authority but in violation of treaty
stipulations.
The enforcement of the exclusion laws against Chinese in the Hawaiian
and Philippine Islands is still more inexcusable. The complaint in
America against the immigration of Chinese laborers was that such
immigration was detrimental to white labor, but in those Islands there
has been no such complaint; on the contrary the enforcement of the law
against the Chinese in Hawaii has been, and is, contrary to the
unanimous wish of the local Government and the people. Free
intercourse and immigration between those Islands and China have been
maintained for centuries. What is most objectionable and unfair is
that the Chinese should be singled out for discrimination, while all
other Asiatics such as Japanese, Siamese, and Malays are allowed to
enter America and her colonies without restraint. It is my belief that
the gross injustice that has been inflicted upon the Chinese people by
the harsh working of the exclusion law is not known to the large
majority of the American people, for I am sure they would not allow the
continuation of such hardships to be suffered by those who are their
sincere friends. China does not wish special treatment, she only asks
that her people shall be treated in the same way as the citizens or
subjects of other countries. Will the great American nation still
refuse to consent to this?
To solve the problem of immigration in a manner that would be
satisfactory to all parties is not an easy task, as so many conflicting
interests are involved. But it is not impossible. If persons
interested in this question be really desirous of seeing it settled and
are willing to listen to reasonable proposals, I believe that a way may
be found for its solution. There is good reason for my optimistic
opinion. Even the Labor Unions, unless I am mistaken, would welcome an
amicable settlement of this complicated question. In 1902, while at
Washington, I was agreeably surprised to receive a deputation of the
leaders of the Central Labor Union of Binghamton, New York, inviting me
to pay a visit there and to deliver an address. As I did not wish to
disappoint them I accepted their invitation. During my short stay
there, I was very cordially and warmly received, and most kindly
treated not only by the local authorities and inhabitants, but by the
members of the Labor Union and the working men also. I found that the
Union leaders and the working men were most re
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