Speech #570039027

On the 4th day of May next. now only about four weeks distant. the present Chineseexclusion act expires by its own terms of limitation. and unless this or some other measure of exclusion is enacted and signed by the President before that date the doors of this country will be swung wide open to millions of Chinese laborers who desire to come here. Several bills have been introducedtwo known as the Lodge and Proctor bills. one or the other of which it is insisted by some should take the place of the pending bill. But it is a noticeable fact that those who take this positionand I do not now speak of Senators but of others who have appeared in the capacity of attorneys in the hearings before the Immigration Committeeare those who have appeared before the Committee on Immigration in opposition to Chinese exclusion. While it is to be assumed in all candor that the authors of these bills. respectively. are earnestly desirous with us of securing the passage of a proper measure of restriction. I desire to place on record at this time my solemn conviction. as well as my prediction. that neither of these measures will meet the necessities of the hour. and the passage of either at this time would result in such a tremendous earthquake of public sentiment and indignation upon the part of the people of the Pacific coast. irrespective of party. such as has not been witnessed in this country in regard to any question for many years.