Speech #490064344

I fancy. relish the declaration of apolicy such as this. which pledges them individually and collectively to the payment of all such claims. whether amounting tea few hundred thousand or many millions of dollars. nor will our posterity. when the generations of the present shall slumber with their fathers. regard with favor the establishment of precedents by us that commit them and their posterity to a like policy. This bill will pass. It is the wish of the administration it should pass. while our distinguished Committee on Foreign Relations of this Senate while tinkering with restriction acts. at best mere delusions and snares when considered as a remedy for the evil against which they are directed. handlingwith diplomatic fingers. kidgloved. for fear of giving offense to the Chinese minister. this overshadowing question of Chinese invasion. and while refusing so far as heard from to declare. when properly called upon to do so. that they or a majority of them are in favor of providing for the future exclusion of Chinese immigration to this country even by diplomatic arrangement between the two governments. recommend it. This measure will doubtless receive nearly if not every vote of this body cast on its final passage. and for this protest I shalldoubtless be charged here and elsewhere with either playing the part of the demagogue. or lacking in ability to comprehend those delicate questions involved in international controversies. and which seem at least in this case to demand that while with one voice protesting the nontenability of the demand. and the absence of all legal obligation. while stoutly asserting that by no principle ofgovernmental reciprocity. conventional stipulation. or requirement of international law. are we under any obligation whatever to do this thing. yet in order that it may not be said we are not dealing with China by reason of her weakness as compared with some other nations. or by reason of some supposed prejudice we have against her subjects here. as we would deal with such mightier powers. we must as an act of benevolence and out of pure charity make this donation. If we are dealing thus with China in this instance prompted by any of the considerations just suggested. as I fear we are. and differently from that which our sense of right and of public justice. our views of international law. and considerations of selfrespect would allow us to do were it England. or France. or Spain. or any other of the great maritime powers that had made this demand. even though their ironclads menaced our harbors and our fleets as a means of enforcing it. then it would seem we are basing our proposed action on a principle in which is involved as its most important component part an ingredient of moral cowardice unworthy the representatives of a great nation.