Speech #470056517

I believe. would have gone to the stake. he would have put his right hand into the flames like Cranmer. before he would have accepted the Presidency or have subscribed his name to a declaration involving such a blow to the dignity of labor and the dignity of American humanity as is involves in this bill. This is what the Republican national convention declared. I stand. and am ready to stand in the future. by every word and letter and syllable of the declaration: Since the authority to regulate immigration and intercourse betweenthe United States and foreign nations rests with the Congress of the United States and the treatymaking power. the Republican party. regarding the unrestricted immigration of the Chinese as a matter of grave concernment. under the exercise of both these powers. would limit and restrict that immigration by the enactment of such just. hemane. and reasonable laws and treaties as will produce that result. That is. the regulation of immigration and intercourse. Then General Garfield in his letter of acceptance stated the doctrine to which he understands he is committed by accepting tme nomination -of that party upon that platform. H said: The material interests of this country. the traditions of its settlement and the sentiment of our people have led the Government to offer the widest hospitality to emigrants who seek our shores for new and happier homes. willing to share the burdens as well as the benefits of our society. and intending that their posterity -shall become ail undistinguishable part of our population. Is that like an enactment that no Chinese shall ever be naturalized in the American Republic ? The recent movement of the Chinese to our Pacific coast partakes but little of the qualities of such ani immigration. either in its purposes or its result. It is too much like an importation to be welcomed without restrictions. too much like an invasion to be looked upon without solicitude. We cannot consent to allow any forni of servile labor to be introduced among us nuder the guise of immigration. Recognizing the graits of this suhiject. the present Administration. supported by Congress. line sent to China a commission of distinguished citizens for tme par. ps imec uig such a umdificasien of tie existing treaty as will peeveut the evils ikyos from tie present situation. It is confidently believed that these diplomatic negotiations sill be onceessfui without tme less of commercial intercourse between the two powers. which promises a great increase of reciprocal trade XIII205 and the enlargement of ous markets.