Speech #570039624

Later came the treaty of 1868. known as the Burlingame treaty. by which was recognized the mutual right of citizens and subjects of the two powers to migrate from one country to the other for purposes of curiosity. trade. or permanent residence. It was agreed that each Government should by law make it a penal offense for anyone to take the subjects or citizens of either into the country of the other without their free and voluntary consent. respectively. President Hayes on March 1. 1879. in a message to the Congress. called attention to the desirability of some modification of the Burlingame treaty: The lapse of ten yearsSaid hesince the negotiation of the Burlingame treaty has exhibited to the notice of the Chinese Government. as well as to our own people. the working of this experiment of immigration in great numbers of Chinese laborers to this countrv.and their maintenance hero of all the traits of race. religion. manners and customs.habitations. mode of life. segregation here. and the keeping up of the ties of their original home which stamp them as strangers and sojourners. and not as incorporated elements of our national life and growth. This experience may naturally suggest the reconsideration of the subject as dealt with by the Burlingame treaty. and may properly become the occasion of more direct and circumspect recognition in renewed negotiations of the difficuties surrounding this political and social problem. It may well be that to the apprehension of the Chinese Government no less than our own. the simple provisioas of the Burlingame treaty may need to be replaced by more careful methods. securing the Chinese and ourselves against a larger and more rapid infusion of this foreign race than our system of industry and society can take up and assimilate with ease and safety.