President. Ido not wish. as a member of this body. to allow this debate to pass awaywithout expressing my disapproval of many of the propositions which have been made in this discussion. While this country is almost unanimous. and there is scarcely any opposition. upon the question of the exclusion of Chinese or any other kind of immigration which is objectionable on any* account to the pdoplq of the respective States. there is a feeling on the part of a large portion of the religious people of this country that this legislation has been harsh and unjustifiable. that it has had a tendency to interrupt and destroy the efforts. of the humane and religious people of this country for the oprepagation of our ideas of religion and civilization over a large part of the human race. that it has interfered with our commercial relations. and that respect was due to this great mass of human beings and the authority constituted over them. to approach the question in the usual form of diplomatic intercourse and of proper courtesy toward them. No one. lapprehend. thinks that to this great people of the United States. and this laboring element of ours. so intelligent. so capable in every respect. there was any danger in the delay of a few months in the passage of this legislation. or any treaty arrangements for that purpose. We all understand that this act of Congress was rushed through. not perhaps by one party or the other. but by both. upon political considerations relative to the success of patties in this country. Mr. President. I have no objection to the exclusion of the objectionable portion of Chinese immigration. but there are two sides to this question.. There is agreat commercial interest and there is an interest of civilization. an interest of religion. an interest of good faith. and the good opinion of the people of the world toward this country. Therefore that legislation. in my judgment. was not only hasty. but. under the circumstances. was not justifiable.
Keywords matched
immigration