Speech #470047642

Thera were one or two minor points upon which we would have preferred our own language. For instence. we wished in article I to say "Chinese laborers should be protected against any abuse or maltreatment." instead of "shitld not bo soiject to any abuse or matreatment " but this latter phrase had been uscd in the treaty witi Great Britain. and although we thought it weaer than the formi we proposed. we did not think it worth while to insist upon our peferene in vlew of the concession of the principde which we think seurely establislied that tie Goveinmeit tof the United States had the power to regulate. limit. or suspend. without ronlitions. Chinese labor immigration when deemed injurious to the ni erests of its Citizens. It. wouhlihe difficult indeed to state the control of the United States over the "principle" conceded in more unmistakable wordsthat th Government of the United States bad the power to regulate. limitor sitpend without condition8 Chinese labor imimigration when deemed injurious to te interests of its citizens. The Senator from ohio asked me just now by what right we interpolated the word "skilled" before the word "I laborers." Let as see what answer there is to this from the source from which the President has drawn his information of the treaty. and the language by which it is to be coustred I rea front page 2557 of the RiECORD in a memorandum submitted to the Chinese coimutissioners: 2. The United States commissioners feel it their duty to inistupon their definition of Chinese laborers. namely: "The words Chinese laborers are hereoin used io signify all immigration other than that for teaching. trade. travel. study. and curiosity hereinbefore refened to and provided for in cxistin. -reaties." They cannot consent that artisano shall be excluded from the class o? Chinese laborers. hor it is this very competitionI conmumend this to the Senator from Ohioof skilled labor in the cities where time Chinese labr immigration concentrates whtich has causud the embarrassment anti popular discontent they wist to avotl. Itnt they are willing to adopt an article providing that the classes aVho are authorized to come and reside in the United States shall bring the servants who are necessary to their convenience. 3. The United States rommissioners cannotconsent to the limitation that Chinese labsrers excluded simali bethose only who are employed by American citizens. This. so far fron being a click upon suhlm immigratien. vuld be simply a prohibition of the use of cheiap labor by the American citizens. Every other person. that is. any and every resident. French.