Speech #500020334

Mr. President. whatever differences there may have been in the Senate or in the country with regard to the restriction of Chinese immigration. the time has come when I believe the general sentiment of the people is that the law on the subject should be fairly enforced. that the Chinese laborer should be excluded from enjoying the benefits of our country. because he will not adapt himself to the civilization of our country. That feeling is most strongly expressed by Senators and Representatives from the Pacific coast. among whom the 100.000 or more Chinese in the country live. and they have expressed that opinion to the Committee on Foreign Relations so decidedly and unanimously. and supported by such potent reasons. that I believe every member of that committee is of the opinion that the object of the law to exclude the immigration of Chinese laborers should be effectively carried out. Under the law as it now stands there are two classes of laborers who are still coming to this country from China. One is a class that left our country after November 17. 1880. and prior to June 6. 1882. after the adoption of the Chinese treaty and prior to the passage of the exclusion law. who under the law had been allowed to go out without certificates.