Speech #520047692

It was supposed that a large proportion of the Chinese population here in 1888 were here in frauA of that treaty and the legislation of Congress. We do not differ about the facts. We had the right to prohibit by law Chinese immigration here of others than those who were here when this treaty was made. and we did prohibit it. The act which was passed subsequent to this Chinese treaty did prohibit Chinese laborers from coming here. unless they were here when this treaty was entered into and had returned to China and desired to come back. What is the violation of the treaty proposed by the bill reported by the Committce on Foreign Relations? We have the right to prohibit the importation or immigration here under that treaty of all Chinamen who were not domiciled here on the 17th day of November. 1880. Nearly twelve years have passed since that treaty was negotiated. and how many Chinamen do Senators suppose there are who desire to avail themselves of the privileges reserved to them under the treaty of 1880. twelve years since it was agreed to by the two governments? The number must have been reduced very largely. and yet it is true that the Chinese population here has increased.