Speech #570044237

I have no doubt they feel justified in the course which they from Connecticut that he has added that clause to his proposed are about to pursn%. by an approving conscience. but I believe substitute. I was not aware of it before. But still I think the that those who vote in favor of the Platt substitute will do so be- substitute must be taken as an indication of the purpose stated. cause way down in their hearts. perhaps unconsciously to them- because it would be satisfied by the making between this country selves. they are opposed to restricting the immigration of Chinese and China of a treaty of any character on the subject of Chinese to our country. and they are opposed to it because the manufac- exclusion. turing corporations. the transcontinental railroads. and the steam- Mr.PLATT of Connecticut. I presume the Senator himself ship companies want unrestricted Chinese immigration into this can not ask more than that these laws shall be in force if China country. refuses to make a treaty. and if it does. certainly we ought not to I desire to tell the Senate what they are going to do when they go beyond the provisions of the treaty in its enforcement. l Mr. TURNER. Undoubtedly. My proposition is that any treaty which we may negotiate with China. no matter how inefficient its terms might be. would meet the purposes of the amendment which the Senator has now added to his proposed substitute. I think. in view of the evident disposition on the part of the dominant political party in this country to break down or at least to render as inefficient as possible our laws and regulations upon the subject of the exclusion of the Chinese. we may expect at no very distant day after China has denounced the present treaty. that another treaty will be made upon the subject of Chinese exclusion which will fairly meet the present views and purposes of the Chinese Government. but which will not meet the views and purposes of the common people of this land. who demand that their labor. their morals. and their civilization shall not be perverted by the inroad of the hordes of Chinainen who will come here whenever our present policy of restriction is broken down or materially weakened. But at any rate the substitute prepared by the Senator from Connecticut will be an invitation to the Government of China to abrogate the treaty in 1904. The minister from China has written strong letters. showing that the purpose of the Chinese Government is to break down our present exclusion laws if possible. showing his dissatisfaction with the present system of Chinese exclusibn. and certainly that Government will take advantage of the clause in the treaty of 1894 authorizing it to denounce the treaty at the end of ten years if it has tendered it such an invitation as that which is couched in the proposed substitute of the Senator from Connecticut.