Speech #580060000

Now. in 1892. because the period of ten years was about to expire. Congress used this language: That all laws now in force prohibiting and regulating the coming into this country of Chinese persons and persons of Chinese descent are hereby continued in force for a period of ten years from the passage of this act. The suspension was procured through the prohibition of Chinese immigration for the period of ten years. It was not an absolute prohibition. It was a prohibition for ten years. and therefore properly came under the head of a suspension of Chinese immigration. a suspension for a period of time. So Congress in 1902 treated the act of 1882 as an act prohibiting for the time being. and therefore simply suspending it. and in 1902 we used the language prohibiting. as we did in 1892. having direct reference. as a matter of course. to the previous acts of Congress under the treaty of 1880. So.