THE HESPERJ AE
grntion was a growing and thrcntoning ovil.
It showed that tho number of Chinoso in
tlio United States was one hundred and seven
thousand. In 1SS2 when tho law suspend
ing Chinese immigration was passed, there
were one hundred and fifty thousand China
men hero. In eight years, the number had
decreased twenty-five per cent. If that ratio
of decrease should continue, the year 1914
would see the last Chinaman disappear from
our land. "With these facts at hand, Con
gress certainly would have no occasion to re
enact tho existing offensive law. The re
lations of the United States with China had
become strained. . Our government had not
asked China for a new treaty before she en
acted the Scott law. She might now repeal
tho law, and legislate as would become an
honorable, treaty observing nation. She
might have done so but she did not.
The Chinese exclusion bill was introduced
into Congress . Again it was on the eve of
a presidential election. Against the protest
and vote of many congressmen the bill
passed. Not only was tho Scott law re
enacted, but to it were added new and dras
tic provisions. This law compels every
Chinese workman in the United States to go
to the collector of internal revenue, prove
his title tD rem in in this country, and ap
ply for a certificate a sort of ticket of
leave. The burden of proof is all thrown
upon the Chinaman. He is assumed to be
not entitled to remain. In order to obtain
a certificate, he must prove that he came to
this country prior to 1882; that he has re
sided here continuously since that time.
White witnesses are necessary to satisfy the
law. Colored men aro not considered cred
ible. If ho is unable to get the conclusive
evidence necessary to prove that lie has
been here through this long peries of years,
he is thrown into prison where he must re
main at hard labor for a year, and then he
is expelled from the country. The United
States had again broken her treaty. For
getting her advanceO civilization, she imi
tated the example of despotic Kussia. Upon
this large class of men whom she had prom
ised to treat as she had treated Englishmen
and Germans, sho now imposod those ofion
sivo requirements. Ono hundred thousand
mon hero at the invitation of our govern
ment must cai ry around with them this cer
tificate and present it on demand. One
hundred thousand men in free America must
bo taggod like so many dogs.
Wo send our missionaries to China with
tho Bible. Upon its open page the China
man reads : "Thou shalt not Ho." And
he remembers that the nation from whence
the Biblo and missionary camo has broken
its solemn promise.
If England should treat the United States
as the' United States has treated China ; if
she should discriminate against our citizens
for no greater cause than that for which we
discriminate against the subjects of China,
our government would declare war, and
every true American would be ready to re
sent the wrong. But China is not a war
like nation. Sho will not retaliate. She
will only remember.
While the Chinese are not desirable citi
zens, yet among them aro found no Mafia,
no anarchists. While some Chinamen come
to this country in violation of tho law, yet
more illicit immigrants come to the United
States from Europe than from China.
While our government should legislate in
regard to Chinese immigration, yet it should
do so in the spirit of nineteenth century
civilization.
The United States as the teacher of na
tions can ill afford to deal unjustly with any
people. Until the violation of our treaty no
country held so high a place in tho esteem
of China as did the United States. China
has shown herself capable ol! advancement.
Catching the spirit of our civilization, she
built railroads and telegraphs. Breaking
loose from their moorings, her merchants"
ships sailed the seas. To-day she tolerates
all forms of religious worship. To-day
missionaries go unmolested to all parts of
that broad empire preaching tho gospel of
the Son of God.
Every American may point with prido to