Speech #570044198

The treaty was hailed as a triumph of American diplomacy. because it marked another advance in the admission of our own people into China. The Chinese question had not then assumed menacing proportions. and our chief concern was to secure greater privileges to American citizens in China. Our people beheld the immigration of thousands of Chinese every month to the Pacific coast without any great apprehension. and were disposed to entertain a good opinion of their assiduity. patience. and fidelity. while it was felt that a great advance had been made toward opening the Empire to our civilization and religion. giving promise to the future of greater and greater practical results in the diffusion of our arts and industries. our manufactures and material importance. and the sentiments of government and religion. But the development was so rapid upon the Pacific coast that it was not long before our Government was again compelled to ask for a modification of our treaty relations with China. The sentiment was emphatic from the Pacific States that some check should be placed upon Chinese immigration in the interest of American labor. The immigration treaty of 1880 was finally agreed to. restricting the coming of Chinese persons. but even this treaty did not prove satisfactory as a sufficient protection against the rapidly increasing danger to American labor from Chinese immigration. and the Scott Act was passed by Congress in 1888. while efforts were being made to negotiate further treaty stipulations with China. Then we have the treaty of 1880 substituted by the treaty of 1894. under which we are at present living. Our early treaties were controlled by conditions utterly different from those existing at the present day.