the miatter of limitation or even of suspension. but refused to consider negoiitions for the purpose of prohibiting immigration. And as the result of these negotiations the word "prohibit" was stricken from hlie projet. and the treaty was adopted and agreed to without that word. but with the words "regulate. limit. and suspond." The Chinese commissioners criticised the word " suspend" and objected to it. and in.order to meet that objection our commissioners said that they were willing to insert the modification that the suspension should lie reasonable. More than that. they said that beyond that Chiia must trust to the friendly consideration and good judgment of the Government of the United States alter those negotiatinra. and With such a understanding the treaty was agreed to in the terms in which it is before the House. Now comes my friend from California anm says after all these negotiations. after this explanation of time phrascology of the treaty between its negotiators. it is within the ineaning of that treaty absolutely to prohibit and declare unlawful for twenty years all immigration of all laborers from China to the United States. that this is "reasonable" and within the meaning of the treaty. that this is within the understanding of those mild. unsuspicious commissioners who represented the great empire of the east in these negotiations with the commissioners of tise great empire of the west. The gentlenian from Indiana said yesterday that the idea the Chineso had of citizens of the United States was that there is not much light in them. but that they are pretty shrewd at a bargain. I flu cy alter this bill shall have been passed by this House. whatever may be their opinion in the first respect they will not change or modify it in the last as to the shrowdness of American Regotiators in making a trade. Mr. Speaker. in old times the words puniceafides were thesynonym for national treachery and faithlessness. If after negotiations between China and the United States. under cover of a treaty provision modifyitig an old and existing treaty so that we may suspend within reamonable I imits immigration of laborers from China. we declare that iiigrmiiiou unlawful and suspend it absolutely for twenty years. I fear we shall do much toward writing our name over that of ancient Carthage on the annals of national perfidy. I object to this bill. because 1. believe it is in confliet. if not with the words of the treaty. at all events with its spirit.