Talk:Chester A. Arthur

Responsibility for Legislation in the House of Representatives for Chinese Exclusion Bill
The Wiki article states that Republican Pres. Arthur signed the Bill, however makes no mention that it was the Democrat party that is responsible for the legislation in the house. I caught this while watching Netflix special: "Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres (at 16:02 - see also photo of news article.

THE CHINESE EXCLUSION BILL

Harper’s Weekly, April 16, 1892, page 362 (Editorial) https://immigrants.harpweek.com/ChineseAmericans/Items/Item112.htm

The Chinese exclusion bill, which was "rushed" through the House, after a talk of half an hour, by a vote of 179 to 43, is described by a Democratic member who voted for it as "the toughest piece of legislation that ever passed the House." It prohibits absolutely the entrance of any Chinaman into the country, and practically, without discussion, without popular demand, without any sign of general public knowledge of such a purpose, arbitrarily abrogates treaties, and thereby invites China to expel summarily and at an enormous sacrifice of their interest the large American colony in China. Under the circumstances it must be regarded as an act of bad faith upon the part of the House, and, could the bill become a law, upon the part of the country. It is impossible, however, that the Senate should concur in such legislation or that the President should approve the bill, which would even forbid the return to this country of Chinese residents who had left it for any purpose, however large and valuable their pecuniary and other interest here might be. Although the Democratic party is responsible for legislation in the House, yet of the 43 negative votes upon the passage of the bill more than half were Democrats. 2600:8802:C00:133:41BA:72CC:F0B8:E3D1 (talk) 06:01, 19 April 2023 (UTC)