The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1869-07-28
A eallan, bu, Hopsl.,, Fight.


its cohorts to beat back the incoming flood of
Asiatie emigration. II has planted itself, by
platform and resolution, not only in out
spoken hostility TO the fifteenth Amendment
and Chinese suffrage, but also IN violent oppo-
sition to Chinese labor. In thus proclaiming
its opposition to cheap Asiatic labor through
its State platform, it assumes to speak for the
Democratic party and to make this plank
distinctive issue upon which the future politi-
cal battles III that State are to be fought
This new plank in the Democratic platform of
California, although boldly and vigorously
prosecuted, finds no welcoming response east
of the Rocky mountains within the lines of
any party, while upon this coast it finds itself
confronted by the bulk of the commercial.
manufacturing and moneyed power of the
State, and by all those great energies of power
for good or evil, the Republican press of that
State. These, each and all have zealousiy
espoused the cause of cheap labor, and are
rapidly molding political capital in the Eastern
States in harmony with their views. 1t will,
therefore, be seen at a glance, that the Cali
fornia Democracy has taken upon itself a
passage of the Golden Gate to any who NAV
seek to pass its barriers under protection of
national authority guaranteed by solemn
treaty stipulations. And while we may adj
mire the genius and daring of the California
Democracy in thus launching a new edict of
party fifth III the presence of such powerful
odds, We cannot say that we cherish equal
ind =. =
proposed, for the first time in Democratic
platform, to make distinctive issue upon
the question of Chinese labor. We submit
that 1t comes several years too late There
was a time, yet in the memory Of many liv-
ing, when Democracy was power in the
land; and when, under the doctrines of State
Rights and State Sovereignty, as then recog-
nized and existing, something might have
been accomplished, even by a single State.
toward excluding an obnoxious class of peo-
pie; but that day has long since passed in
the political history of the times in which
we live. Should the California Democracy
succeed in carrying that State by "A trium-
Phant majority there is not a single ray of
hope that 1t could succeed in putting into |
practice the proposed policy of excluding |
Chinese emigration from that State, and |
hence Democratic victory would be entirely |
barren OF al practical fruits, so far as the !
exclusion or expulsion of any particular class
of people would be concerned. The State |
would be tied hand and foot by Federal |
statutes, which, being the paramount law of |
the land, the powers Jh4t be would demand !
their rigorous enforcement Nor would the |
party in power be alone III this demand, as
the Democratic party il the East and South. !
Judging from present Indications would throw !
the weight of their political influence against !
the doctrines maintained 10y the Democratic |
party of California. The farmers and MANN !
facturers Of the Moth aud West, and the |
planters of the South, without regard TO po- |
htIcal bias, are almost unanimously in favor |
of encouraging the importation of cheap !
labor Ill the South. The Democratic party |
may and doubtless will succeed in California |
upon this issue, but it can never extend be- |
yond the Pacific States rs n plank in the |
Democratic platform. IN the nature of things |
1t must remain n local issue, which cannot !
be maintained in its practical application ,
without bringing the State in open conflict |
with the National Government, in which case
the State must be driven to the wall In
taking this new departure from the ancient
landmarks of free trade and free emiprntion.
the Democntic party Of California has be-
come the peculiar champion of a class de-
handing protection by legislation against
other classes of the people Of the same State.
In contest with capital on one side and free
white labor on the other. in that State the
Democratic party has espoused the cause of
free white labor; but triumph Of Democracy
in that State will avail nothing, as it is
already decreed in the high councils of the
party in power that the victory shall fall on
the side of capital and against labor. With
The ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment,
which now seems to be q foregone conclusion.
Federal authority will brook no waywardpess
n State upon any question which has no
other basis of merit than that of rnce and
'olor, which is the only foundation of OPPOSE
ion to Chinese emigration.
HoNoRs TO Mr.. SEwARD.-The British Co
umbians, though foreigners, are not inclined