Speech #470038705

Our complaints have been unceasingly held up to the view of the country. and our appeals for relief have been so persistent that for twelve years past our demands have been voiced in the platforms of the two great 1arties of this country. You understand what the language of the ReIblican platforui is. It reads thus I Since the authority to regulate imiigralien and intercoirsebetweei theUnited Stites and foreign nations rests with tho Congress of the United States and the treatymaking power. the Republican party. regarding the unrestricted immig.ation of the Chinese as a matter of grave concernment. under the exereise of botlh these powers. would limit and restrict that immigration by the eunaotnent of such just. humane. and reasonable laws and treaties as will prodnce that result. It was thus. shs. that the Republican party at Chicago answered our demands in their platform and the Democratic platorm at Cincinnati answered the demands of the Pacific coast in that unmistakable lanuuage "that there shall be no more Chinese immigration except ?or travel. education. and foreign commerce. and therein carfully guarded." Now. sir. " wish to say that both parties are pledged to this legislation. However much gentlemen may try to avoid it they are nevertheless pledged. Every gentleman who gave his adhesion to either of those parties is pledged to this legislation. and the treaty was negotiated for the very purpose of this legislation.