The weekly Butte record., 1867-05-04

CHINESE CITIZESS.-A case of great interest t.
the people of this State is before United States
Court in this city. 1t is that of Chinaman who
has made application to become a citizen of the
United States under the naturalization laws. The
Court has the matter under advisemcnt. Its deciS-
ion will lie looked forward 10 with mach anxiety
upon it hangs questions of momentous importance
TO political Interests and welfare If Chinese
can become citizens they will eventually. as mat
ter of course. claim the right of suffrage. The
Chinese population in the State, is about sixty
thousand, nearly all adult males. Those now here,
if admitted 10 citizenship and the ballot conld Snp
ply full fifty thousand voters. The naturalization
laws OF Congress provide that none but free white
persons eau he naturalized as citizens. The Con
Stitution makes no restriction in this respect. 1t
has been universally he'd. we believe. that under
the word white applied 10 men aud races
comprised only those If the Caucasian race. This
holding. which believe TO be correct. rules out
all Chineses Indians and negroes. But here comes
in the recent measure of equalization. known as
the Civil Rights Bill. II is cOntended that by that
bill all coors and races OF men made politically
equal and that it so far annnls the word white
in the naturalization laws II make il the duty of
Courts TO naturaliZe Chinese and all others who
apply. That is the point which the Court is con-
siderinc But should the Court decide against the
application OF the Chinese in the present case. the
danger will not be over. The law which now
>trcis the privilege of naturalization II whites.
is only law OF Congress and that body can at any
time strike out the word. Il has been threatened
this State, 4 move would be made to confer upon
them political privileges-to give them po.iti cal
power TO defend themselves. While nothing would
tend more to cheaper and degenerate republican
institutions than the comforting OF equal political
power upon antag0ni>tc races residing in the same
communitv-we must not forget that black is the
favorite color and that it needs only word or two
to induce Congress TO strike out of the naturalza
ton laws the word white. which appears so hate
ful in the eyes OF Stevens Wade & Co. The qnes-
VI chinese
possibly soon be oversha dOwed by the more impor
tant one" Shall we allow the State to be overrun
by Chinese voters:" They already possess strength
ennngh-if admitted to the ballot box-to hold the
balance cf power. aud rule the State politically
Highly. one of our eX-members OF Congress. and
who wishes to 60 back there has declared IN the
House Of Representatives that no community is hit
TO exist as State that does not allow equal potl-
cal privileges TO all colors There are other politi
casis in this STATE who. ithey can fnd safe oppor
tunitv; will go in for Chinese citizenship and suf
frage. So If the Court does decide against the
Chinese. now under consideration. we must see TO
it and elect for Congress and for the Legi>la-
ture who wiz be thoroughly opposed TO striking
the word white either cut OF the naturalization
laws the State Constitution. To Us OF CallioT-
MIA this is question Of vital importance. We can
not afford for moment to tolerate the advance of
a movement making voters out OF Chinese. The
success of such a scheme would lead to our poliii-
cal degradation and ruin. On this subject
not trust who in favor of obliterating the
white from laws and constitutions regulating 2
suffrage. But should the Court decide that, under
the Civil Rights Bill, Chinese can become natural
lied cirizeaS. must Geterrrinediy hold TO our
State Constitution regulating suffrage. and insist
that the word white shall forever occupy place
in its sections. For, yet. the States have right
to regulate suffrage. and person may be citizen
OF the { utei States. bat not voter in any State
How long a Radical Congress will allow such 4
right to exist is question for the future 10 deter
mine. For the present, however, il is an undispa-
ted right and upon maintaining it, depends our
future salya.iol-S. F. Cal.