Speech #470040400

The American courts have refused to recognize the doctrine of expatriation as applied to the acts of our.own citizens. and if there is any recognition ofthis doctrine on our part it is in treaties negotiated since 1867. I propose to discuss this question briefly. not froin the standpoint of sentiment. not from any lofty pinnacle of aerial morality. but from the nupoetic standpoint of common sense. And the lirst question to be settled is. have we the right to suspend Chinese immigration as contemplated in the bill ? By the code of public law. old as civilization. every nation has a right to allow or disallow the immigration of foreigners. This right is inherent in the sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction of every independent power. In addition to this right of international law. we have secured an express right by treaty with China to regulate. to limit. and to suspend Chinese immigration. The only qualification in the treaty is that the limitation. regulation. or suspension shall be reasonable. What are twenty years in the chronology of the Chinese Empire. which is older than the pyramids of Egypt. from whose summit twenty centuries looked down upon the French when they fought. threequarters of a centnry ago. a battle tinder their shadow? In the computation of time twenty years in the history of the Chinese Empire is but as a day. Christianity has been arraigned on this floor by opponents of this measure. because of its failure to reclaim from original sin 100.000 coolies on the Pacific coast. They might as well arraign American institutiois for their failure to Americanize them. Christianity needs no defense here or elsewhere. It is amply able to take care of itself in the conflict with Asiatic paganism or any other form of religious delusion existing on earth. While American institutions may be powerless to implant in the heart of a Chinaman a sentiment of liberty. no man will doubt the ability of the American people to maintain and defind constitutional government on this continent. But some gentlemen argue that China will take umbrage at this measure. and therefore our commercial interests in that direction will be put in great jeopardy.