572 CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES. 



nations rathor than to make an arbitrary riilino- against the Chinese 

 alone ? AVould it not })e wiser to set up some specitic ti\st of tituess, 

 such as ability to read intelligently the American Constitution'^ That 

 would give the Chinese a chance along with the rest of the world, and 

 yet etfectually restrict their immigration. Such a law would be prac- 

 tically prohibitory as far as all except the best educated Chinese are 

 concerned, for the reason that the written language of the Chinese is 

 so entirely different from the spoken tongue that few of the innuigrants 

 would be able to read with intelligence such a work as the American 

 Constitution. Nevertheless, a law of that kind would l)e just in spirit 

 and could not rouse resentment in the Chinese breast. 



Since the law and the treaty forbid the coming of Chinese laborers 

 I nuist do all I can to restrict their immigration. I should, however, 

 like to call attention to the fact that the Chinese exclusion act, as 

 enforced, scarcely accomplishes the purpose for whicli it was passed. 

 It aimed to provide for the exclusion of Chinese laborers only, while 

 freely admitting all others. As a matter of fact, the respectable mer- 

 chant, who would be an irreproachable addition to the population of any 

 country, has l)cen frequently turned back, whereas the Chinese high- 

 binders, the riffraff and scum of the nation, fugitives from justice and 

 adventurers of all typos, have too often effected an entrance without 

 much difficulty. This is because the American officials at the entrance 

 ports are ignorant of Chinese character and dialects and can not always 

 discriminate between the worthy and the unworthy. Kascals succeed 

 in deceiving them, while the respectal)le but guileless Chinese are 

 often unjustly suspected, inconveniently detained, or even sent back 

 to China. A niunber of such cases have l)een brought to my atten- 

 tion. It must not be supposed, however, that I blame any official. In 

 view of their limited knowledge of Chinese affairs, it is not strange 

 that the officials sometimes make mistakes. The Americans judge us 

 wrongly, just as we often misjudge them. This unpleasant state of 

 things is to be deplored, and I would suggest that difficulties might be 

 avoided if the regular officials, in })assing on innnigrant Chinamen, 

 could have the assistance of Chinese consuls, or people fitted ]»y train- 

 ing and experience in China for the discharge of such duties. 



Great misunderstanding exists in the United States in regard to 

 Chinese questions. There is a current fear that if all restrictions on 

 Chinese immigration were removed, the United States would be flooded 

 with m}^ countr3mien. Inasmuch as China contains some 4U0,U()(>,<»<J0 

 inhal)itants, a wholesale emigration would certainl}^ be a serious mat- 

 ter for the people of the countr}- to which they removed. But there 

 is no danger of such a calamity befalling the United States. Those ' 

 who view it with alarm only show how^ profoundly ignorant they are 

 of Chinese character. One of the most striking features of the con- 

 servatism of the Chinese is their absolute horror of travel, especially 



