Speech #490064323

That this can be done upon any other theory. or can be sustained by any other principle than that of national charity. public generosity. or pure grace. without the slightest support whatever from any principle of national or international law or treaty obligation. I most absolutely and emphatically deny. and the precedent you are about to establish today. however strong may be your protestation. that it shall not be regarded as a precedent. will. I doubt not. in the next one hundred years of our history. come knocking at the doors of the national Congress in times without number. and at the vaults of the national Treasury. demand of our posterity. that the precedents of the fathers XVII325 be obseved. though the people of the Republic. native and foreign born. be taxed to the tune of millions in order to meet the demand and maintain the precedent of today in indemnifying allen governments for losses their alien resident subjects in this country may sustain at the hands of mobs composed of other irresponsible bands of unnaturalized foreigners who may set our laws at defiance. unfurl the red flag in our midst. and engage in the destruction of life and property. as did the Swedish and Welsh aliens at Rock Springs. But in considering this question it is well to bear in mind that the demand for this indemnity does not come from the Chinese Government in the form of an appeal to the gracimus and humane sensibilities of mankind and the charitable disposition and gracious action of our Government. If this were so there might in the light of the abhorrent attributes of the outrage complained of be some justification on the score of morals and humanity and national sympathy for the proposed appropriation.