Speech #500108684

It has been before the country for years. and has evoked much discussion in and out of Congress. Itmaybetruthfully said that public sentiment has been conducted to a general approval of the purposes of this bill. In the beginning of the consideration of the subject of Chinese immigration into this country wide differences of opinion prevailed. California and the whole Pacific Slope wah then as now chiefly affected by the question. California. in common with the whole country. approved the Burlingame treaty. chiefly because it was thought desirable to establish commercial relations with this heretofore secluded country. and to open in China a market for our products in exchange for her teas. But when at length the incidental effect of reciprocal trade with China began to manifest itself byan inundation of undesirable immigrants from that country. who sought our shores not because they loved our civilization. our institutions. and the religious views and precepts upon which they were founded. nor because they desired to become assimilated to these. nor to remain in the country and assume anypart in promoting the welfare of theland and the virtue of the people. but that their advent among us was prompted by purely selfish and mercenary motives and purposes. that they one and all rejected the idea of renouncing allegiance to their native soil. that they persistently adhered to the ancient manners and customs of their people. and almost without exception set at defiance many of the rules of morality and decency observed in Christian communities. buying and selling their own flesh. and indulging with impunity in the most revoltlig vices and heathenish practices. and that they seemed to bepractically without moral sense or conscience. that the solemnity of an oath from their lips was in their estimation idle breath without obligation. And beside these offensive characteristics. they here enter into competition in many branches of industry with the wageearners who constitute the basis of our own prosperity as a people. and upon whom we rely to defend the country in time of peril. The evils of Chinese immigration. so manifest and overpowering in California and other exposed parts of the Pacific coast. were a long time in becoming apparent to the eastern parts of the country. butnow at last these evils have come to begenerally admitted. and today we consider in Congress as a nonpartisan measure the law under consideration for the exclusion of Chinese. a law offered in pursuance of a recently negotiated treaty with China. Both governments agreeing to the exclusion. both the great political parties of this country agreeing to the exclusion. and there appearing no opposition fromany quarter. the passage of the law is assured. Why. then. it may be asked. this extended controversy. which has lasted two full legislative days. regarding this law.