The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-25
| TEE ALEX Law

We see that the MontnniAn advises those
contemplating the sale or lease OF mining
groand 70 Chsaamen not to be deferred there
from byl the recent law made by the Legisla-
ture to prevent such. The Montaais. was
the first paper in the Territory to come out
on this Chins question, asking legislation on
the subject, and while We do no. claim to
have kept posted in regard to its status On the
subject, we do know that 1t has lately evinced
played In taking up the eulgei against the
aImond-eyed subjects OF Confucus. The
righta Of the white settlers which these
''ehild-iike" Celestials were invading and COB
bling UP, and the horror of the Montanian in
noting the fact that the very bread Of the
white man and his dependant family was be-
Ing taken from their mouths by Cinnamon.
has changed to Inore conservative view Of
the matter. a wonderful change ~ come
over the spirit Of editor u ths Montan;an, and
in speaking of the recent law abridging the
rights of aliens, he says:
'sOf course tsis law II aimed at Chinasnen.
II it shall be sustained by the courts under
itsprovisions they can no longer buy, sell, or
lease ground, or work it upon shares. They
car only work in placer mines for per diem
wages. So far as our information extends In
this part Of the Territory the law meets with
very general disapproyai from all classes. In
Madison county, If the law be generally OBJ
served. it will work great injury to very
many, while beneftting none. And in but
one county-Deer Lodge Judging from the
expression we have received from the people
since the bill passed, is 1t considered bensfi-
ciaL The farmers are generally opposed to
the measure, and owners Of placer mines al
most to unit condemn it. As we have all
along commended, we doubt the feasibility of
this nethed of reaching the evils intended to
be reinedied by it; while. OF this particular
law, we have very grave doubts whether any
court will sustain II at all. We are confident
that 1t contains within itself the seeds Of It'll
own destruction, whenever the attempt shall
be nisde to enforce IL In the courts"
We cannot see why farmers should be OPP
posed to the law. They are certainly very
little Interested. We do not know OF single
Chinanan hired AZ q farm hand, and the vital
interestes of the fAImers have not. AZ those of
the miner, been touched by the Cinnamon.
Gre them the right to acquire real estate,
and let them commence entering the best
farming and grazing lands in the Tarritory,
than the fsrnaers will not oppose the law ex-
GLIDING them from such benefits.
We are satisfied that the view OF the Mon
sanian, that the Law will not stand the test of
any court is correct, and during the agitation
OF this question before and during the session
OF the Legislature, we took the ground that
no law could be made excluding aliens from
rights given them By Congressional enact
ments. And we hold further, that Is long as
the American people. East. West, North, and
South. find it more profitable to employ Chi
namen 1hich is likely to be always the
care, ualeas Congress prevents them from
landing on our shores) than white labor. 20
long we will nee their queues Hopping round.
It's noble principle to talk about-giving |
= white man 81 per day in preference to Civ
iag chinaman Ga fer performing the same
s,':oF. but We eco few practicinE it. II there
Chinaman eone-at-able he is pretty sure
. get the job. Selfintsrest IL one OF the |
laws OF nature, and we are not SUR |
Used to sec. men governed by it in this |
matter. ID