Speech #500121488

There can not be any objection to it. China consents to it. She does not say that she wants the introduction of these people. these coolies. or whatever you please to call them. to be regulated by treaty. but she wants to prevent their coining. and really I think we are attaching a great deal too much weight and importance to the idea of our honor being involved in the matter of breaking a treaty with China when she herself has declared that she does not want the very thing to take place which we are trying to prevent by our legislation. China is aware. painfully aware. as she expresses herself. that the Burlingame treaty of 1868 and the treaty of 1880 and all the statutes we have enacted upon that subject are really incapable of protecting the Chinese subjects in the United States against mob violence. I remember when 1 was in the city of Los Angeles some few years ago. it had been but a few days before that time when twentyone Chinamen were strung up by halters and hanged. no offense having been committed except that they were Chinamen and in the way. they were a nuisance in that country and the people of Los Angeles made up their minds to get rid of them.