Speech #500117755

I am not going in my position as a Senator to act upon the assumptiofi that this act as it comes here before us is a purely electioneering dodge. coming to us from the source from whence it started. wherever that source may be. in hot haste solely in order that the Democratic party may thereby commend itself to that class of our citizens who are excited upon the question of whether Chinese laborers are coming here to displace American labor. This bill being here. being bound as a Senator. in spite of all the circumstances which point to other conclusions. to assume that the Executive and the State Department and the Democratic national committee have some knowledge which has not been communicated to us. that this treaty is not to be ratified. I am goingto vote for the bill. and I am going to do so because I am heartily and sincerely in favor of prohibiting and preventing any immigration into this country of a character which we ought rlot to receive. When I voted against the law of 1882 to exclude Chinese laborers. I put it upon the ground that it was unnecessary. and that it was improper plainly to violate a treaty of the United Skates. and. that I might not be misunderstood and misrepresented. although I have since been misunderstood and misrepresented. I took occasion to explain my position on this subject of improper immigration into this country at that time. and I read now from what I said in 1882: My opposition to this bill shall not be misrepresented. no false issue shall be raised without my protest. I say. therefore. that I am willing. and I put on record my willingness. to vote for any law we may properly pass. any law we can pass without violation of treaty obligatiorA. to the end that the labor market of this country shall not be oversupplied by immigration from any quarter. that there shall be no undue and ruinous competition in laboy. that honest labor shall not be dishonored or degraded anywhere. that the standard of labor shall be fairly remunerative everywhere. that the man who is willing to do honest work with hand or brain. or both. shall receive wages enough to enable him to live respectably. to educate his children. and respect himself. I believe in the dignity of labor and the dignity of the laborer. I believe that work ennobles a man. and that it is the primal law and condition of successful civilization. As I believed then I believe now. I did not believe then that it was necessary in order to protect the labor of this country from ruinous and improper competition with Chinese labor to violate a treaty in a law which we might pass. But still further. that there may be no doubt where I stand on this question of immigration. I desire to say this: I hold first to the right of expatriation. Does any Senator dispute that right?